After a season of fine, fair summer weather, it’s time to head back to the fair.

With a theme of “County Nights & Carnival Lights,” the 102nd Clallam County Fair kicks off Thursday, Aug. 17 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 20, with a schedule jam-packed with entertainment and fun for the whole family in between.

Local youths will showcase their animal-raising skills, and the animals themselves, at the fairgrounds, a venue that includes three horse barns, two cattle barns, buildings for rabbit/poultry, sheep, goats, dogs and cats. The Pacific Northwest Junior Livestock Auction is set for noon on Saturday, Aug. 19.

Check out the best of local photography, floral, home arts, hobbies/crafts and other arts in the fair’s various demonstration buildings, and get an up-close look at antique farming equipment in the field just west of the Wilder Community Stage.

Youngsters can try their hands at the rock climbing wall and bungee venue, or enjoy a pony ride and other activities at the Kid Zone. There, youngsters can enjoy Strait Foam Fun and check out demonstrations by the Sequim Robotics crew.

And the Bekkevar family will get a county fair honor: The Sequim family’s farm was recently selected the Clallam County Fair’s 2023 Family Farm of the Year. The Bekkevars will be honored at the fair at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Sunny Farm Stage.

Loads of live music

The fair has a number of local and regional acts to keep your toes tapping.

Over on the Sunny Farms Center Stage on Thursday, Aug. 17, enjoy Indecisive Solo from noon-1 p.m., the Five Acres Sound Waves Marimbas group from 2-3 p.m. and the Marsh Family Band from 5-6 p.m. and an encore performance from 6:30-7:15 p.m. Magician Jeff Evans wows the crowds from 3:15-4 p.m. and again from 6:30-7:15 p.m.

On Friday, Aug. 18, the Olympic Peninsula Ukulele Strummers play from 11 a.m.-noon, followed by performances by Evans at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. From 5-6 p.m., IWANT (Improv Without a Net Troupe) performs from 5-6 p.m.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, Dean & the Persuaders are on the Sunny Farms Stage from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Shula Azhar offers belly dancing from 3-4 p.m. and The Secords take the stage from 5-6 p.m. IWANT is back for a performance from 6-7 p.m., and Indecisive Duo plays from 8-9 p.m. Evans has a trio of shows Saturday, at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, Cowboy Church kicks off the Sunny Farms Stage schedule at 8:30 a.m., followed by Buck Ellard at 11 a.m. Evans has magic shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Simonson Band of Bones plays from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

At the Wilder Auto Community Stage on Thursday, Aug. 17, Buck Ellard offers country hits from noon-1 p.m. before two performances from the Kitty Mae Band, from 2-3 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. Tribute bands honoring Santana (6 p.m.) and The Doors (8 p.m.) close out the evening.

On Friday, Aug. 18, the Stardust Big Band plays from noon-2 p.m. The James Howard Band — a Pacific Northwest group led by Howard, a blues guitarist with more than four decades of experience — hits the stage from 7-9 p.m.

On Saturday Aug. 19, The Happy Soles line dancing group kicks off the day’s entertainment of the Wilder stage from 10-11 a.m., followed by Echo at noon. Buttercup Lane offers rock classics from 2-3 p.m., and local favorite Black Diamond Junction is on stage starting at 4 p.m., playing rock’n’roll hits from various decades.

Seattle-based Sweet Emotion, an Aerosmith tribute band, caps Saturday’s music with a concert from 7-9 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, Queens & Aces plays from noon-1 p.m., with the Indecisive Band playing at 2 p.m., followed by the IWANT improv group at 3:30 p.m. and The Works Band at 5 p.m.

Grandstand events

Over at the Clallam County Fair Grandstand venue, enjoy the Western Games demonstration from 9-11 a.m. Then, check out the big, beautiful draft horses (Belgians, Percherons and Clydesdales) as they demonstrate skills while pulling logs and carts at the Draft Horse Show set for 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18.

Stick around for the rodeo at 6 p.m., with bull riding, team roping, team penning, bronco riding, clowns and more. (The rodeo continues Saturday, with events from 5-8 p.m.) A first for the Clallam County Fair is a beer garden, which would be open one hour before — and remain open one hour after — the rodeo on Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday, loggers from across the Pacific Northwest show off their skills with axes, saws and more at the Logging Show, set for 11 a.m.

Capping the fair is the fan-favorite Demolition Derby, slated for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20.

All grandstand events are free except for the Demotion Derby, which requires a $15 ticket as well as fair admission; tickets are sold near the BMX track on the west end of the fairgrounds, starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Tickets, hours

Adults get admission to the fair for $10 (day pass) or $30 (season), while seniors (65-79 and older) and students (ages 13-17) gain admission for $8 daily and $24 for the season. Youths (ages 6-12) get in for $7 for the day or $15 for the season, while active military are $7 for a day pass, $21 for the season. Kids 5 and younger — as well as seniors 80 and older — get in free.

Youths (6-12) get free admission on opening day (Aug. 17).

Parking is free across the fairgrounds except for the reserved lot.

Gates open at the fair at 8:30 a.m., with buildings opening at 9 a.m. daily.

The gates close Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 17-19, at 9 p.m., and at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Carnival hours are noon-10 p.m., Aug. 17-19, and noon-7 p.m. on Aug. 20.

Get advance sale carnival wristbands for $30 each carnival tickets at clallamcountywa.gov/399/Fairgrounds.