NEW DATE FOR 2019!

This year, the Fair Kick-Off Party will be held on SATURDAY, AUGUST 3.  In prior years, the party has been held after the parade on Sunday, but this year we decided to move only the party to Saturday.  The covered Farmers' Market pavilion is the perfect location, providing shade from the sun, and cover from the rain (although we are counting on great weather for all of Fair Week!). 
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The event will be held 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. with food and drink available for purchase and live music from Piano Dan.

In addition to the music and dancing, there will be activities for all ages, including Corn Hole and Koosh Ball games, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and more.  It will be a great evening to kick-off FAIR WEEK!

Our system is now prepared to accept online entries for livestock!  Click the "Register Exhibits" button at the top left, or use the shortcuts at the bottom of this post.

New Exhibitors: You will be asked to create an account to register. You will need a separate account for each exhibitor.

Returning Exhibitors: You will need to select the "I have previously registered this year" option. If you remember your password, you will enter it. If not, click the button to have your password sent to you, or call the office to get your password.

Please note - you need to register all of your items at once! If you sign in later to register more livestock or home ec entries, the system may overwrite your original entries! If you choose to add Home Ec entries later, please submit a paper form.

Fair Admission: Ticket purchases will not be made through the same system as the livestock registration. Visit e-tix to purchase season tickets. Our Queen Contestants will be providing promo codes at the end of the month for a discount on tickets, so if you don't already have yours, keep an eye out for that! Exhibitors will use the same style ticket as other fairgoers and are encouraged to get a daily re-entry wristband.

Parking Passes/Needed Items: You will receive your packet when you bring your animal to the fairgrounds. Exhibitors bringing animals after the first day can pick up packets Tuesday evening, 6-10 p.m. After that, packets will be available at the South Traffic Gate during fair hours.

Livestock Show Schedule is available at www.washmofair.com/livestock

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Here are the questions answered most frequently at the Chamber Office - we thought it would be a good idea to send the answers to everyone to save people some time and/or frustration.

• Deadline: July 1, so if you have not yet registered, please do so soon.
• Premiums Paid To: This is the exhibitor’s name, as you want it listed on the premium check that is cashed at the fair bank.  
• All Market Animals are listed under the Market Animals section, not under their species.  
• Bucket Calf and Open Bucket Calf (for exhibitors under 8) have their own department.  
• For Open Bucket Calf, please list NA for the exhibitor's Show Me Quality #.  
• Please enter ONLY the Jr. Division if you are a junior exhibitor. We will automatically add the junior exhibitors to the Open Classes as well when online registration closes. If you would prefer not to show in the Open Class, just let us know at check-in.

We've got non-stop action in the Motorsports Arena again this year!  
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Don't forget - Spectators' admission to Motorsports Events is included with admission!  Stay tuned for more info!

The 2019 Washington Town & Country Fair Parade will be held on Sunday, August 4, at 4:00 p.m.  Applications for entries are available at the Chamber of Commerce at 323 West Main Street, Washington or on our PARADE page.  There is a $100 entry fee for businesses and a $25 entry fee for non-profit organizations.  Applications are due by June 21 to avoid an additional late fee of $50.    The parade route and staging area will remain the same as 2018. 
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Float judging will take place prior to the parade and winning entries will have a sign to display during the parade.  Prizes will be awarded as follows 1st place- $225.00 & trophy, 2nd place- $175.00 & trophy, and 3rd place- $125.00 & trophy.
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For more information, please call Brittany at the Chamber of Commerce Office (636-239-2715) or e-mail parade@washmofair.com.  

Ticket pricing...  It's no fun for us, it's no fun for you.  We get it.  In fact, since our Fair Board and Staff also purchase tickets to attend the fair, we are all aware of the impact pricing has on fairgoers.  Decisions to increase prices are not taken lightly, and are made with every effort to balance the long-term sustainability of our event with a price that doesn't discourage fairgoers from attending.

This year, we did have to increase the prices for Adult and Child Season Passes, as well as for the Family 4-Pack.  Although we do our best to avoid them, sometimes ticket price increases are necessary.  We will offer a number of season ticket discounts in the months leading up to the Fair, and our Queen Contestants will offer a $5 discount on sales in June & July.  Promotion details will be posted to social media and sent to our e-newsletter subscribers.

We speak and post often about how seriously we take our obligation of providing a quality fair, with something for everyone.  We LOVE this aspect of the fair - being able to provide 5 amazing days full of memories and fun, lessons and opportunity!  Additionally, our fair makes an equally important impact on our community, with ripples that continue through the rest of the year and far into the future. 

For instance:  The local economic impact of our Fair has topped the $1 million mark for nearly two decades!  That is money pumped into our local economy through scholarships, premiums to exhibitors, the purchase of supplies, and donations to organizations, who in turn, use those funds for more improvements and contributions in our area!  For many of those organizations, the donations (received in exchange for volunteer service) make up a significant percent of their annual revenue.  Without the Fair, organizations suffer, and our community suffers, which is why we are committed to keeping this Fair going for another 90 years (and more!).  We want you (and your children and grandchildren!) right here with us as we continue this amazing Washington tradition.

Keeping our fair sustainable into the future requires more than breaking even each year.  Like any business, organization, or family, we need to keep a savings account for unexpected expenses.  And of course, since you just never know about Missouri weather, we also try to keep a "rainy day" (or maybe "thunderstorm" or "hot and humid") fund.   It's important to be prepared so our Fair can continue to deliver the experiences our fairgoers know and love, even after a year or two of unfortunate weather.  

This has been a long (sorry, I'm passionate about this! ) way of saying:  

​"We know you don't like ticket increases, but we are trying to cover our ever-growing expenses while still having a bit of money left to invest in the Fair's future, and our community's well-being.  Thank You for joining us for an annual week of fun and a lifetime of impact.  We could not do this without you!"​

Looking for a way to treat your employees or clients to an even better evening at the Fair?  Bid on the Upper Deck Experience at the Chamber Banquet - March 16.

The Upper Deck Experience package includes VIP treatment for 16 guests at the West Build-a-Bar by the Main Stage.  Enjoy a great view of the concert from the bar roof while being treated to complimentary drinks!

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2019 Washington Town & Country Fair Queen Contest.  The Fair Queen Contest is a summer-long program that includes activities such as Contestant/Sponsor Luncheon, “A Day of Professionalism”, “A Day in Washington”, Run/Walk, and Parade.  The Queen Contest Sponsors also underwrite four scholarships totaling $4,750, which are awarded to the Queen, 1st and 2nd Runner up, and Miss Congeniality.
 
“I think the Queen Sponsorship is one of the most valuable sponsorships we offer.  It’s a ton of exposure before and during the fair,” said Fair Manager Jennifer Giesike.  “Plus, it’s an excellent way to invest in some of the bright young ladies in our community.”
 
The sponsorship is $550 and includes the following benefits:

• Name printed in 3,000 Fair catalogs.
• Name printed in 30,000 "Washington Missourian" newspaper supplements
• Name printed in the thank-you ad in the “Washington Missourian” following the Fair
• Announcements during the Queen Contest, including logo on Main Stage video screen.
• Publicity releases to local media.
• Sign in the parade mentioning sponsor’s name.
• Contestant/Sponsor Lunch
• Four (4) VIP Seating Passes for night of Queen Contest.
• Logo/Ad in 2,000 Queen Programs to be distributed the night of Queen Coronation
• Recognition of sponsorship at Chamber Banquet.

 
Interested businesses should contact Tammy at the Chamber Office (636-239-2715 x105, tadragna@washmo.org).  Sponsors that have committed by Friday, March 15 will be announced at the Chamber Banquet on Saturday, March 16.