History

History of the Clark County Fair & Event Center

For more than 150 years, the Clark County Fair has been a celebration of community, agriculture, innovation, and pure summer fun. What began as a small gathering in a city park has grown into one of the premier fairs in the Pacific Northwest—shaped by volunteers, local leaders, and generations of families who helped it evolve. From horse races and dahlia shows to pancake breakfasts, motorsports, concerts, and world-class exhibitors, the Fair, and now the Event Center, is a story of resilience, creativity, and community spirit.

1868 – The Beginning

The very first Clark County Fair was held on October 21, 1868 in Esther Short Park, sponsored by the Clark County Agricultural and Mechanical Society.

1881 – A Permanent Home

On March 19, 1881, the Society incorporated with $5,000 in capital and purchased 28 acres on Harney Hill. They built a 40x60-foot pavilion and a race track, and the fair was held that October.

1910–1915 – New Names, New Identity

1910: The fair became the Harvest Show, held again at Esther Short Park with exhibits spread across buildings and 16 tents.
1914: Renamed the Columbia River Interstate Fair. Opening day drew 10,000 people!
1915: Renamed again—this time as the Clarke County Fair and Dahlia Show.

1920s – Traveling Fairgrounds

1928: Held in Battle Ground, drawing 3,000–4,000 people. A highlight? A “Maggie” contest to see who could throw a rolling pin the farthest!
1929: Moved to Bagley Park. Despite 15,000 in attendance, the fair went into debt. The community stepped in, negotiated the debt down, and fundraising efforts paid off the rest.

1941–1947 – Rebuilding & Wartime Changes

1941: The Fair Association reorganized and bought a permanent site in Battle Ground. Tickets were 25¢ or $1 for a season pass. Aluminum egg-shaped time capsules were fabricated by local boys training at Boeing.
1942: Fair cancelled due to World War II. Rationing and dim-outs stopped events, but building improvements continued.
1943–1945: “Victory Fairs” replaced the traditional fair, held at McLoughlin Heights.
1947: The Clark County Fair joined forces with the Battle Ground Community Fair to host a mutual event.

Early 1950s – Searching for a New Site

By 1952, the fair had outgrown Battle Ground. Two new locations were offered:

40 acres from John McGillivary
The Arthur Moulton farm north of Vancouver, offered by William Wineberg

In 1953, the Fair Board voted for McGillivary’s land—but the Grange objected over racing and betting, and the decision was reversed.

1954–1957 – A Fresh Start

1954: A fire destroyed the Battle Ground buildings. The fair opened there one last time in August.
1955: The fair opened at its new home—the current site north of Vancouver!
1957: The “E” Livestock Building was built using plans and materials donated by Alcoa. Over $12,000 was raised, and volunteers helped build it.

Late 1950s–1960s – Growing Strong

1959: The tiny Dairy Women’s Booth (about the size of a phone booth!) opened. Two dairy families borrowed money for a milkshake machine. At the time, there were 200 dairy families in the county.
1962: The horse barn was built with help from 4-H and adult volunteers.
1968: The 100-year celebration featured the theme:
“One Hundred Years’ Experience… A Thousand Years of Vision.”
The fair expanded again with 23 more acres.

1970s – Reorganization & Expansion

1972: Public funds could no longer go to a private organization. To resolve this, the fair deeded the property to the county, and the Fair Association operated independently under a 10-year contract.
The site grew again with an 80-acre lease from the Department of Natural Resources.
The Mounted Patrol was formed to provide security.
1978: A new 4-H demonstration kitchen and covered machine display area were built.

1980s – Major Improvements

1985: Construction on the new horse arena began. The Executive Horse Council built 160 stalls, saving $60,000. Volunteers contributed 258 hours, and the arena was dedicated on August 3.
1986: The fair was extended to 10 days!
1989: Named the Centennial Fair in honor of Washington State’s 100th birthday. The first free pancake breakfast and admission (sponsored by Safeway, KPDX TV, and KISN Radio) drew 14,000 guests in just three hours.

1997–2005 – Big Projects & New Management

1997: The Fair Association approved the amphitheater project, completed in 2003.
December 2003: Demolition began to make room for a new exhibition hall.
March 15, 2005: The Exhibition Hall opened.
That same year, Clark County contracted Fairgrounds Site Management Group to manage the event center year-round, while the Fair Association focused solely on the Fair.

2018 – A Big Milestone

The fair celebrated its 150th anniversary with over 270,000 attendees! Opening day featured the traditional pancake breakfast (sponsored by Fred Meyer) and a Midway parade.

2020–2022 – Challenge & Comeback

January 2020: Construction began on three new ticket booths in the Exhibition Hall Lobby—now complete and doubling as show offices or check-in areas.
May 2020 & May 2021: The fair was cancelled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022: The fair returned in full force with over 285,000 attendees!