Puyallup is just days away from a months’ worth of rides, music, animals, scones – and traffic.
The Washington State Fair will celebrate its opening day on Aug. 29 and run until Sept. 21. Renee McClain, chief executive officer of the fair, told The News Tribune that 1 million people come to the fair every year – which means thousands more cars than usual will travel on Puyallup’s streets.
The News Tribune spoke to Kevin Gill, spokesperson for the Puyallup Police Department, about traffic, road closures and parking.
Traffic during the Washington State Fair in Puyallup
“The only road we really close is Ninth Avenue Southeast, which is from Meridian to Fifth Street – which is the one that goes along the north side of the fair,” Gill said. “[Sometimes] we close 10th Avenue Southeast from Meridian just to manage traffic, but most of the time that’s open.”
When The News Tribune asked Gill what prompts them to close 10th Avenue Southeast, he said it depends on “how full the Blue Lot is and whatnot.”
Gill said every year, the police department works with the fair and the city’s public works team to temporarily close or manually control traffic at the intersection of 7th Street Southeast and East Pioneer.
Busy streets include:
“Fairview Drive can get busy,” Gill said. “If you have a busy weekend, sometimes Meridian will get backed up to River Road – we do our best to keep that flowing.”
Gill said that while the police department does its best, getting stuck in traffic is inevitable.
“You can get angry and be stuck in traffic and start your fair day out miserable, or you can be happy and stuck in traffic and start your experience out great. Either way, you’re probably going to get stuck in traffic,” Gill said. “We encourage people to come here with their patience fully intact.”
Parking at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup
The fair has four lots that residents can park in: the Gold Lot, Blue Lot, Red Lot and Green Lot.
“All of the fair lots are equally good – [there’s] handicap parking in every single lot,” Gill said. “One of the biggest questions we get on the road is: ‘Where is handicapped parking?’”
The Blue Lot also has bicycle parking, according to the fair’s website.
Standard parking in any of the lots costs $15 on weekdays and $22 on weekends, the fair’s website says, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents can also pay $35 for premium parking – which is in Lot B, just off Ninth Avenue Southwest between the Red and Gold Gates – or $50 for VIP parking directly across from the Gold Gate. VIP parking needs to be reserved online in advance.
The fair has a partnership with O’Reilly Auto Parts, which allows fairgoers to save $3 on general parking Monday through Thursday by visiting an O’Reilly Auto Parts store in advance.
To learn more about parking, visit thefair.com/plan-your-visit/parking-transportation/.
Free parking is available on city streets downtown, with time restrictions in some places, for those willing to walk and to spend time searching for a spot.
