–Fair Association History–
"Roots of the Island County Fair go back to 1912, when it was established in Coupeville by a private company as the Island County Fair
Association. But the fair needed to draw it’s audience from all of Whidbey Island, and for South Whidbey residents back then, the trip
to Coupeville was dif cult and expensive. Traveling by horseback or carriage, it was a 20- to 30- mile journey, which necessitated an
overnight stay. Excursion boats brought passengers from Camano Island and various points on Whidbey Island, but the fair attendance
remained poor and the fair died out in 1916 for lack of support.
Langley resurrected the fair in 1917 on the town’s waterfront. In 1922, it was moved to the town’s school gymnasium, and the following year the fair was organized as a nonpro t organization funded by memberships. By the late 1920’s, there were better roads and auto travel. The fair prospered and in 1934 - one of the worst years of the Great Depression - the Fair Association built the pole building on property adjacent to the school. Using support from the WPA (Works Progress Administration), the Association purchased a six-acre chicken ranch near the school and construction began on a large fair building, completed in 1937. During the next three decades horse barns and exhibit halls were added.
The Fair Association deeded the fairgrounds to Island County in 1962 with the understanding that the property could not be sold without a majority vote of the island’s pioneer descendant’s. The Association continues to operate the fair (held annually in August) and members are proud that no tax dollars support it. The fairgrounds are located at 819 Camano Avenue in Langley."–Island County Fair Association
Langley resurrected the fair in 1917 on the town’s waterfront. In 1922, it was moved to the town’s school gymnasium, and the following year the fair was organized as a nonpro t organization funded by memberships. By the late 1920’s, there were better roads and auto travel. The fair prospered and in 1934 - one of the worst years of the Great Depression - the Fair Association built the pole building on property adjacent to the school. Using support from the WPA (Works Progress Administration), the Association purchased a six-acre chicken ranch near the school and construction began on a large fair building, completed in 1937. During the next three decades horse barns and exhibit halls were added.
The Fair Association deeded the fairgrounds to Island County in 1962 with the understanding that the property could not be sold without a majority vote of the island’s pioneer descendant’s. The Association continues to operate the fair (held annually in August) and members are proud that no tax dollars support it. The fairgrounds are located at 819 Camano Avenue in Langley."–Island County Fair Association
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