Is your pet ready for the royal spotlight?

145th King County Fair, July 18-22, features annual 'Critter Crowning Contest'

Last year, a 24-year-old Morgan/Arab horse named Jake trotted away with top honors in the King County Fair’s annual “Critter Crowning Contest.”

The top dog at this year’s fair, set for July 18-22 at the Enumclaw Expo Center, could be an iguana, pygmy goat or even a goldfish. The appointed Royal Critter will be invited along with his or her owner to visit the King County Fair as a special guest of the King County Parks Division.

The annual Critter Crowning Contest is just one of the many great family events scheduled for the 145th annual fair – the oldest county fair west of the Mississippi River.

The fair continues to celebrate its historic country roots, featuring a family orientated theme with live music, great fair food, midway rides, livestock displays and entertainment every day. This year’s fair theme is “Dance to the Moo-sic.”

Applications for the Critter Crowning Contest are available at all King County Parks Division facilities or at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/fair/critter_crowning.asp. A list of finalists will be created from the larger group of qualified applicants. Finalists will be invited to bring their pampered pets to the fair’s opening day, where a panel of judges will select the 2007 Royal Critter.

For more information or to receive an application by mail, contact Maureen Burwell at the Enumclaw Expo Center (formerly the King County Fairgrounds), 206-296-8888, or maureen.burwell@kingcounty.gov. Applications must be postmarked by June 15.

Admission to the fair is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 62 and older and for children ages 6 to 12. Kids under the age of 6 are free when accompanied by an adult. Seniors can come to the fair on opening day for half price, while all kids can come to the fair for half price on July 19.