City of Puyallup

Puyallup Fair and Events Center

Puyallup is the home of the Western Washington State Fair & Events Center. The primary Fair, held each year in September, annually records well over one million visitors and is ranked as the sixth largest fair in the country. The fairgrounds comprise 120 acres, valued at more than $40 million. The Fair Association employs 50 people year-round and 1,600 people during the fair. In addition, private concessionaires employ about 5,000 people during the 17-day run.

The fairgrounds are used year–round by clubs, associations and community organizations as well as for expositions and other special events. Annual operating revenues top $18 million. A Master Plan and rezone for the Western Washington Fair was approved by the City in 2004. Consistent with that Master Plan, the City-Fair joint 5th/9th street re-routing project was completed in 2005, allowing the Fair’s midway to begin expansion westward. In 2005, the Fair also completed its ShowPlex, a new state-of-the-art 103,000 square foot exhibition/convention facility on the Fairgrounds.

The ShowPlex is allowing the Fair to attract larger interim events outside of the Fall and Spring Fairs. In 2010, the Fair has commenced new master planning for their long-term facility needs.

Mel Korum Family YMCA

The Puyallup YMCA, a recently-constructed 105,000 square foot community recreation center on a 13 acre South Hill site, has a membership total of 12,000.