The 97th annual Whidbey Island Fair saw more than 22,000 visitors this year. This is Whidbey’s photographer David Welton served as Superintendent for the fair’s photo entries. He also took a number of excellent fair photos.

No lack of color for this vendor selling Tie dyed textiles
Long-time friends Dr. Bob Wagner on keyboard, and Don Wodjenski on Sax, entertain at the 2021 Whidbey Island Fair
Shishka Berrys returned after the COVID hiatus with chocolate covered berries at Whidbey Island Fair July 2021
Family getting photos from opposite views at Whidbey Island Fair, July 2021
Joanne Meyling takes a selfie while David Welton in bottom right takes a photo. She is photographed taking a selfie in the photo above. Photo shared by Joanne Meyling

 

Whidbey Telecom CEO George Henny has a ball at the Whidbey Island Fair held July 15-18, 2021
Matt Hoar does the chicken dance at Whidbey Island Fair July, 2021
Spiderman gives a thumbs up to a fair visitor at the Lego table
Taking a ride on a purple slide at Whidbey Island Fair, July 2021

Fair Manager Carol Coble, taking a moment to check in with This is Whidbey, says the fair was: “Amazing. We had record numbers, for the last 20 years we’ve been counting. Old-timers who were around before then, said its been a real long time since we’ve seen these kind numbers. Old-timers here say there were crowds this big when the Gabeleins (long-time Whidbey family) were in charge and there were big headline bands. My ballpark guesstimate is 22,000, possibly 23,000 people here over the four-day period,. Those numbers include entertainment, and staff that helps put the fair on. We had a great time. Saturday, it was an absolute blast. We had a shorter parade than in years’ past. People who were walking love the parade being shorter. The people in cars like it to be longer. Go figure. The office is super swamped right now in getting our final paperwork done. Thanks for your enthusiasm.”

Marching in the Whidbey Island Fair Parade Saturday, July 17, are members of the Oak Harbor 4-H Kanine Korps
An enthusiastic dancer with Snohomish-based West Coast Country Heat performs in Saturday’s parade sponsored by the Whidbey Island Fair.
Members of the Marine Corp League march in Saturday’s parade with Whidbey Island Fair

Bells Beach B&B owner Barbara MacCallum judged Youth Baking entrees. “It was very fun,” she said. “They had to follow instructions, placing four identical pieces on a paper plate. We tasted one of each of the entrees. One youth made a cake that looked like a baseball with white frosting and brown stitching. It was lemon and yummy.”

A handsome steer with his attentive 4-H owner at Whidbey Island Fair
A 4-H girl and her goat at the Whidbey Island Fair, 2021

And princesses Ariel and Aurora, made a hit with Raleigh, who talked easily with her heroes, and asked Ariel about her friend Flounder.

Raleigh greets princesses Ariel and Aurora in front of Doe Stahr’s blue-ribbon textile art at Whidbey Island Fair. Photo by Kate Poss
Women dressed as Ariel and Aurora from Disney movies pose in front of Doe Stahr’s blue-ribbon textile art
Princesses Belle and Cinderella (same women who played Ariel and Aurora) visit girls at the Whidbey Island Fair, July 2021
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