History During the 1900s

  • 1900 Spokane Industrial Exposition (October 2 - 16). First day attendance breaks new record of 3,476. Goddess of Plenty was Lulu Kirby.
  • 1901 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 15). President William McKinley's death the day prior (September 14) was observed at the Fair. Derby Queen was Jessie McTavish.
  • 1902 Spokane Interstate Fair (October 6 - 14). was Gertrude Sweeny.
  • 1903 Spokane Interstate Fair (October 5 - 13).Spokane Interstate Fair (October 5 - 13). Derby Queen was Ella Clark.
  • 1904 Spokane Interstate Fair (October 3 - 9). Derby Queen was Margaret Crain.
  • 1905 Spokane Interstate Fair (October 3 - 14). Robert Hugh Cosgrove was the Fair Manager through 1914. Derby Queen was Mabel Welch.
  • 1906 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 24 - October 6). Attendance for the twelve days was 107,730. Derby Queen was Carolyne Richards.
  • 1907 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 23 to October 5). Total attendance 128,480. Derby Queen was Hattie Stevenson of Elberton.
  • 1908 Spokane Interstate Fair (October 5 - 10). Theme - "Go To It". Opening day attendance record broken at 12,500. Derby Queen was Vera Wadsworth.
  • 1909 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 23 - 29). Derby Queen was Miss Willie McAdams.
  • 1910 Spokane Interstate Fair (October 3 - 9). Attendance 111,545. Derby Queen was Genevieve Paterson.
  • 1911 Spokane Interstate Fair (October 6 - 13). Attendance 121,277. Derby Queen was Gladys Ham.
  • 1912 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 30 to October 7). T.W. Pendleton and Luella Miller are married 1,500 feet in the air in a hot air balloon. Inland Queen was Ruth Ware.
  • 1913 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 15 - 23). Theme - "Let' s Go to the Fair". "There is no other institution that has such an influence for good on the lives of Inland Empire people." - taken from Miss Spokane' s (Marguerite Motie) welcoming address at the opening ceremonies. Attendance 100,027. Derby Queen was Marjorie Norman.
  • 1914 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 12 - 20). Theme - "Come On, Let' s Go". Derby Queen was Helen Paine.
  • 1915 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 12 - 18). Theme - "Go To It". Derby Queen was Ethel Graves.
  • 1916 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 4 - 12). Miss Two Feathers dives with Clatawn, the high diving horse, from a 40 foot platform into a ten foot pool of water. Derby Queen was Jerrine Ramage.
  • 1917 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 3 - 8). Derby Queen was Tannis Griffith.
  • 1918 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 1 - 9). Attendance 90,184. Derby Queen was Beatrice Dick.
  • 1919 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 1 - 6). Attendance 111,783. Derby Queen was Francis Trunkey.
  • 1920 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 6 - 11). Attendance 105,746. Derby Queen was Jacqueline Martin.
  • 1921 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 7 - 12). Derby Queen was Helen Huntington.
  • 1922 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 5 - 12). Attendance 101,359. Derby Queen was Edith King.
  • 1923 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 3 - 10). Theme - "Let' s Make It 150,000". Inland Empire Queen was Alma Gorber from Colfax. Derby Queen was Sarah McClintock.
  • 1924 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 2 - 9). Fair Robbery - $22,000, practically the entire Derby Day receipts were stolen from the safe in the office. Insurance was ordered, after the case being heard in court, to pay the Fair $15,211. The remainder, according to the records, was not under lock in the Fair safe, therefore the insurance company was not expected to repay this amount. Derby Queen was Lillian Lane. Inland Empire Queen was Vera Dorman from Colville.
  • 1925 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 7 - 12). Inland Empire Queen was Margaret McGreevy of Tekoa. Derby Queen was Miss Margaret Paine.
  • 1926 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 6 - 11). Derby Queen was Catherine Ripley.
  • 1927 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 5 - 10). Theme - "Let' s Go". Charles Lindbergh visits the Fair after landing at Felts Field. Inland Empire Queen was Florence Jory of Kellogg, Idaho. Derby Queen was Ruth Triplett.
  • 1928 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 3 - 11). Attendance 129,776. Pomona Queen was Myrtle Blanchard. Derby Queen was Dorothy Johnson.
  • 1929 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 2 - 7). Attendance 120,671. Inland Empire Queen was Margaret Lewellan of Rosalia. Derby Queen was Claudia Randall.
  • 1930 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 1 - 6). Attendance 106,162. November 21 - stockholders ratified the recommendation of the a committee of trustees to discontinue the Fair and ordered the trustees to take steps to liquidate. The decision was not due to business conditions at the Fair but because it was believed fair had become passe. December 12 - The Interstate Fairgrounds are purchased by the City of Spokane. Inland Empire Queen was Floye Garrison of Clarkston.
  • 1931 February 25 - The Spokane City Council passes an emergency measure to turn the Fairgrounds over to the Board of Park Commissioners which were to then manage and control the grounds. There was no Fair in 1931.
  • 1932 - 1933 no Fairs.
  • 1934 Playfair was organized by I.L. Hildenbrandt. John Jerome was named holder of the lease of the grounds and race track.
  • 1935 Event similar to the Fair was held at Playfair.
  • 1936 - 1940 Various supporters rally to hold the Fair once again.
  • 1941 August 21 - Articles of Incorporation are signed and filed with the County Clerk for the Spokane Valley County Fair.
  • 1942 Spokane Valley - County Fair Horse Show held netting a profit of $156.41.
  • 1943 Spokane County Fair (September 9 - 12). Profits of $1,071.20.
  • 1944 Spokane Valley County Fair (October 6 - 8).
  • 1945 The name was changed from the Spokane County Fair to the Spokane Interstate Fair on January 11. On January 31, the Fair Association began a search for a permanent location for the Fair as the location at Playfair was leased from year to year (1901 through 1930). The present site at Havana and Broadway was recommended. Fund raising begins. There was no Fair held in 1945.
  • 1946 - 1949 Meetings are held with fair organizers in an effort to revive the Spokane Interstate Fair. There were no fairs held during this period.
  • 1950 The Fair Association signs a 35 year lease with the County for the 97-acre site at Broadway and Havana. Under the terms of the lease, the Fair Association was bound to hold a fair no later than October 15, 1952.
  • 1951 Fund raising for $150,000 begins to erect buildings at the new location.
  • 1952 Spokane Interstate Fair (August 29 - September 1). Attendance 40,000. Miss Spokane was Marcia Guzman. Spokane Valley Youth Fair Queen was Helen Sullivan.
  • 1953 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 4 - 7). Theme - "Spirit of the West". Inland Empire Queen was Janice Kannenwisher of Othello.
  • 1954 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 3 - 6).
  • 1955 Spokane Interstate Fair (August 25 - 28). The Floral Palace is constructed.
  • 1956 Spokane Interstate Fair (August 22 - 26). December 27 - The Spokane Indians Baseball Club gives the County all that is owns at Ferris Field in exchange for construction of a ballpark at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds.
  • 1957 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 18 - 22). Theme - "It' s For You". Ten acres of wheat were grown at the Fairgrounds for use in the old threshing machine. The waterfall attraction on the south lawn was constructed by the Spokane Men' s Garden Club. The rodeo queen was Tammy Dix.
  • 1958 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 17 - 21). Theme - "It' s For You". Fairest of the Fair was Joyce Klassen of Opportunity.
  • 1959 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 16-20). Fairest of the Fair was Cheryl Fulton of Fairfield.
  • 1960 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 14 - 18). Theme - "Big Show of the Year". Attendance 60,376. Fairest of the Fair was Susan Ann Stephenson of Benge.
  • 1960 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 14 - 18). Theme - "Big Show of the Year". Attendance 60,376. Fairest of the Fair was Susan Ann Stephenson of Benge.
  • 1961 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 13 - 17). Theme - "It' s For You". Attendance exceeded 60,000. Exhibition Quarter Horse Racing makes its debut. Fairest of the Fair was Carol Katheryn Marsh of Amber.
  • 1962 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 12 - 16). Attendance 80,917. Fairest of the Fair was Nancy Whitney of Davenport.
  • 1963 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 11 - 15). Theme - "More to See in ‘63". Attendance 86,723. Fairest of the Fair was Margaret Cheryl Goss of Almira.
  • 1964 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 15 - 20). Theme - "It' s For You". Fairest of the Fair was Karen Marie Williams of Davenport.
  • 1965 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 18 - 26). Attendance 143,785. A 60 foot totem pole was donated to the Fair by the estate of the late Leno Prestini of Clayton, Washington. Prestini, an artist who gained considerable fame for his modern paintings, died in 1963. Fairest of the Fair was Marjorie Ann Neace.
  • 1966 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 10 - 18). Theme - "Hey Hey - Fun Everyday". Attendance 150,522. Fairest of the Fair was Janet Miller of Cheney.
  • 1967 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 9 - 17). Attendance record of 164,391. Fairest of the Fair was Gail Krupke.
  • 1968 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 7 - 15). Attendance record of 170,709. Improvements to the facility include blacktopping the poultry barn, landscaping three acres, construction of new game pens for birds and water fowls, exhibition of a new rose garden, construction of permanent concrete curbing for feature flowers. Fairest of the Fair was Janice Gunning of Davenport.
  • 1969 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 6 - 14). Attendance 203,382. Fairest of the Fair was Judy Reinbold of Davenport.
  • 1970 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 12 - 20). Exotic and colorful fish were on display for the first time at the Spokane Interstate Fair. International Fairs and Expositions names the facility "Best of North America" for landscaping. Fairest of the Fair was Gigi Stearns of Rockford.
  • 1971 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 11 - 19). Attendance 234,342. Fairest of the Fair was Christi Janett of Pullman. 1972 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 9 - 17). Theme - "It' s For You". Attendance 243,957. Fairest of the Fair was Dawna Boleneus of Davenport.
  • 1973 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 8 - 16). Attendance 262,605. Fairest of the Fair was Linda Bergeron of Reardan.
  • 1974 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 7 - 15). The World' s Fair "Expo 74" was held in Spokane contributing somewhat to the decline in attendance at Spokane' s "other fair". Fairest of the Fair was Sue Laib.
  • 1975 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 6 - 14). Attendance 267,412. Fairest of the Fair was Tammy Broyles of Edwall.
  • 1976 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 11 - 19). The United States celebrates its bicentennial. Long-time Fair Manager, Charles Meenach, is replaced by his brother, Ray Meenach. Fairest of the Fair was Christie Lee Nonemacher of Davenport.
  • 1977 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 10-18). Theme - "Yum Yum - Yahoo - Oink". Front entrance was installed at the facility as well as new chutes, fences, and lighting in the grandstand and new lighting in the south lawn area. Fairest of the Fair was Sheryl Benning of Deep Creek.
  • 1978 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 9 - 17). Theme - "Ee-igh Ee-igh, Oh". The Longhorn Barbecue building is constructed in its current location. Fairest of the Fair was Sheila Jernstedt of Colbert.
  • 1979 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 8 - 16). Theme - "Good Ol' Country Fun". Attendance 315,000. Fairest of the Fair was Lisa Asco of Mead.
  • 1980 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 6 - 14). Theme - "Duck Into the Interstate". Attendance 320,000. Improvements to the Fairgrounds included remodeling the old livestock area restrooms into a work shop for grounds maintenance. A food booth for the Japanese American Citizens was constructed at no cost to the Fair. Fairest of the Fair was Camie Nokes of Colbert.
  • 1981 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 12 - 20). Theme - "Everyone' s Duckin In". Attendance 330,000. Fairest of the Fair was Deborah Hall.
  • 1982 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 11 - 19). Theme - "Quack-a-Doodle-Oink". Fairest of the Fair was Wendy Walsh.
  • 1983 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 10 - 18). Theme - "Duck-a-Roo". Attendance 337,000. East stage was constructed. Fairest of the Fair was Janet Lenke of Colbert.
  • 1984 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 8 - 16). Theme - "Go Quackers". Attendance 343,700. Fairest of the Fair was Michelle Robbins.
  • 1985 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 7 - 15). Theme - "Duckitty Doo-Dah". Fairest of the Fair was Laurie Audette.
  • 1986 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 6 - 14). Theme - "Go Whole Hog". Ray Perry replaces Ray Meenach as Fair Manager. Fairest of the Fair was Brenda Reitmeir of Cheney.
  • 1987 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 12 - 20). Theme - "A Hare Raising Experience!" Attendance over 350,000. First Professional Rodeo Cowboy' s Association Rodeo was held in conjunction with the Fair. Fairest of the Fair was Laura Pastwick.
  • 1988 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 9 - 18). Theme - "Bring the Whole Herd". Attendance 353,515. Fairest of the Fair was Erica Robertson.
  • 1989 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 8 - 17). Theme - "It' s a Family Affair". Record breaking attendance of 397,805. December - Fair Board is reduced to seven members. The Spokane Interstate Fair merges with the Parks and Recreation Department to form the Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Fair Department under the direction of Sam Angove. Fairest of the Fair was Brenda Lee Mills of Espanola.
  • 1990 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 7 - 16). Theme - "Best Show Off Broadway and Havana". Fairest of the Fair was Julie Patricia Carmack of Rockford.
  • 1991 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 13 - 20). Theme - "Be Country - Big Time". Fairest of the Fair was Jennifer Gibson.
  • 1992 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 11 - 20). Theme - "Get a Mooove On". The Fair fails to round up enough votes to pass a bond issue to remodel the Fairgrounds. Fairest of the Fair was Brenda Marie Rouse of Chattaroy.
  • 1993 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 10 - 19). Theme - "A Fair to Remember". Attendance 279,166. An "L-Shaped" facility was constructed along Broadway Avenue, specifically the Agriculture, Interconnect, Poultry / Rabbit, and Swine Buildings. The petting zoo facility on the north lawn was also constructed for the youth of the area. Fairest of the Fair was Rebecca Bailey of Espanola.
  • 1994 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 9 - 18) - Theme - "100 Years of Tradition" celebrating 100 years since the first Spokane fair. Attendance 287,381. Paul Gillingham was hired as the Fair Manager. Fairest of the Fair was Melanie Jane Lund of Cheney.
  • 1995 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 8 - 17). Theme - "Fair Days and Starry Nights" focusing on the return of headliner entertainment such as Tim McGraw and Martina McBride. Attendance 284,694. Fairest of the Fair was Lisa Evans. The Moonshriners (Elephant Ears) constructed a permanent food booth just northwest of food row.
  • 1996 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 6 - 15). Theme - "Bee Bop A Moo Moo". Attendance 280,711. A 40,000 square foot exhibit building was constructed south of the Main Exhibition Building. The Fair was this building' s first tenant. Along with the new building, the main parking lot was given a face lift through paving and installation of drainage. Fairest of the Fair was Carrie Olson. November 19 - The Fairgrounds suffered severe tree damage from an ice storm and the facility was without power for 2.5 days. Power was restored just in time to open the Custer' s Christmas Arts and Crafts Show marking their 100th show at the facility.
  • 1997 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 5 - 14). Theme - "Footloose at the Fair". Attendance 262,182. Iris "Dolly" Hughes was named as the new Business Operations Manager replacing the Fair Manager position. Ferrets made their first appearance at the Spokane Interstate Fair. Fairest of the Fair was Jennifer Burton. Electrical upgrades occurred in the RV parking area east of the outdoor arena.
  • 1998 Spokane Interstate Fair (September 11 - 20). Theme - "Boot Scoot Your Boogie to the Fair" featuring a chicken named "Legs Benedict". Attendance 276,790. Alliance Pacific Inc. became the new advertising agency. Butler Amusements replaced Rainier Shows Carnival which sold out after many years at the Fair. The Fairest of the Fair program was replaced by the Fair Ambassador program allowing both young men and women to apply. Ambassadors selected included Misty Coller, Cerissa Cunningham, and Annie Moseanko. The Fair sold wethers at the Market Stock Auction for the first time in its history. The Spokane County Fair and Expo Center was allocated approximately $3 million for capital improvements to the facility. The first of these improvements included a sewer system to allow most of the foods booths to hook directly into the sewer.
  • 1999 Spokane County' s Interstate Fair (September 10 - 19). Theme - "The Real Squeal Deal" featuring a pig named "Francis Blazing Bacon". Attendance 228,864. Ambassadors selected included Beth Boots, Alicia Hamp, Brandi Neagle, and Marci Schwartz. Improvements made with the previous year' s allocation included insulation in Ag Complex Building A as well as a building to house new horse stalls (horse stalls to be in place in 2000). Pocket Pets made their first appearance at the Interstate Fair. The winner of the WSFA "Black and White Award" was the Beef / Dairy Barn, superintendents Dick Blakley and Tracy Knutson. The winners of the Fair' s five coveted "Red, White, and Blue Awards" were the Beef / Dairy Barn, Atlantis Aquatics, G and E Catering, Oak Creek Village, and Rings and Things. Adding to its diversity, the Fair sold chickens and rabbits at this year' s Market Stock Auction. A special area was set aside this year for "Familyville" near the South Gate. The area included several entertainment areas as well as a demonstration area that ran throughout the day geared towards children - a large portion of the kiddy rides was located in this area as well. This year' s big name entertainment included Mitch Ryder with Gary Lewis and the Playboys as well as Chely Wright.