Lacamas Community Fair tradition brings Roy community closer

From humble beginnings of like-minded folks around a table in 1929, to the Lacamas Fair of today — the spirit of community continues to provide analog entertainment in a digital world.

It was last weekend when the Lacamas Community Club buzzed with activities for children and adults who came together to celebrate each other with food, art, and a variety of activities for everyone during the Lacamas Community Fair on Saturday, Aug. 29, and Sunday, Aug. 30.

The summer fair is an opportunity for area families to experience the look and feel of an old-fashioned fair, where children are encouraged to bring their pets and farm animals for show and where anyone can enter their carefully-tended produce or art for judging.

For many years, the apple pie contest was dominated by one family, but as of late, there is a contingent of apple pie bakers who take the contest seriously.

With competition so fierce, fair director Holly Wood told the Nisqually Valley News, “I’ve had to bring in some actual food judges in for it.”

There is never an entry fee to the fair, nor is there a fee to enter any of the judging categories. Everyone wins a ribbon, so even the youngest can participate and experience the joy of winning a prize at the fair.

All details for entering are included in the fair book, available online at their website at lacamasfair.org/events.

Apart from two years of forced closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lacamas Community Club has provided space for several events including the annual harvest festival, a vendor centric pre-holiday bazaar, an actual holiday bazaar, 4-H Club meetings, receptions and other events.

Distant past events have included dance lessons, karaoke and exercise classes hosted by various community members.

The annual Roy Fourth of July Parade is now also put on by the club and has grown to be more than an hour long, according to Wood. In the past, the parade was so short on entries, the procession went around the block twice so entrants could disperse all the candy they bought.

Be on the lookout for Harvest Fest and other information on Facebook or the community center website at lacamasfair.org/events.

The Lacamas Community Center is located at 32113 8th Ave. S. in Roy.