Six new restaurants, rooftop bar coming to Washington State Fair. Here's what we know
Six new restaurants and a rooftop bar are coming to the Washington State Fair – just in time for the fair's 125th anniversary.
According to a Facebook post from the fair, construction is underway for the 1900 Food Hall & Rooftop Bar. Stacy Van Horne, the public relations manager for the fair, told The News Tribune the new food hall and rooftop bar will be available on the first day of the Washington State Fair on Aug. 29. The new project is named after the fair's first year in operation.
'[The rooftop bar] is probably one of the coolest views you'll get at the Spring Fair and State Fair,' Van Horne said this week. 'It's so pretty during the day and night too, with all the rides surrounding it. It's a central hub of the fairgrounds.'
Van Horne told The News Tribune this new food hall is part of $28 million in renovations the fair is doing in 2025.
Guests will be able to get burgers at Benji's Diner, gourmet sandwiches at Big Mouth Sandos, pizza at Upper Crust, food inspired by the Pacific Northwest at The Pier, Asian cuisine at Fat Panda and desserts at DOH! Sweets & Treats. The chef behind the 1900 Food Hall is James Beard-nominated chef Mich Mayers, who is overseeing the vision behind all six options.
'We feel like having this diversity in six restaurants really gives something to everybody,' Van Horne said.
The new hall will replace the International Village, which had been a fair fixture for 40 years. The International Village was a major hub for food at the fair, offering a variety of dishes from several restaurants and a rooftop bar.
'The building was old and decrepit — so for aesthetic reasons, for safety reasons, for good variety and to continue to become a first-class facility, we knew that we had to bring this building down and find a great way to rebuild it,' Van Horne said.
The $28 million in renovations also includes a new water feature at the front of the Gold Gate. Another major renovation project is the demolition of Barn M, which will be replaced with an entertainment area. The animals in Barn M will be relocated to other areas of the fairgrounds.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
No unaccompanied minors, only clear bags at Naperville's Last Fling this year
No unaccompanied minors will be allowed at Naperville's Last Fling this year, per new security measures announced by organizers on social media. Put on by the Naperville Jaycees, the annual Labor Day celebration is scheduled for Aug. 29-Sept. 1. With less than three months to go, the nonprofit social service club announced in a Facebook post that the event will have more safety requirements than in previous years, some of which are being dictated by the city. Among them is a provision that attendees under the age of 18 be accompanied by someone over the age of 25. One guardian will be able to supervise up to five minors. They have also instituted a clear bag policy, meaning only see-through and small clutch bags will be permitted. Bag storage will not be available and anyone with unapproved items will be turned away, organizers say. Further, all patrons will be subject to metal detector screenings. The announcement of the additional measures come days after organizers of the city's annual India Day Festival & Concert said they would be scaling back festivities this year amid rising costs from city-mandated security requirements. Bolstering safety measures at the Last Fling will impact the Jaycees 'significantly,' said Karen Coleman, the event's public relations and marketing chair. But the additional measures are also necessary for putting on the safest event possible, she said. 'We just need everyone to understand how important safety is to us,' she said. 'We would be devastated if something untoward happened at our event.' Asked about the financial impact of the added measures, Coleman said they were still figuring out the total cost but estimated it will be 'in the tens of thousands of dollars.' The new requirement for minor supervision was born out of crowd control issues related to minors in past years, Coleman said. As was the case previously, Last Fling will again be surrounded by fencing with gated entrances, Coleman said. The event's current location is along Jackson Avenue from Ewing Street to Main Street. However, the layout of the grounds may be altered next year, she said. 'The city of Naperville wants us to change the footprint of the event,' she said. Last Fling could move away from Jackson Avenue and take place at the Naperville Riverwalk's Rotary Hill instead. At this point, it's a possibility but 'not a done deal,' City Clerk Dawn Portner said. Like it does with every event in town, the city's special events team will evaluate the lessons learned from this year's Last Fling once it's over to determine if any changes need to be made for future events, Portner said. 'I think (one) of the issues that we're concerned with is compression,' she said. '(Last Fling) is a great event. It's a well-attended event, and we want to make sure that everyone who goes is safe. And if there is an incident that happens, that police can get in there (and) the fire department can get in there. … That's the way we look at it. 'Does it need a bigger location? Does it need a new location? Will (that) help if we do have compression issues? And if we have anything that we need to be concerned with, can we do it better? Is there a reason to do it better?' In an interview last week, Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said additional security requirements at large-scale events in town are 'something we've been really pushing towards for the past few years and are finally getting traction (on).' 'Outdoor events are big, big targets for those looking to do bad things,' Arres said, 'and they're increasingly vulnerable to mass violence. … (These recommendations) keep these events safe and can actually deter threats before they occur.' Coleman said this year's Last Fling will still be the staple Labor Day celebration that attendees know and love — just safer. 'We're not trying to ruin anyone's great time or change the perspective of this awesome, end-of-summer event,' she said. 'We're super excited for the Fling this year.' Updates and more information about Last Fling, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, can be found at
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Campaign to host second digital takeover in support of Colchester man with cancer
A CAMPAIGN is asking Colchester's community to turn their screens black tomorrow night in support of a man battling cancer. Stuart Smith, nicknamed Stu, was first diagnosed with melanoma six years ago. The 40-year-old accountant lives in Stanway with his wife, Lauren - who, together, have been on a gruelling journey of failed treatments and surgeries. The pair, along with countless supporters and campaign #DoItForStu, are on a mission to raise £167,000. Fighter - Stuart Smith is battling stage 4 cancer (Image: #DoItForStu) The funds will be spent on a potentially life-saving treatment in Israel - which is Stu's last chance to beat his stage four cancer. The fundraising figure now stands at £107,976, including an anonymous donation of £20,000. Tomorrow night at 8pm #DoItForStu will host its second digital takeover and is asking Colchester's community to join in on the social media blackout. The online event reached over 60,000 people within 24 hours last month, and campaigners are hoping to see the same level of support tomorrow. A spokesman for #DoItForStu said: "The impact was huge and since then, this movement has grown faster than we ever imagined. "Now we are SO close to Stu's target and this is the moment to come together again and push harder than ever. "I'm asking EVERY single one of you to unite once more and flood Facebook with Stu's story. "We need to tip this movement over the line and we need to do it now because Stu doesn't have time on his side. "This is a united movement - one last big blackout, one last big push, one chance to save a life. "Please stand with us tomorrow - together, we are unstoppable." United - The digital takeover will begin at 8pm tomorrow night (Image: #DoItForStu) The digital blackout will see Stu's friends, family members and supporters posting the #DoItForStu blackout image, as well as changing their profile pictures and flooding their feeds with the viral hashtag. For more information, visit and
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Inside ‘giggly' Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's PDA-packed Palm Beach date night: ‘This is true love'
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were a picture-perfect couple during their Palm Beach, Fla., date night earlier this week, Pamela Goodman, who sat right next to the couple, exclusively gushes to Page Six. 'They were a giggly couple on a date. They were just adorable!' the Grammy winner's longtime fan, who belongs to Facebook groups like 'Fearless Swifties over 50,' tells us in a phone interview Friday. Goodman shares that she and a friend made impromptu dinner plans at Buccan restaurant Wednesday night and got a table in the back, left-hand corner. They were engaged in conversation when Swift and Kelce, both 35, suddenly walked in and were seated right next to her. 'I vaguely felt someone come in – just out of my peripheral vision, I didn't even look,' she says. 'I didn't want to stare, but then I casually took time and looked over there.' When she realized who it was, she thought to herself, 'Oh my God, I can't believe this' and says she started 'shaking.' However, Goodman regained her composure, as Buccan's owner and manager went up to her and her friend, Jeff, to 'make sure [they] were cool.' Swift's bodyguard was also seated at a nearby table. The 69-year-old superfan — who even attended the 'Fortnight' singer's concert in Miami sporting stacks of friendship bracelets on her wrist — tells us she noticed the 'incredibly gorgeous' couple sharing a menu and food, drinking cocktails, giving each other 'playful kisses' and laughing 'lots' told the 'You Belong With Me' singer and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end were not bothered throughout the night, as their fellow restaurant-goers were very respectful. However, when it was time for Goodman and her friend to leave, she prepared a few kind words to tell the global pop star and Super Bowl champ, as they had to squeeze past them anyway. 'I stood up and said, 'Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but I'm probably one of your oldest and biggest Swifties in the planet' and she laughed,' the Palm Beach county local shares. 'I said, 'I just had to stop and congratulate you on the re-ownership of your masters. I'm so, so happy for you. Congratulations.'' Following Goodman's acknowledgement of Swift's giant feat — after years of a public feud with Scooter Braun and several album re-recordings — the singer looked directly at the Swiftie and said, 'I noticed you! You are so beautiful,' adding, 'Thank you so much!' as they shook hands. Goodman then paid a compliment to Kelce, as well, telling him, 'I lived in Kansas City for seven years before you were even born but I'm a longtime Chiefs fan and I just wish you the best success in the season this year.' She continued, 'You're going to go back and I just know you're going to do it and I can't wait to watch it happen.' She tells us that the NFL star 'put out his hand immediately' and said 'thank you so much,' just 'as warm as [Swift] was [with] direct eye contact.' Kelce has been spending time in Florida as he is training there to prepare for the next football season following his decision to return to the league and not retire just yet. As a result, Swift has also been staying in the Sunshine State to support her beau, resulting in many sightings of the two at local spots. Overall, Goodman tells Page Six that she was left with a very positive impression of the power couple. 'Trust me, this is true love. This is not fake. They're real. They're adorable,' she says. 'They're friendly and they're just everything that those of us who are Swifties really believe they are. I saw it up close and personal.'
