Old Dominion Headlines Hot Entertainment Line-Up at Grays Harbor County Fair

The Grays Harbor County Fair is nearly here. Oh, the food, the fun, the festivities! Carnival rides and games, that unique and blissful “fair food” and the hometown entertainment, as well as livestock and home crafts—could it get any better? Yes! And it does.

As always, there’s world class music coming to the Grays Harbor County Fair. And, this year’s headlining entertainment on the Pepsi Stage is no exception, featuring one of Billboard’s Top country artists, 2016 CMA nominee Old Dominion. Also appearing on the grand Pepsi stage are the locally popular Olsen Bros. Band from Olympia, a popular fan favorite that continues to grow in popularity. For something different, enjoy a cappella group The Coats from Puyallup and Portland’s Petty Fever—an award-winning Tom Petty tribute band.

Old Dominion
Billboard chart topping group Old Dominion will be the Grays Harbor County Fair’s headlining act in 2017, performing on Wednesday, August 9. Photo courtesy: Old Dominion

RCA recording artist Old Dominion’s music has what reviewers call an “old-fashioned country charm, lyrical wit and rock n’ roll grit” that features “radio-friendly hook-heavy pop nuggets.” The band hits the Pepsi Stage on August 9. According to their website the band has “emerged as one of the hottest breaking bands in country music.” When they released their first full-length album Meat and Candy, ‘Entertainment Weekly’ called it a “deceptively smart, occasionally cheeky, stellar debut.”

Old Dominion released their platinum single, two-week Billboard No. 1 “Break Up with Him” and the RIAA certified gold country/pop crossover (skater) hit “Snapback” prior to their third Billboard Top Ten single “Song for Another Time.” At the time that this article was written, their song “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart” has spent 16 weeks on the Billboard charts and is currently at number 15 and climbing. They spent last summer on Kenny Chesney’s Spread the Love Tour.

Sponsored by Big Foot 107.3 and North Beach RV, Old Dominion hits the Grays Harbor County Fair Pepsi Stage hot off their spring tour with Miranda Lambert on her Highway Vagabond Tour. The ACM and ACCA Breakthrough Duo/Group of the Year are also nominated for two CMA Awards: Best New Artist and Vocal Group of the Year and Favorite Duo or Group – Country for the 2016 American Music Awards. Reserve seating tickets for the Wednesday, August 9 concert are now on sale at the Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds for $40 each. Those who purchase these tickets receive free fair admission. For those brave enough to take a chance, there is limited, general admission bleacher seating that’s free with paid fair admission. See fairgrounds website for details.

 

The Coats
The Coats are an a capella group out of Puyallup that will delight “Pitch Perfect” fans everywhere. Photo courtesy: The Coats

The Thursday, August 10 show features nationally touring artists, The Coats—the Pacific Northwest’s premiere a cappella band. In a career spanning almost two decades, the quartet has shared the stage with dozens of acts such as Gallagher, The Beach Boys, Jay Leno, Trisha Yearwood and Eddie Money. Performing classics and covers from Country to Christmas, their intensely arranged yet hilarious, interactive performance blends music and comedy. The concert is free with paid fair admission.

Originating in Olympia, The Olson Bros Band burst onto the country music scene in 2013 and had more than fifty shows on their 2016 summer schedule including an opening gig for Craig Morgan. Lead by singers and songwriters Luke and Isaac Olson, The Bros have recently been enjoying a little time on the radio waves throughout Washington for their new single “Dangerous.”  Read more here:  http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2017/07/06/old-dominion-grays-harbor-county-fair/

Searching For Sasquatch in Grays Harbor County

 
sasquatch

Shrouded in mystery and lore, the legendary Sasquatch is said to be lurking in the remote forests around Grays Harbor. Out the dense, primeval woods of the Olympic Peninsula where few people venture each year, the mythical, ape-like creature is said to be living, occasionally sighted by visitors and locals alike. Nearly everyone in Grays Harbor has had or knows someone who has had a Bigfoot experience
making this region one of the most likely places to encounter a Sasquatch. Deep in the timbered river valleys, the Grays Harbor region is the ideal place to possibly make a believer of even the biggest skeptic.

Sasquatch
Author David George Gordon is a Sasquatch enthusiast, but also a proponent of scientific research and healthy skepticism. Photo courtesy: David George Gordon

Sasquatch sightings have been occurring around Grays Harbor for as long as people have been in the area. Tales from the local tribes tell of the C’iatqo, a large ape-like creature that roams the forest, occasionally tormenting and visiting locals throughout the Olympic Peninsula. The increase in population hasn’t stopped the Sasquatch sightings around Grays Harbor. According to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, there have been at least a dozen reported Sasquatch sightings in Grays Harbor over the past decade, with many more not reported to this group.

David George Gordon, author of The Sasquatch Seekers Field Manual has been helping educate the region on Sasquatch and how to document your experiences. His book is published by Mountaineers Books with the goal of inspiring readers and Sasquatch enthusiasts to observe nature closely, gathering scientifically acceptable data and refining wilderness navigation skills. The goal of Gordon’s book is to help everyone become a proficient citizen scientist, hopefully helping to bring Bigfoot into the spotlight of scientific scrutiny.

“In my opinion, the entire Olympic National Forest and Park are easily walking distance for Sasquatch,” replied Mr. Gordon when asked about why the Grays Harbor region is a hotbed for Sasquatch sightings. “Not many areas have been trod as little as this corner of the Pacific Northwest. There is a lot of wilderness out there that isn’t visited too often.”  Read more here:  http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2017/03/20/sasquatch-grays-harbor-county/

Pig Tails & Country Trails at the 2017 GHC Fair

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2016 CMA NOMINEE OLD DOMINION HEADLINES FIVE DAYS OF ENTERTAINMENT

 

ELMA, WA – June 30, 2017 – The Grays Harbor County Fair is a summer tradition, and this year’s event offers five days of music, food, animals, exhibits and family fun Aug. 9-13 at the fairgrounds in Elma.

 

It’s a real old-fashioned summer fair: from the 4-H animals and gardening/baking displays, to the amusement rides and games and musical entertainment for the whole family. And save room for all of the delicious fair food.

 

“We’ve got another great music lineup throughout the five days of the Fair,” said Mike Bruner, Grays Harbor Fairgrounds and Tourism Manager. “But there’s more than just great music. Our theme this year is ‘Pig Tails & Country Trails,’ with fun new activities, exhibits, animals and shows, combining with returning favorites for the ultimate fair experience.”

 

This year’s top headliner is the 2016 CMA nominee Old Dominion, hot off their spring tour with Miranda Lambert on her Highway Vagabond Tour. The ACM and ACCA Breakthrough Duo/Group of the Year are also nominated for two CMA Awards: Best New Artist and Vocal Group of the Year and Favorite Duo or Group – Country for the 2016 American Music Awards. Golden Circle reserved seats for the show are $40, which includes admission to the Fair. Tickets are available in advance at the Grays Harbor County Fair office. General admission seating for Old Dominion is free with paid admission to the Grays Harbor County Fair. Old Dominion is sponsored by Bigfoot 107.3 and North Beach RV.

 

For something different, enjoy a cappella group The Coats from Puyallup, appearing Aug. 10 on the Pepsi Stage.  Also returning to the Pepsi stage on Aug. 11 on are the locally popular Olsen Bros. Band from Olympia, a popular fan favorite from last year. Plus, following the car races on Aug. 12 is Portland’s Petty Fever – an award-winning Tom Petty tribute band, sponsored by Bayview Building Materials of Elma.

 

There’s lots of other entertainment included with fair admission, including a talent show Aug. 11, award-winning comedian/magician Steve the Pretty Good (performing daily), Muriel’s Petting Zoo, the exotic animal rescue and educational exhibition A Walk on the Wild Side, sponsored by Sierra Pacific and Great Northwest Federal Credit Union, and more. And of course, all of the popular animals, floral, garden and food displays throughout the grounds.

 

The raceway will roar with car racing on Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. – a Grays Harbor County Fair tradition – free with paid admission to the Fair, and sponsored by Grays Harbor Raceway.

 

The Grays Harbor County Fair runs Aug. 9-13 at the fairgrounds in Elma, Wash. The Fair is affordable to everyone, with many admission discounts. The Grays Harbor County Fair honors current and former military personnel with a $2 Military Appreciation Discount available daily.  Thursday is Kids Day, and all youth get a $1 discount off Fair admission – plus kids 5 and under are free every day of the Fair.  Admission is free from 10-11 a.m. on Sunday of the fair. Or, on Sunday, bring your Buy-mart Card and get a $1 discount all day.  Parking is $5 per day. Carnival wristbands, for unlimited rides, will be on sale at three Anchor Banks in Grays Harbor County (Elma, Montesano and Aberdeen)—pre-sales are $22; day of fair price will be $27 each.

 

Fair hours are 10 am – 10 pm, Aug. 9-11; 10 am – 11 pm, Aug. 12; and 10 am – 5 pm, Aug. 13.

 

For more information on the Grays Harbor County Fair call 360-482-2651 or visit the fair website at ghcfairgrounds.com.

 

Experience the Towns and Beaches of Northern Grays Harbor this Summer

 

Beach views

It’s summertime and the living is easy. We in Washington are blessed with miles and miles of beautiful, pristine beaches. But, how to decide which ones to visit? For truly supreme and secluded coastline, take a trip to the North Beach area of Grays Harbor. While this entire area offers fantastic vistas, great razor clam digging (in season), fishing, bird watching, excellent hiking and a variety of aquatic sports, each area is unique in its own special way. Here is a guide to get you started, but don’t forget to branch out and explore. You’ll be happy you did.

Moclips and Pacific Beach

In addition to its gorgeous beaches, Moclips is well known for the Museum of the North Beach. This local treasure is chock full of an eclectic assortment of historical items and fascinating curios. Here you’ll find records from the 1964 tsunami, a fully restored 1910 wedding dress from the region’s first “royal” family and a train room showcasing an assortment of memorabilia from the Northern Pacific Railway Company. Perhaps most popular of all is a growing exhibit of Japanese tsunami debris collected from local beaches.

hot chocolate
Emily’s Confections is a must stop while in Pacific Beach.

While you’re in town swing into the Sea Gate Restaurant & Lounge for an informal and surprisingly delicious meal you won’t forget. The pizza is a great option and burgers are big and juicy. Then stop into Emily’s Confections in Pacific Beach for a delectable treat. Be sure to take some time to wander around this quiet little seaside town. Unexpected treasures await.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay, check out the Ocean Crest Resort, a local gem that’s been family owned for three generations. This resort is perfectly situated between forest and sea, offering its guests the best of both. Its clifftop location offers breathtaking views sure to make an impression. Ocean Crest Resort also offers the best in comfort with an indoor pool, spa, health club, fine dining restaurant and cocktail lounge.  Read more here:  http://www.graysharbortalk.com/2017/06/28/grays-harbor-summer-beach-vacation/

Rediscovering the Quinault Rainforest