KENNEWICK — The Benton Franklin County Fair and Rodeo will be held from August 25 to 29 this year with plenty of opportunities for fun and excitement. Executive Director Lori Lancaster said this year’s fair will be another exciting event that everyone can enjoy. 

“Our goal is to uplift the youth of the community by giving them a place to showcase their hard work and their exhibits and their animals. That’s the backbone of the event,” said Lancaster. “We always want to provide a place that has something for all different people to enjoy.” 

The biggest addition to the fair this year is Benton County’s installation of a new grandstand at the rodeo arena, she said. This has been a large project that they’ve been working on and those attending the demo derby and rodeo this year can utilize the new commodity. 

“That has really changed the face of the arena and modernized the seating,” said Lancaster. “It has an ADA ramp, it has lots of bathrooms and all the things that’ll make it a much more convenient and accessible arena for people to enjoy.” 

This new grandstand will increase the seating capacity of the arena from 3000 people to 6000 people. Lancaster said the demolition derby has historically sold out and this expansion will allow more people to have the opportunity to attend the events. 

“We’re hoping we can fill it this year,” she said. “It’d be pretty exciting to see that grandstand full on the first night we open.” 

The demo derby will run August 22, the Saturday before the main fair begins, at 5:30 p.m. The Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo will run throughout the duration of the fair with different themes each night starting at 7 p.m. 

Another key installation for the fair this year is the addition of the Nurture Nest, for parents to take their children to change 

“We have a lot of different small things like that we’re doing, but we really want to focus our attention on making sure we can do justice to this new stadium and make sure people can get in there and easily enjoy themselves,” said Lancaster. 

As usual, the Benton Franklin Fair will feature an assortment of live performances at this year’s fair. The music performances kick off Tuesday with Brantly Gilbert followed by Skillet Wednesday, Lee Brice Thursday, The Art of Rap Friday and El, Jerry, Gerardo Coronel Saturday to wrap up the week. 

“We have a really good lineup this year, a lot of diversity in the acts,” said Lancaster. “It’s gotten really expensive to have live concerts at fairs and finding artists who can route this direction and do the things to make it fun for different audiences to enjoy on different nights. We really feel good about our lineup this year and it’s exciting to see such a positive public response.” 

This year’s Queen of the fair was selected as Ashleigh Emlaw, from Kennewick, who is studying veterinary medicine through Penn Foster College. She is also working as a veterinary assistant at Double Arrow Veterinary Clinic in Pasco, according to the Benton Franklin Fair website. 

Lancaster highlighted the grounds acts that attendees can experience throughout the week. This will include a variety of family entertainment from roaming performers who will do more street performance types of acts rather than just having people stand on a stage. 

“We do a lot more roving and street entertainment,” she said. “I think it really has a bigger impact because it touches more people.” 

The wine garden will also have a special performance of dueling pianos each night of the fair. 

“People just seem to love dueling pianos so we’re excited to bring that to the fair this year,” Lancaster said. 

This will be the Benton Franklin Fair’s 78th year of operations and the executive director said she is ready to see people come down and enjoy the festivities once again. 

“We’re just excited to be in a position where we are geared up and ready to have the best event in town,” said Lancaster. “Hope that everyone comes out and enjoys the best week of summer with us.” 

    The Rodeo Queen rides on her horse while waving to the crowd at a previous Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo.
 COURTESY PHOTO/BENTON FRANKLIN FAIR   

    Children and their families line the street as they await the grand parade during a previous Benton Franklin Fair week.
 COURTESY PHOTO/BENTON FRANKLIN FAIR   

    A rider holds onto his horse during a previous ‘Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night’ at the Benton Franklin Fair.
 COURTESY PHOTO/BENTON FRANKLIN FAIR