The Fox Island Fair

A Historical Retrospective

The purpose of this page is to share the history of the Fox Island Fair, over the 11 year period between 1999 and 2010.  The fair is held on the 3rd Saturday in August, at the Nichols Community Center, 690 9th Avenue. 
A history of Fox Island Fair T-Shirts can be found here.

The 2010 FICRA Fair - It Was The BIGGEST Fair Ever!

Saturday, August 14, 2010 11am - 4pm
The 2010 FICRA Fair on August 14th, was the largest fair in Fox Island history. With over 120 vendors featuring games, crafts, artwork, plants, pottery, 'fair food' items, and other unique items, this was the largest FICRA fair ever. 

Vendors were allowed to choose their booth from the FICRA Fair 2010 Map

The 2010 Fair was the last to be organized by 2010 Fair Grand Marshalls Lise' & John Ohlson; after a 10 year run, the reins to the 2011 FICRA Fair were handed over to the incoming FICRA President.

Congratulations to Merideth Gurr, winner of the 2010 FICRA T-Shirt design contest!

The 2009 FICRA Fair Was the Best Ever!

FICRA would like to thank all of the vendors, volunteers and visitors to the 2009 FICRA fair. 

It was one of the best fairs ever, great weather, lots of cool things to do, see & buy

Come join your neighbors and friends at at the Nichols Community Center for Fox Island's annual summer tradition, the 2010 FICRA Fair.  Have a Fair burger, some ethnic food, or some of the Island's own home made blackberry cobbler. 

Get your kids involved in a booth, let them raise money and have a fun project. Sell your wares, play games or other fun stuff.  Pick up your FICRA Phone Book, get this year's T-shirt, and see the world's shortest parade!

The 2009 FICRA Fair t-shirts were designed by John Ohlson

FICRA Fair Grand Marshalls George & Marie Weis, escorted
by members of Boy Scout Troop 27 and Cub Scout Pack 202.

2008 FICRA Fair

Grand Marshall John Arno

Boy Scouts from Fox Island's Troop 27 escort the Grand Marshall of the FICRA Fair Parade.

The 2008 T-shirt, designed by George Weis, featured Northwest Indian inspired leaping salmon, designed by former Governor Dixy Lee Ray.

The 2004 installment of the annual FICRA Fair was another great time for all who attended. 

Photo by Dave McHugh

2004 T-shirt Designed by Nelson Jay
Grand Marshall Bill Marcy and his wife Melanie presided over one of the longer versions of the "World's Shortest Parade", when the parade route had to divert to the baseball field due to congestion in the normal parade area.  The traditional parade vehicle, an MG convertible; was provided by Ed Engelhardt, and uniformed Yacht Club officers served as parade escorts, in their dress whites.

Fair goers enjoyed meatball subs at "Arno's Cafe", cotton candy, giant cookies, mint juleps, ice cream floats, oriental food, berry cobbler, and of course the Yacht Club's famous "Fair Burgers".

A variety of games and activities were offered, from "in a dish, win a fish" coin toss, tie dye t-shirts with Marcy Powell, temporary tattoos, post card making, bounce house, the Museum's annual Book Sale, and of course the ever popular beer garden, sponsored by the Red Hook Brewing company.

The Fox Island T-shirts were in hot demand this year, with most popular sizes & styles selling out early in the day.  Janet Schneeman and sons (left) assisted FICRA Treasurer Judy Kanick at the t-shirt table in the FICRA Booth.

Live music was a new addition to the fair this year, with the Gig Harbor trio "Acoustic Union" playing popular music from the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's on acoustic guitars.

First Annual Fox Island Flower Show
Judy Wilson and her fellow Fox Island Garden Club members organized The First Annual Fox Island Judged Flower Show at the Nichols Community Center, held in conjunction with the 2004 FICRA Fair.

The winners of the following categories are:
1. Frieda Robinson - Mixed potted plantings
2. Jennifer Tonzi - Cut flowers
3. Rachel Detwiler - Floral arrangements
4. Karen Scott - Oversized blossoms
5. Ginny Pryne - Centerpiece Design
6. Lise' Ohlson - Hydrangeas
7. Linda Dodds - Fruit & Vegetables

Judges for the event were Corinne Hall and Jule Doring from Horsehead Bay Garden Club and Jo Martin from Tacoma.

 

The event was made possible by Fox Island Garden Club members; Judy Wilson, Marty Thompson, Jeanette Douglas, Janet Templeton, June Babson, Lois Miller, Freida Robinson, Linda Dodds, Thelma Laird, Juanita Bjork, Virginia Purkey, and Analise Stokes.

The Annual Fox Island Fair was held on Saturday, August 9th, under sunny skies.  It almost wasn't that way however, by 9:00 AM a steady drizzle was coming down, dampening the spirits of the vendors setting up their booths.  Fortunately, by the time the fair opened at 11:00 AM, the sun had come out, and things were in full swing.

Our Grand Marshall, Dave McHugh, rode in the back of a fabulous Cadillac convertible in Fox Island's famous "World's Shortest Parade".

Fifty-eight vendors offered homemade crafts, delicious food and drinks and community information such as how to prepare your family in an emergency.

FICRA wishes to thank the Fox Island Yacht Club for donating their tent for the beer garden, and a special thanks to Nelson Jay and the Red Hook Brewery for sponsoring the beer garden this year!

Ed & Terry Engelhardt served ice cold Red Hook beer 
to thirsty fairgoers

2002        

F O X   I S L A N D

w A S H I N G T O N

2002 FICRA Fair

The annual FICRA Fair was held on 
Saturday, August 10th, 2002 
from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
At the Nichols Community Center

Peruse the tents and choose from a wide variety of treats such as root beer floats, egg rolls and stir fry, beanie babies, homemade pies, t-shirts, painted rocks, books, soap, silk flowers, photos, Italian sub sandwiches, tea, pillows, purses, glass beads, jewelry, doggie treats, pony rides, Indonesian crafts, pottery, plants for your garden, sno-cones, baked goods, hats, puppets, birdhouses, banana bread and southern barbeque, and cold gazpacho soup.

2001 FICRA Fair

The 2000 edition of the annual FICRA Fair was well attended, and featured the dedication of the new Gazebo.