Step Back in Time in Matlock
By Rachel Hansen
Celebrate timber heritage at the Matlock Old Timer's Fair happening May 4-5, 2024. Each May volunteers from the tiny Mason County town of Matlock transform their local school grounds and invite attendees to step back to a simpler time of homemade pies, tractor rides and country dances at this annual family-friendly event.
The Fair provides fun for the whole family and admission is FREE. Delicious country fair food – especially the homemade pies (try a piece and take home the whole pie) and a community welcome are the hallmarks of this decades old tradition. Enjoy living forestry and farming historical displays, craft and historical exhibits. Should a May rain shower come to the party, enjoy your Elephant Ears, fresh grilled salmon or pies indoors with toe tapping live music, warm and out of the rain.
The fair celebrates Matlock’s heritage in the timber industry, with draft horses, early day machines and motors as well as blacksmithing and an entire gym filled with antique booths. In addition, enjoy kids activities (including tractor rides and a giant slide), hand-crafted items, historical events, agricultural events, food, a firewood raffle, prizes and live music.
While most of the displays are inside the school buildings, be sure to stop by the John Tornow Exhibit located on-site in the Matlock Community Museum. This is the story of an "unsolved mystery", a century later. "Victim or Villain?" is the true story of events from a century ago. John Tornow lived in the Matlock area and his memory lives on in the museum which is open during the Fair.
Learn the history of Washington's rural timber and farm communities at the Matlock Museum, located on site and open during the event.
A favorite tradition at the Old Timers Fair is to pick up a delicious homemade pie.
Other attractions include kids train rides, tractor pulls, draft horse rides, plant and starter vegetable sale, crafts and antique booths, and live demonstrations of the Dolbeer steam donkey. Sunday features antique and classic cars, tractors and steam engines.
This year the event is happening May 4-5, 2024 with the fair open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Sunday. The event is located at 2987 Matlock-Brady Rd., about five miles south of the Matlock store and 15 miles north on Highway 8. For additional details CLICK HERE.
For more information on this event and more in the Hood Canal Region, please visit Explore Hood Canal at https://www.explorehoodcanal.com/