frequently asked questions

Lakefair Week is the annual event held over the third weekend in July at Heritage Park along Capitol Lake. Opening day for the 2025 season is on Wednesday, July 16 and continues through Sunday, July 20. Our organization operates year-round attending out of town parades with the float, volunteering for local events and other community activities. The festival opens daily at Noon and closes at 11p Wednesday-Saturday, closing later on Sunday at Midnight to accommodate the grand finale fireworks over Capitol Lake. Hours may be subject to change without notice.

Lakefair Week offers a variety of family friendly activities. Many events including the Grand Parade, Car Show, 50+ in the Park, Entertainment Mainstage and Grand Finale Fireworks are free to attend. There are also a variety of food vendors, craft vendor booths and carnival rides/games that operate all five days of the festival. Visit the events tab for a complete listing of things to see and do at Lakefair.

There's no admission fee for the event and many of the activities are also free to attend. Check the events page for more information of what's available this season.

Tickets are available beginning on opening day from Funtastic ticket booths. The number of tickets required varies based on the particular ride, please visit a Funtastic ticket both at the event for current pricing. Participants must be 2+ years of age for most rides, height and other safety restrictions may apply. Visit a Funtastic ticket booth for more information. Wristbands will not be available this year. You can contact Funtastic directly if you have specific questions or concerns relating to games, rides or Funtastic food vendors. Visit the website at funtasticshows.com for more information, email contact@funtasticshows.com or call 503.761.0989.

Official Lakefair merchandise will be available for purchase from the info trailer during Lakefair Week in July. The trailer is located along Water St near our food concessionaires. This seasons shirts are $20/ea. and pins $5/ea. Other select items may be available as well depending on availability.

No. Capital Lakefair is supported by a dedicated group of volunteers and does not hire seasonal employees. Funtastic Traveling Shows might have temporary positions available during the month of July. Please contact Funtastic directly if you'd like to learn more about employment opportunities. Visit the website at funtasticshows.com, email contact@funtasticshows.com or call 503.761.0989 for more information.

Yes! Lost and found items may be returned to the police trailer or the blue Lakefair information trailer located near our food concessions. All lost items received by Lakefair are returned to the police department following the event.

Lakefair Week is held at Heritage Park which is operated by the State of Washington and subject to park regulations. We advise attendees leave the pet(s) at home as this is a densely populated public event with a lot of activity and distractions. While not prohibited, the owner bears full responsibility for their pets behavior, clean-up and must remain mindful of fellow attendees. Pets must be leashed at all times and remain close to a responsible handler.

Due to space constraints downtown, there is no dedicated parking available for the event. Street parking is available in the surrounding area and you can visit olympiawa.gov/services/parking_services/index.php for more information. City street parking is free after 5p during the week and all day on Saturday/Sunday. The following routes will be closed during the event.

Lakefair craft/food/sponsor booths are operated by independent companies/organizations. Please request a receipt for all items purchased and reach out directly to the vendor with questions or inquiries. Food concessions on Water Street, north of Legion Way, are operated by a combination of non-profit and commercial vendors. Rides, games and food vendors south of Legion Way are operated by Funtastic and can be contacted online at funtasticshows.com, by email at contact@funtasticshows.com or by phone at 503.761.0989.

Capital Lakefair is made possible by a dedicated group of local volunteers that generously donate their time to the organization. If you're interested in helping out and getting more involved, you can visit the applications page to apply for volunteer service.

There are a wide variety of opportunities to explore including local cuisine, activities, sightseeing, lodging and more while spending time in the South Sound! Learn more about cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater, and plan your trip to Thurston County by visiting Experience Olympia & Beyond. Tumwater has the Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, the old Brewery, the Centennial Rose Garden at the historic Schmidt House, several craft breweries to try, the Olympic Flight Museum, Overlook Pointe Park, Tumwater Farmers Market, hiking/walking trails, and several excellent restaurants (don't miss the classic Eagan's/Big Tom's diner!). Lacey has the Lacey Museum, a variety of events at Huntamer Park, swimming pools at three Lacey high schools (for those hot July days), wineries, walking/bike trails, and their fantastic Regional Athletic Complex. While in Olympia, you can also visit the Capitol building and grounds, Capitol Lake, the Farmers Market, Hands on Children's Museum, Squaxin Park, Percival Landing Park and more.