Visitors, vendors, performers and community members flocked to Lynden for the first day of the Northwest Washington Fair Thursday, Aug. 10. 

From pygmy goats to deep-fried foods, the annual event features an array of attractions until Saturday, Aug. 19. 

Cascadia Daily News caught up with fair folks on opening day. 

Aireekah Laudert, Jackie Kersten 

Age: 38 and 43 

Role: Glitter Lyfe temporary tattoo artists 

Favorite fair foods: Roasted corn, poffertjes 

What is your favorite part about the fair? 

Laudert: “We started at the fair nine years ago, so one of my favorite parts is seeing people throughout the years. Seeing kids grow up, and I have friends that I always see at the fair and I really like that. Also, of course, the baby pigs.” 

Kersten: “What it comes down to is the baby animals. Petting the goats particularly.” 

Have you learned any lessons from being at the fair for so long? 

Laudert: “Have an appropriate amount of caffeine and snacks.” 

Brian and Jenna Valada 

Ages: 41 and 38 

Role: Visitors 

Favorite fair food: Sausages 

What is your favorite part about the fair? 

Brian: “Food.”

What is the biggest takeaway from today? 

Jenna: “I think the food and the shops. And the rides have been good, none of them have been broken.” 

Jordan Wyatt 

Age: 16 

Role: Lynden PTA food stand worker 

Favorite fair food: Funnel cake 

What is your favorite part about the fair? 

“The rides. I like the Ferris wheel, it's pretty fun.”

What do you like about working at the Lynden PTA booth? 

“I like people. I get to meet a lot of different people, it’s pretty fun. I get to hang out with a lot of different people here, all my friends.” 

 The five divers leap off of the 3-meter boards and higher platforms at the same time. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)  

Simon Sarabura 

Age: 33 

Role: Diving performer 

Favorite fair food: Anything barbecued 

What is your favorite part about performing at the fair? 

“For me, I love the crowd’s reaction to the crazy stuff that we do. Sometimes they’re just really into it and it's just really fun to see the kids get excited about it and the adults not believe we’re going to do it, and just watching their faces change throughout the show is a lot of fun for me.” 

Does it get tiring toward the end of the day? 

“You’d be surprised. Our job kind of keeps the adrenaline pumping. It's a quick turn-around for us, our shows are pretty tight together, but we’re excited just as much the third show as the first show and we try to keep that energy alive throughout our day.”