Moving to Puyallup, WA
Your 2026 Guide

Every September, Puyallup transforms into the epicenter of Pacific Northwest celebration. The Washington State Fair - still affectionately called "The Puyallup" by locals who remember its original name - draws over one million visitors across its 20-day run, making it one of the largest state fairs in the nation and the largest in the Pacific Northwest.

But calling it just a "fair" understates the experience. This is a full-scale carnival, agricultural showcase, concert venue, and food festival rolled into one massive celebration. The fairgrounds sprawl across 169 acres, featuring everything from world-class rodeo events and livestock competitions to headline concerts that have hosted everyone from country legends to rock icons.

The food alone has become legendary. Fisher scones have been a fair tradition since 1911 - the recipe remains unchanged, and locals debate proper consumption techniques with religious fervor. Add in elephant ears, deep-fried everything imaginable, and the famous Extreme Food Corner (where culinary scientists test the limits of "can we fry that?"), and you understand why some visitors come exclusively for the eating experience.

For Puyallup residents, the Fair isn't just an annual event - it's woven into the community's identity. Local schools schedule around fair dates. Businesses adjust hours. The entire city operates on "Fair time" for three weeks every fall. Living here means experiencing the fair not as a tourist, but as part of your hometown's biggest celebration.

Beyond the main fair, the fairgrounds host events year-round: the Spring Fair in April, holiday festivals, concerts, swap meets, and special exhibitions. It's essentially a year-round entertainment complex that happens to host one spectacular state fair.

One of the primary reasons families choose Puyallup over closer-in alternatives: the Puyallup School District. As the 10th largest district in Washington State, serving over 22,000 students across 32 schools, the district has built a reputation for academic excellence while maintaining the personal attention that large urban districts often sacrifice.

The district operates four high schools, each with its own character and strengths. Emerald Ridge High School consistently ranks among Pierce County's top schools for academics and athletics. Rogers High School offers strong vocational and technical programs. Puyallup High School, the oldest, provides excellent traditional academics in a historic campus setting. Aylen Junior High's STEM program feeds directly into advanced high school tracks.

Beyond traditional academics, the district shines in extracurricular programming. Award-winning music and arts programs compete at state and national levels. Athletics are taken seriously - Puyallup schools regularly compete for state championships across multiple sports. The FFA program maintains working facilities, connecting students to the region's agricultural heritage.

For families with special needs children, the district maintains comprehensive support services. For gifted students, acceleration programs and advanced placement courses are available throughout the system. The combination of size (providing resources) and community focus (preventing students from falling through cracks) creates an educational environment that works for diverse family needs.