Friday, Sept. 5

Western Rodeo Parade

Despite my well-deserved reputation as a globetrotter and travel cognoscente, I have yet to attend the running of the bulls in Spain. The closest I’ve come was the time I ordered a Quarter Pounder with cheese (in my defense, it was before reading Fast Food Nation), then ran on the treadmill for an hour because I felt so bloated from wolfing it down. Thankfully, there are more appropriate ways to celebrate the running of the bulls — even in Puyallup. The Puyallup Fair kicks off Friday with its annual Western Rodeo Parade down Meridian Street. A herd of cattle, equestrian drill teams, draft horse hitches, military marching bands, great musical entertainment, royalty, and cowboys on horseback will make their way down Meridian. All this and no pesky goring and maiming. Nice. — Brad Allen

[Pioneer Park, 9 a.m., free, Meridian Street, downtown Puyallup, thefair.com]

 

Sept. 5-7

8 seconds

The PRCA Rodeo kicks off the Puyallup Fair on Friday.  Feel the thunder of the bulls, the pain of the falls and the true grit of the American cowboys who can ride 1,000 pounds of pissed-off muscle for eight seconds without losing their Stetsons or choking on their chewing tobacco. These rodeo guys aren’t the mocha drinking, sweater-wearing crowd to say the least. Chris Cagle opens the three-day rodeo with a concert the first night at 6:30 p.m. — Suzy Stump

[Puyallup Fairgrounds, Sept. 5-7, $18.50, $49.50 with concert, Ninth and Meridian, Puyallup, Ticketmaster]

Sept. 5-21

Floral Building

The worst part about seeing all of the pretty flowers is that you have to go outside. No air conditioning, no roof, and People Can Watch You. Not only that, but you can never tell which flowers truly are the prettiest. You can’t like them all the same — it’s just not possible. And if you do figure out which is the best, you can’t pick it, because it’s probably in someone else’s yard. Sigh. In one fell swoop, the Puyallup Fair Floral Building has solved all of your problems at once. It’s called a show. It takes place inside, they judge and hand out ribbons to all of the best flowers. And some flower guy named Vince Vitale — all the way baby! — will show guests the tools and skills needed to create great bonsais Saturday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. Sigh. — SS

[Puyallup Fairgrounds, Through Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., $8-$10, Ninth and Meridian, Puyallup, 253.841.5045]