SJC Fair announces its 2025 theme and calls on the community for poster art

Although it may seem like the fair has just ended, San Juan County Parks & Fair staff are already hard at work preparing for the 2025 San Juan County Fair! As we look ahead to our expectations for the fairgrounds, the department is pleased to announce this year’s theme: “Into the Future, True to Our Roots.”

“The San Juan County Fair Board has selected this theme as a continuation of its 2024 celebration of ‘100 Years at Home,’” said Fair Board President Barbara Bevens. “We celebrate our past and our values ​​as we look to the future.”

Now that the theme has been announced, San Juan County residents are invited to participate in the annual Fair Poster Art Contest! Details are listed below, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what our community creates!

Poster requirements

Entries are accepted from all San Juan County residents.

As the main advertising and marketing image for the fair event, each year’s fair poster must have four key text phrases incorporated into the design: “San Juan County Fair,” the fair dates “Aug. 14-17, 2025”, the 2025 Exhibition theme “Into the Future, True to Our Roots” and the exhibition website “www.sjcfair.org.”

The concept should include a representation of the theme ‘Into the Future, True to Our Roots’ and Fair elements (this is vague – it could be the islands, farm animals, agriculture, summer season, fairground rides – sky is the limit!)

The dimensions should be 11 inches by 17 inches (ideal size) or 8.5 by 11 inches.

Art can be in any medium, but the final copy must be submitted in digital form (this is for printing purposes and online sharing). The artist is responsible for producing the final digital image (high resolution) so that the work is properly displayed.

Poster submission deadlines

A scan/photo of a “concept design” must be sent via email (email [email protected]) to the fair board for consideration by December 9. This can be a sketch, an outline or a partial piece that represents the intended design. The Fair Board can make suggestions for design concepts.

The Fair Board will review the entries at the regularly scheduled Fair Board meeting on December 13.

The chosen poster artist will be asked to produce a final digital version of the poster art at the January 2025 Fair Board meeting.

The benefits

You will receive a limited edition T-shirt for the Fair 2025, tickets for the Fair and a Fair “swag bag” full of goodies!

Artist Exposure! Between the marketing and the press gathering information about the poster artist, this is a great way to get your name out there and share your talent!

You’ll help support a locally produced event, get involved in your community and take part in the largest national event on the islands!

You join fellow artists in the history of the fair!

Your work will be shared both locally and internationally through regional and local newspapers, online blogs and event sites, bulletin boards, as well as on the ferries (artist name not permitted on copies of ferry posters).

The donation of your artwork is tax deductible (San Juan County is a political subdivision of the State of Washington. Contributions to San Juan County are tax deductible under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 170(c)(1), which states: “A contributions or donations to or for the use of any state, a possession of the United States, or a political subdivision of any of the foregoing are deductible for federal income tax purposes, but only if the contribution or donation is made solely for public purposes”) .

Contact: Amanda Smith, events coordinator, [email protected], 360-370-7457.

About the San Juan County Department of Parks, Recreation and Fairs

The San Juan County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Fair oversees the public parks on all four ferry-served islands, manages the campgrounds, and organizes the San Juan County Fair. The department offices are located at 849 Argyle Avenue, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about the San Juan County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Fair, visit