Editing Monroe, Washington (section)

===Attractions and events===

The city is home to the annual [[Evergreen State Fair]], a [[county fair]] which takes place in late August and early September at a fairground located northwest of downtown Monroe. It is the second largest fair in Washington state, behind the [[Puyallup Fair]], and attracts approximately 350,000 over its twelve-day run.<ref>{{cite news |last=Giordano |first=Lizz |date=September 3, 2018 |title=No smoke: Evergreen fair attendance might have set a record |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/no-smoke-evergreen-fair-attendance-might-have-set-a-record/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sheets |first=Bill |date=September 20, 2012 |title=Puyallup Fair renamed, but what's the real state fair? |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/puyallup-fair-renamed-but-whats-the-real-state-fair/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref> The city also has an annual [[parade]] during the opening weekend of the fair in late August.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKenzie |first=Madeline |date=August 22, 2018 |title=Opening weekend at the Evergreen State Fair, with farm animals, rides and fun |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/events/opening-weekend-at-the-evergreen-state-fair-with-farm-animals-rides-and-fun/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> The {{convert|200|acre|ha|adj=mid}} fairgrounds are owned by the county government and also host other events year-round.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Diane |date=August 23, 2006 |title=Rural roots part of fair's fun |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003217972_statefair23n.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref> The fairgrounds also include the [[Evergreen Speedway]], a racetrack that hosted the [[Craftsman Truck Series|NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series]] from 1995 to 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Myhre |first=Rich |date=June 4, 2014 |title=Evergreen Speedway celebrating 60 years |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/evergreen-speedway-celebrating-60-years/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref>

The [[Summer Meltdown]] music festival relocated from [[Darrington, Washington|Darrington]] to a property south of Monroe in 2022 following a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival drew approximately 4,000 attendees; it did not return for 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kahn |first=Natalie |date=July 30, 2022 |title=Some growing pains, lots of nostalgia as Meltdown returns at new venue |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/some-growing-pains-lots-of-nostalgia-as-meltdown-returns-at-new-venue/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Goldstein-Street |first=Jake |date=February 1, 2023 |title=After Monroe debut, no Summer Meltdown music fest in 2023 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/after-monroe-debut-no-summer-meltdown-music-fest-in-2023/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 3, 2023}}</ref> The annual Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire moved from [[Bonney Lake, Washington|Bonney Lake]] to Sky Meadows Park near Monroe in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schucht |first=Eric |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Near Monroe, colorful crowds at Renaissance faire's first weekend |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/near-monroe-colorful-crowds-at-renaissance-faires-first-weekend/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>

The [[Snohomish County Explosion]], a semi-professional basketball team playing in the [[International Basketball League]] and the [[National Athletic Basketball League]], hosted its games at [[Monroe Sports Arena]] on the high school campus from 2008 to 2010 between stints in Everett.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lommers |first=Aaron |date=April 8, 2011 |title=New owners bring Explosion back to Everett |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/new-owners-bring-explosion-back-to-everett/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref>

The Reptile Zoo, formerly the Washington Serpentarium, is a roadside [[zoo|animal park]] for [[reptile]]s that is located on U.S. Route&nbsp;2 east of Monroe. The {{convert|3,000|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} building houses 150 creatures and attracts 40,000 annual visitors.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Diane |date=November 2, 2005 |title=Washington Serpentarium a hot spot |page=H14 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-serpentarium-a-hot-spot/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=October 4, 2019}}</ref> It was previously located in [[Gold Bar, Washington|Gold Bar]] but moved to the Monroe area in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schwarzen |first=Christopher |date=April 23, 2003 |title=Museum slithers into Monroe |page=H16 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>