This year’s Puyallup Fair begins Western style with a cattle drive through downtown. (No, there aren’t ordinarily cows in the streets of downtown Puyallup.) Tonight’s parade also features draft horses and equestrian drill teams; and the whole precession launches 17 days of rodeo events, amusement rides, clowns, music, celebrities (well, those guys from Deadliest Catch), and food. (My favorite, though I don’t know what they are: Krusty Pups.) 1980s survivor “Weird Al” Yankovic will be presenting the exhibit Al’s Brain: A 3-D Journey Through the Human Brain, which may or may not be like a carnival freak show. The family friendly fair also offers activities like giant pumpkin carving; Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants will also be looking for hugs. For grown-ups, the biggest name in the evening concert series is likely James Taylor (Sat., Sept. 19). Other acts include Crosby, Stills and Nash, LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna (with the Tacoma Symphony!), and hometown girls Heart. LAUREN LYNCH

Sept. 11-27, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., 2009