Alaska State Fair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alaska State Fair
Alaska State Fair in September 2015
Genre	State fair
Dates	Appx. 12 days in late August and early September
Location(s)	Palmer, Alaska
Years active	1936–1941, 1947-2019, 2021-, officially Alaska State Fair since 1959
Attendance	0 (2020) Appx. 294,500 (2016)

The Alaska State Fair is a super fun yearly event that happens in Palmer, Alaska, USA. The fairgrounds are about an hour's drive north of Anchorage. Lots of people from all over Anchorage and beyond come to enjoy this popular event. It lasts about 1½ weeks, starting at the end of August.

The fair is famous for its amazing, record-breaking giant vegetables! It's also known for its beautiful location at the foot of the Chugach Mountains in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. At the fair, you can find exciting amusement rides, yummy food, fun games, and live shows. There are also competitions where people show off their skills and creations.

History of the Fair

The very first Alaska State Fair took place from September 4 to 7, 1936. It was put together by members of the Northland Pioneer Grange No. 1. This group was an agricultural organization formed in the Matanuska Valley in 1933.

Planning for the fair began in 1935. This was around the same time the Matanuska Colony was set up. The Matanuska Colony was a special community created by the U.S. government during the New Deal. It helped families from the Midwest who needed a fresh start. The government wanted to help Alaska grow its own food and increase its population.

The first fair was held in the community center of the new Matanuska Colony. It had a fair queen crowning, a baby show, boxing matches, horse races, dances, a rodeo, and baseball games. Farmers also showed off their amazing crops, including giant cabbages, grains, carrots, onions, and other vegetables.

The fair took a break during World War II, from 1942 to 1946. But it came back in 1947! In 1950, the fair got its first carnival rides, which were a huge hit. In 1956, the fair asked the Alaska Legislature to officially call it the "Alaska State Fair." This happened in 1959.

In 1960, the fair celebrated its 25th birthday! Even President John F. Kennedy came to visit.

In 1967, the fair moved to its current big location in Palmer. This spot is about 300 acres! That year, about 72,000 people visited the fair. Over the years, more and more people have come to the fair. In 1998, a record 361,804 people attended the fair over 18 days. That same year, people entered 10,890 exhibits, which was also a record! In 2003, another record was set with 312,419 visitors over 12 days.

The fairgrounds have also grown a lot. In 1975, Colony Village was added. It helps preserve some of the old buildings from the early days of the Valley. In 1997, Pioneer Plaza and Raven Hall were built. In 2004, the fair opened its new Green Gate and Railroad Depot.

In 2010, about 290,119 people attended the fair. There were 8,081 exhibit entries and 450 vendors.

In 2020, the fair did not happen because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Fair Attendance Over the Years

The Alaska State Fair in 2005.

Here's a look at how many people have visited the fair in recent years:

What to See and Do

The fair is located in the very fertile Matanuska-Susitna Valley. This means it's a great place for growing huge vegetables! You can see amazing giant vegetable exhibits. For example, in 2010, there was a gourd vine that was 46 feet (14 meters) long! There was also a 39-inch (100 cm) bean, an 83-inch (210 cm) gourd, and a pumpkin weighing 1,101 pounds (500 kg).

The tradition of the fair's giant cabbage contest started in 1941. Back then, a $25 prize was offered for the biggest cabbage. Max Sherrod won with a 23-pound (10.5 kg) cabbage. The official Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off began in 1995. In 2012, a grower named Scott Robb entered a cabbage that weighed 138.25 pounds (63 kg)! It won first place and set a new world record.

In 2007, the fair's amazing farming and gardening displays got national attention. The TV show GardenSMART from PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) came to the fair to film a 30-minute episode.

One of the most popular things to do at the fair is try all the delicious food! Usually, there are between 50 and 70 food vendors. They offer classic American foods like hot dogs, pizza, and burgers. But you can also find more unique options like gyros, Alaskan seafood, and all kinds of fried foods or foods on a stick. Don't forget the desserts, like ice cream and cream puffs! More than 400 other vendors also sell crafts and goods each year.

The fair also has thousands of exhibits and competitions. You can see categories like artwork, baking, canning, ceramics, dance, flowers, gardening displays, needlework, home-brewing, home improvement ideas, honey products, and even pet agility courses. There are also livestock judging, music, a petting zoo, photography, poultry judging, quilting, rabbit showing, and woodworking.

You can also enjoy free entertainment around the fairgrounds. There are events and contests like a rodeo, a "Diaper Derby" (baby crawling race), and the Alaska Grown Games. The fair also has a large midway with carnival rides and games. Plus, big-name concerts are held each year as part of the AT&T Borealis Concert Series.

Concerts at the Fair

The AT&T Concert Series is a big reason many people come to the fair. Over the last 75 years, many famous bands and performers have played here.

Some of the past performers include Ted Nugent, David Archuleta, Lonestar, Hinder, Shinedown, Boyz II Men, Beach Boys, Bill Engvall, Rodney Atkins, Kansas, Gin Blossoms, Cheap Trick, Terry Fator, Uncle Kracker, Los Lobos, Toby Mac, Kenny Rogers, Howie Mandel, REO Speedwagon, Sean Kingston, Three Days Grace, Jim Gaffigan, and Iggy Azalea.

See also

• Matanuska Valley Colony
• Raymond Rebarchek Colony Farm, the adjoining property, which the fair has owned portions of since the late 20th century
• Tanana Valley State Fair