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 fun annual event held in Palmer, Alaska, United States. It's a big celebration that lasts about 12 days, starting in late August and going into early September. The fairgrounds are located about an hour's drive north of Anchorage. Many people from Anchorage and other areas come to visit this popular event.

The fair is famous for its super-sized vegetables, which often set new records! It's also known for its beautiful location at the base of the Chugach Mountains. At the fair, you can enjoy exciting amusement rides, tasty food, fun carnival games, and live performances. There are also many competitions where people show off their skills and creations.

History of the Alaska State Fair

The very first Alaska State Fair took place from September 4 to 7, 1936. It was organized by a group called the Northland Pioneer Grange No. 1. This group was formed in the Matanuska Valley in 1933.

Planning for the fair began in 1935. This was around the same time the Matanuska Colony was started. This colony was a special community created by the U.S. government to help 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 many exciting activities like crowning a fair queen, a baby show, boxing matches, horse races, dances, a rodeo, and baseball games. Farmers also showed off their amazing crops, including giant cabbages, carrots, onions, and other vegetables.

The fair took a break during World War II, from 1942 to 1946. But it was back in action in 1947! In 1950, the fair got its first carnival rides, adding even more fun. In 1956, the fair officially became known as the Alaska State Fair. A special visitor came to the fair in 1960: President John F. Kennedy!

In 1967, the fair moved to its current large location in Palmer, which is about 300 acres. That year, 72,000 people attended the fair. Over the years, more and more people have visited. In 1998, a record 361,804 people came to the fair. That same year, there were over 10,000 items entered into the competitions! In 2003, another record was set with 312,419 visitors over 12 days.

The fairgrounds have also grown over time. In 1975, Colony Village was added, which has historic buildings from the early days of the Valley. Later, Pioneer Plaza and Raven Hall were built in 1997. In 2004, a new Green Gate and Railroad Depot opened. In 2010, about 290,119 people attended the fair. There were over 8,000 items in the exhibits and 450 vendors.

In 2020, the fair was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. But it returned in 2021!

Fair Attendance Numbers

The Alaska State Fair, 2005.

These numbers come from the official Alaska State Fair annual reports.

Fun Attractions at the Fair

The fair is located in the rich farming area of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. This is why it's famous for its giant vegetable exhibits! In 2010, there was a huge 46-foot gourd vine and a 1,101-pound pumpkin.

The tradition of the giant Cabbage contest started in 1941. Max Sherrod won the first prize with a 23-pound cabbage. The official Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off began in 1995. In 2012, a grower named Scott Robb set a new world record with a massive 138.25-pound cabbage!

In 2007, the fair's farming and gardening displays got national attention. The TV show GardenSMART from Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) even filmed an episode there!

One of the most popular things to do at the fair is try all the delicious food. There are usually between 50 and 70 food vendors. You can find classic American foods like hot dogs, pizza, and burgers. But you can also try more unique options like gyros, Alaskan seafood, and all sorts of fried foods or treats on a stick. Don't forget the desserts, like ice cream and cream puffs! The fair also has over 400 other vendors selling all kinds of items.

The fair also hosts thousands of exhibits and competitions. You can see amazing artwork, baked goods, canned foods, and beautiful flowers. There are also displays of handiwork, home-brewing, and even honey products. You can watch judging for livestock, poultry, and rabbits. There are also music performances, pet agility courses, a petting zoo, and photography displays. Other categories include quilting, sewing, locally made drinks, and woodworking.

Beyond the exhibits, there's free entertainment all around the fairgrounds. You can watch events like a rodeo, the "Diaper Derby" (a baby crawling race!), and the Alaska Grown Games. The fair also has a big midway with carnival rides and games. Plus, big-name music artists perform each year as part of the AT&T Borealis Concert Series.

Concerts at the Fair

The AT&T Concert Series is a huge attraction at the fair. Many famous bands and performers have played there over the past 75 years.

Some of the past performers include: Ted Nugent, David Archuleta, Lonestar, Hinder, Shinedown, Boyz II Men, Darryl Worley, Collective Soul, Seether, Bucky Covington, Beach Boys, Bill Engvall, Rodney Atkins, Kansas, Gin Blossoms, The Rembrandts, Emerson Drive, Charlie Daniels Band, Craig Morgan, Terri Clark, Cheap Trick, Terry Fator, Uncle Kracker, Los Lobos, Toby Mac, Tanya Tucker, Tracy Byrd, Carman, Kenny Rogers, Howie Mandel, Chris Cagle, Chris LeDoux, REO Speedwagon, Sean Kingston, Tracy Lawrence, Three Days Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Iggy Azalea, Richie Havens and Micky Dolenz.

See also

• Matanuska Valley Colony
• Raymond Rebarchek Colony Farm, a nearby property that the fair owns parts of.
• Tanana Valley State Fair