Tanana Valley State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tanana Valley State Fair |
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The TVSFA official 101st year logo
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| Genre | State fair |
| Dates | 9-10 days in late July and early August |
| Location(s) | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Years active | 1924–1941; 1946–2019; 2021– |
| Attendance | 92,500 in 2014 |
| Website | Tanana Valley State Fair |
The Tanana Valley State Fair is a fun yearly event in College, Alaska, United States. It happens for about 9 to 10 days in late July and early August. This fair is a very important event for people living in Interior Alaska.
The fair takes place on a large piece of land, about 100 acres, just outside Fairbanks. It's a place where people can enjoy rides, eat tasty food, see amazing exhibits, and watch live shows. In 2012, a ticket for one day cost $10 for an adult. A pass for the whole season was $35.
Contents
History of the Tanana Valley State Fair
How the Fair Started
The Tanana Valley Fair began in 1924. This makes it the oldest state fair in all of Alaska. Two important people helped create it: George William Gasser, who studied farming, and Harry Markley Badger, a local farmer and businessman. They worked together to form the Tanana Valley Fair Association, which is a group that doesn't make money for itself.
From 1924 to 1951, the fair was held in different spots in downtown Fairbanks. Since 1952, it has always been at its current location. The fair association first rented this land from the University of Alaska.
Sharing the "State Fair" Title
In 1936, another fair started in Palmer. It was called the Matanuska Valley Fair. When Alaska became a state in 1959, that fair changed its name to the "Alaska State Fair".
Both the Tanana Valley Fair and the Alaska State Fair wanted to be known as the "Official Alaska State Fair." So, the governor of Alaska, William Allen Egan, decided they would share the title. The Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks used the title in even-numbered years. The Alaska State Fair in Palmer used it in odd-numbered years.
In 1985, the fair in Fairbanks officially became known as the "Tanana Valley State Fair" forever. The Alaska State Fair in Palmer still happens every year for about two weeks in early August.
Other Fairs in Alaska
There are other fairs in Alaska too! The Southeast Alaska Fair is held in Haines for four days in late July. Smaller fairs also take place in places like Ninilchik, Kodiak, Delta Junction, Kenny Lake, and Salcha.
The Tanana Valley State Fair did not happen from 1942 to 1945. It also did not happen in 2020.
Fun Themes of the Fair
Every year, the Tanana Valley State Fair has a special theme. These themes often have fun names and sometimes even special colors! Here are some of the past themes:
- 1980 - Parades of People
- 1982 - Fun for You in '82
- 1983 - Tanana Valley Showcase
- 1984 - Silver Salute
- 1985 - Alaska: Tomorrow's Adventure
- 1986 - "Weather or Not"
- 1987 - We the People
- 1988 - Fun! Fair! Fairbanks!
- 1989 - Here Come the Clowns!
- 1990 - Lettuce Entertain Ewe
- 1991 - Days of Swine and Roses
- 1992 - And the Beet Goes On!
- 1993 - 93 Cheers for Volunteers
- 1994 - A Ticket to Ride
- 1995 - "Education - It's Only Fair"
- 1996 - Shake Rattle & Roll
- 1997 - Attack of the Killer Cabbages! They're big, they're green, and they're here!
- 1998 - Strawberry Fields for Heifer
- 1999 - Poultry in Motion
- 2000 - Give Peas a Chance
- 2001 - 2001: A Fair Oddity
- 2002 - There's No Place Like Home
- 2003 - Bright Lights Pig City
- 2004 - Corn to be Wild (Colors: yellow.)
- 2005 - Feast or Salmon
- 2006 - Diamonds are Fair-Ever
- 2007 - Faster Than a Speeding Pullet
- 2008 - Pirates of the Carrots & Beans
- 2009 - Tradition is Our Mission
- 2010 - Barn in the USA
- 2011 - Northern Nights & Midway Lights (80th anniversary!)
- 2012 - The Age of Asparagus
- 2013 - Salmon Enchanted Evening (Colors: midnight blue, copper, and silver.)
- 2014 - Peonies From Heaven
- 2015 - Blue Jeans & Country Dreams
- 2016 - Family, Fun, and the Fair
- 2017 - Raven About the Fair
- 2018 - May The Fair Be with You
- 2019 - Love Is A Cattle Field
- 2021 – Don't Stop Be-leafing (no 2020 fair)
- 2022 - Sheep Herder in Paradise (Colors: red, orange and yellow.)
- 2023 - Don't go Bacon my Heart (Colors: pink, teal and light green.)
- 2024 - Thank You For Bee-ing a Friend (Colors: magenta, navy blue and gold.)
- 2025 - Take a Hop on the Wild Side (Colors: forest green, burnt orange and raindrop blue.)
Tanana Valley Farmer's Market
The Tanana Valley Farmer's Market is connected to the fair. It started in 1978. This market was created so that people who showed their produce and goods at the fair could also sell them.
Today, the market is open three days a week from May to September. It used to be right on the fairgrounds property. In 2005, the market and its building moved to a new spot about half a mile away.
See also
- Alaska State Fair
- Festival
- State fair
