We are fairly confident anyone who has been to the Alaska State Fair in Palmer can quickly cite some great reasons for heading there for the Aug. 21-Sept. 1 event. But just in case you’ve never been, or thought you’d let it pass you by this year, here’s our list, in random order, of:

10 REASONS TO GO

TO THE ALASKA STATE FAIR 1. It’s uniquely Alaska.

From the mega vegetables to the blanket toss, from the crazy collection of food vendors to the Homesteader Games, there’s no other fair like the Alaska State Fair.

2. It tastes great.

Whether your tastes run from oysters and halibut to cream puff desserts and kettle corn, there’s something for everyone, and some of it is even healthy. Fresh vegetables vie with deep-fried candy bars for your Epicurean interest. Come hungry and leave sated.

3. The featured performers are top notch.

Hey, where else could you hear Sean Kingston, the Charlie Daniels Band and a former member of the Monkees playing at the same venue on successive days?

4. The entertainment is nonstop.

Besides the marquee entertainers, the fair is a hotspot for all kinds of talent. From the street performers, to the acts at the corral to the SluiceBox musicians to the cast of characters that go across the Blue Bonnet Stage and the new Woodlot Stage, there’s never a dull moment at the Alaska State Fair. And then there are those crazy contests and the grandstand events.

5. The vegetables are amazing.

While we may not see a 100-pound cabbage in this dismal growing year, we still expect to see some hefty cole crops and some burly root crops entered in this year’s giant vegetable contests. It makes the barn one of the busiest places at the fair.

6. The agricultural exhibits are a great part of Palmer’s heritage.

Besides the vegetables, there’s a Noah’s ark of animals entries, from llamas and pigs in the big barn to the horses out in the stalls. Don’t forget the hatching chicks, antique tractors, goat mountain and the soil tunnel.

7. Exhibits show who we are and what we’ve done.

Pickles and quilts. Beer and photography. Flowers and metalwork. The list is extensive. Come see what your neighbors and friends have been creating.

8. Gardens provide a gorgeous respite on a busy day.

The Alaska State Fair gardens are a brilliant bouquet of colors. They are balm for the soul.

9. It’s a carnival for the kids and young-at-heart.

It wouldn’t be a fair without a great selection of thrill-providing rides.

10. It finishes with a big bang.

The fireworks at the Alaska State Fair give Alaskans their first real chance to see fireworks since the dim days of early spring. They never disappoint.

OK, those are our reasons. You can add your own. Just grab your raincoat and sweatshirt and head for the fair, and enjoy the expanded parking and better access. As this year’s fair theme proclaims, bring on the fun.