Alaska State Fair announces extended season

WASILLA — The Alaska State Fair recently announced an extended season with a total of 14 days running from Aug. 20 to Sept. 6.

“Our goal by adding another weekend is to help spread out the Fair crowds and keep fairgoers as safe as possible as Alaska continues to respond to the global pandemic,” Alaska State Fair CEO Jerome Hertel said. “Dispersing the crowds over three weekends will allow better social distancing and create a safer event for everyone. We are inspired by the progress Alaska has made to get vaccinated and end the pandemic, but we want to be prepared if there is a setback. With the ability to spread out the crowds and following current CDC guidelines, we are confident that we can have a safe event even if the threat of COVID still exists in the fall.”

According to Hertel, the fair will be adhering to the current CDC recommendations for large events and will be filing a mitigation plan to the state office. He said they will also be consulting with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services before, during, and after the season.

As a part of these efforts, the fairgrounds will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the last two weeks of the season. Hertel said they will use that time to regroup, restock, and clean the facilities.

The fair typically has a 12-day schedule, according to Hertel. He said that fair organizers based their decision to extend this year’s season on the health and safety of the community, current COVID facts, the economic boost to their vendors, and the social welfare of the community.

“The expanded schedule will also provide an additional economic boost for the over 400 vendors at the Fair… who have suffered a great financial loss after canceling the 2020 Fair… and, of course, provide an extra weekend of fun for our guests,” Hertel said.

According to a recent press release, the 2021 fair will look much like it has in years past with most of its usual staples intact.

The first weekend will feature fairgoer favorites, including carnival rides, vendors, and concerts with a RAM Trucks Timed Event Challenge in the Grandstand included with admission.

The Farm Exhibits building will be closed the first weekend to allow adequate time for the livestock owners to prepare. Perishable exhibits will also not be featured during that time. The barn will start featuring live animals Aug. 26.

“We are planning for a full Fair schedule with live concerts and touring artists. The first weekend will have all the Fair favorites with the exception of a few less exhibits,” Hertel said.

Hertel said that fair organizers are glad to share positive news after such a challenging year. The 2020 Fair was canceled to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It was a tough and historic decision. It was only the second time the Fair has been canceled in its 85 year history.

This year’s theme is “Seeing is Believing.”

“The theme, ‘Seeing is Believing’ is a carryover theme from the 2020 Fair and is even more relevant in 2021. Seeing and reconnecting with friends and family in 2021 will make you believe that we are on our way to putting 2020 behind us,” Hertel said.

Fair organizers created alternative community events that were socially distant, but still aligned with their core mission to connect the community, including the Encore Drive-In Nights concert series, pop-up drive-in movie series, Food Truck Fare, Harvest Fest, and the Bright Up the Night holiday light display.

“We found some creative ways to connect with our community, but we missed coming together at the Fair last year. We look forward to once again being a gathering place for Alaskans at the 2021 Fair,” Hertel said. “The Alaska State Fair suffered a huge financial loss in 2020 but we were determined to provide safe alternative events for the social welfare of the community. Those events provided some financial relief but more importantly, they gave us experience and knowledge that will help us adapt to any challenges we may face in the future.”

Daily hours for the Alaska State Fair 2021 season will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit alaskastatefair.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com