Alaska Vintage Market able to continue with social distancing measures at Alaska State Fairgrounds

PALMER — The annual Alaska Vintage Market is able to keep going all weekend starting this Friday. The three-day market will take place at its usual venue, the Alaska State Fairgrounds, only this year in a less usual spot, within the big, green barn normally used for livestock exhibitions.

“We had professional cleaners go in there,” event manager Ella Embree said. “It doesn’t smell. I can verify it.”

Embree and her husband James are running this year’s market, which is hosted annually by Alaska Chicks Co. She said they had to postpone the market due to COVID-19, but she’s thankful they’re still able to do it.

“I was just holding my breath,” Embree said. It’s not just the businesses... these are real families here in Alaska.”

This year, people can browse through 30 different food trucks from across the state in the Red Parking area. Inside the barn area, there will be an array of vendors selling handmade goods, ranging from vintage clothing to upcycled furniture.

Embree said the vendors put real effort into so many unique items with their “heart and souls” and present them at the market each year.

“The vendors, some new, some old, are super excited to have some place to sell their creative and handmade goods,” Embree said. “It blows my mind what they can create out of raw materials.”

Embree has been involved with the market since its inception. She said that Alaska Chicks founder and owner Charity Folcik came up with the idea five years ago, starting out of the Palmer Train Depot.

“I would definitely keep Alaska Chicks and Alaska Vintage Market as one word,” Embree said.

The market normally takes place inside Raven Hall but this year made for some creative ways to keep people distant, including spacing vendors further apart and requiring masks for everyone except those who are medically unable.

“I’m so thankful something is going to happen this year. We’re trying to stay as safe as possible.”

A few vendors from Fair spilled into the market due to the cancellation. Embree said having first time vendors like Tundra cartoonist Chad Carpenter will make this year’s event all the more unique.

The event is Friday from 12 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Parking is free and people can access the market through the Red Gate. Admission is $5 per person, or $5 for weekend pass per person (online only). Sunday is always free admission and children under 12 get in for free.

For more information, call 907-795-6604.

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