FAIR WEATHER

PALMER — Alaska weather can be fickle, and it didn’t disappoint on the first day of the Alaska State Fair Thursday.

Thick clouds were the first indication, and just three hours after the gates opened a steady downpour soaked fairgoers who showed up for the first day of the 12-day celebration.

Thursday was Governor’s Day at the fair, with Gov. Sarah Palin on hand to celebrate Alaska’s statehood.

The rain didn’t seem to matter, though, and the thin crowd of people didn’t hesitate to wait in line for corndogs and cotton candy.

A few screams from twirly rides indicated where all the kids were, although the numbers of youngsters were notably small, with school already in session.

This year’s state fair features all the booths and attractions locals and out-of-towners have come to love.

From eclectic, hippy-looking clothing to the massive cows chomping on hay in the Farm Exhibits arena, the usually vacant fair grounds are packed with attractions shoulder-to-shoulder.

In one booth, run by Valley Community for Recycling Solutions, Randi Perlman and Helen Woodings feed visitors education instead of elephant ears.

The pair were showing the benefits of recycling, including some of the products that can be made from recycled items.

“We hope to educate as many people as possible,” Perlman said.

The booth will have school children pouring in all week to learn about recycling, Woodings said, taking a brief break from sweets and carnival rides.

Down the trail at the Fisherman’s Enterprise booth, Kady Smith, who is in her fifth year at the fair, said the small crowd Thursday afternoon would slowly balloon as the night went on.

For Smith and her cohorts, the fair is a chance to get out of Anchorage, where the restaurant is based, and enjoy themselves.

“We’re just here for the fun,” Smith said.

Behind the gaggle of booths and tents, inside the Lumberjack Arena, Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Show went on even as a steady rain fell and drenched the bleachers.

Four plaid-clad men from Minnesota put on a wood chopping, sawing and ax throwing exhibition using age-old lumberjacking techniques.

The lumberjack show was one of a plethora of events leading up to Thursday’s fireworks show put on by Big Lake resident Griz Smith.

It was all in a day at the fairgrounds.

The Alaska State Fair runs until Sept. 1 at the fairgrounds in Palmer.

Daily tickets for adults ages 13 to 64 are $10, while youth tickets for ages 6 to 12 and those for seniors 65 and above are $6. Children 5 years old and younger get in free.

For more information about the Alaska State Fair, visit www.alaskastatefair.org.