Getting there part of fair experience

Make sure that gas tank is topped off, have a good selection of music or an audiobook, and settle in for a road trip to the Alaska State Fair.

The fair may be in our own backyard, but what at any other time would be a quick 15-minute car ride from Wasilla to Palmer becomes a longer adventure 12 days a year.

As the Valley’s hometown newspaper, we look forward to covering the state fair every year. And every year we notice how much longer it takes to get there. For more than a decade, the Valley has enjoyed better-than-average population growth, and so has the fair. Both are bigger and better.

What hasn’t grown as quickly are the main highways that take that population to the event.

Along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, it took our reporter an hour to get to the fair from our office on opening day, with traffic backed up for miles heading into Palmer. Getting to the fairgrounds from the south was better, but also a slow prospect.

Extended waits in heavy traffic can be frustrating for some and may be a symptom of a larger transportation problem that’s been brewing in the Valley for quite some time. That said, you’ll find no raging over the roadways here.

Like with any large event, traffic is part of the price you pay to attend. The chances of encountering bumper-to-bumper traffic can be reduced by planning your trips to the fair around off-peak times.

But if you want to get there right after work or as the fair opens, expect a wait. Leave early; don’t be in a hurry. Perhaps a portable DVD player will keep the kids entertained in the back.

In the end, the Alaska State Fair is worth a little extra time in traffic. For Valley residents, it’s also a price we have to live with to play host to the fair each year. We’re proud to be the home of the state fair.

Until Valley highways catch up to the number of motorists heading to the fair, be patient. As you approach the fairgrounds, follow the directions of the certified flaggers. They’re trained professionals at moving traffic along as efficiently as possible. Be mindful as well of the danger they put themselves in by standing in traffic.

Have fun, but be patient and be safe this Alaska State Fair season.