Mann at the Fair: 1st “Memories in the Making,” marching onward

PALMER— The first weekend of the Alaska State Fair covered a lot of ground on and off the fairgrounds with a series of events, music, activities, food, competitions, interesting people and oddities

The annual Alaska State Fair parade through downtown Palmer, taking the same route as the Colony Days parade, featured 50 floats this year, pulling in a hefty crowd.

"The Alaska State Fair Parade celebrates the joint history between the fair and the city of Palmer. While the fair is a statewide event, we all recognize the important impact it has on our community. More people visit Palmer during the fair than any other time of year. Tax revenue is generated that helps Palmer all year round. It's an amazing thing for our town and we're happy to play such an integral part in the success of the event,” Palmer City Councilwoman, Sabrina Combs said.

It’s clear that the state fair affects each region it sets up at each year and Palmer is no exception. Wave after wave of people flowing through Palmer and from Anchorage notoriously piles up traffic and the town has to plan accordingly. The upside to all these people is clear when you consider how much revenue the bars, shops and restaurants around town get each year.

The Alaska State Fair’s Two Buck Thursday on opening day, Kids Day, Family Day encouraged more people to attend with special prices, activities and competitions like livestock judging and the annual Parent/Child Look-Alike Contest over the weekend.

Fairgoers had plenty of local music to choose from. There are several stages around the grounds and a huge line up of bands from the Valley, around the state and visiting from outside. Big name bands that came through the Borealis Stage include Stone Sour, Goo Goo Dolls, Midland, and Three Dog Night.

Local talent at the fair isn’t just bluegrass, country and classic rock cover bands. Music from the various Alaska Native tribes across the state are also represented.

Numerous Alaska Native bands performed on the Dena’-People’s Stage near the barn and stables on Yellow Trail.

“Tradition, pass it on," ASF Cultural Ambassador Hannah Noble said.

Noble played alongside an Athabaskan Drumming and Hip-Hop group over the weekend, one several christening activities in her newly appointed position.

“I grew up doing that in Bethel,” Noble said. “It's always been a part of my life. My grandpa was a pretty well-known drummer.”

Noble’s first language was Yupik and she didn’t learn English until she was about 4 or 5 years old.

“My phone knows Yupik became we text it all the time,” she laughed.

Noble said that she regularly speaks Yupik wither mother, other family members, friends and even some of her regular English as a Second Language clients at Sheer Fire Design in Palmer.

“I think they like when I work with them because they feel more comfortable [speaking in their own language],” she said.

Noble is turning 27 in September and has a young son. She talks to him in Yupik and plans to instill the cultural values and traditions she learned growing up.

“It's so easy because he's so willing to learn,” She said.

She said as the ASF Cultural Ambassador, she aims to “pass it on and spread it on” to her fellow Alaska Natives and surrounding community.

“Teaching them your tradition keeps your culture alive,” she said.

2018 Alaska State Fair parade winner results:

Overall:

1st Place: Mat-Su Master Gardeners; 2nd Place: Thee Northern Sound – Colony High School Marching Band; 3rd Place: Colony Highschool JROTC; Business Category: 203 Kombucha; Political Category: Vern Halter for Mayor; Public Safety Category: Palmer Fire & Rescue; Family/Children Category: Excel Gymnastics; Vehicle Category: Antique Power Club of Alaska

Royalty/Fraternal Category: Alaska State Fair Royalty; Agriculture/Animals Category: Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm; Music/Dance Category: Thee Northern Sound – Colony High School Marching Band; Community Service Organization Category: Mat-Su Master Gardeners