The Valley prepares to give Alaskans last great gift of summer, the Alaska State Fair in Palmer

The Alaska State Fair Garden Hearty Party is just around the corner, boasting a variety of new attractions along with all the classics. Here are some of the attractions scheduled for this year's fair:

Gather the children both young and old and head out to see the Royal Hanneford Circus, with its assortment of trapeze and high-wire performers, jugglers and clowns. The circus even has boxing kangaroo.

The fair has also added an additional night for one of its best-attended events, the demolition derby, with a doubled prize of $2,000 this year.

Make sure you check out the Wells Fargo Creation Station, with its Fast and Curious show, where children of all ages can discover the relationship between energy and motion.

Discover the fastest machine ever made: the space shuttle! Along with a number of other exciting discovery exhibits, it's great fun for scientists of all ages.

Interested in human cannonballs? Make sure you get to the daily shows demonstrating the flying prowess of 20-year-old Stephanie Smith, the Lady Cannonball. Smith comes from a long line of human cannonballs -- her father, brother and sister all hold records.

Fancy yourself a BMX fanatic? Well, even if you're not, you should check out the Keith King bike stunt show, scheduled daily in the Orion Dome. The stunt riders have been seen in ESPN's X Games and NBC's Gravity Games. They'll warm up on the easy stuff, show off some flatland (ground) tricks, and finish off with a blast of ramp (aerial) stunts that might you home pumped up and wanting to try some new tricks.

Gone from crawling to walking and now can't stop running? The Toddler Trot is Thursday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m. at the Mat-Maid Corral.

Watch your toddler dash for prizes in this new contest. Two-, 3- and 4-year-olds zig and zag through an obstacle course full of toys. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded to each age group.

This hardly even scratches the surface of the fun to be had at the 2004 Garden Hearty Party at the Alaska State Fair. Cabbage seed postcards, Step Afrika! and Busy Bee Comedy Stunt Trick Dog Act are but a few of the events to be seen.

And don't forget the music.

To find out more about the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, look online at www.alaskastatefair.com or call 745-4827.