Valley gears up for start of annual celebration

PALMER — Rides are being constructed and booths pounded into shape. It’s fair time again. Are you ready?

Radio Free Palmer is.

“We’re excited about this whole thing,” said the volunteer-driven community radio station’s Mike Chmielewski. And by “this whole thing,” he means RFP’s plans to do daily live broadcasts from the fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The idea is to give listeners information they can use — weather reports and traffic updates — in addition to things they want to hear, like interviews with artists and merchants.

“We have a lady who has been doing our food spots who will be doing some interviewing around food choices, what people are looking for,” Chmielewski said.

The idea also is to provide a service for people beyond the station’s traditional Palmer-centric coverage area. Any minute now, he said, the station will launch a smartphone application available on iTunes and elsewhere.

“People on their way to the fair or at the fair will always have a way to listen to our broadcast,” he said.

Meanwhile, a few blocks away from Radio Free Palmer, the Palmer Police Department is ramping up its schedule in preparation for the department’s busiest time of year.

“With that size of a crowd it can obviously add complications to an otherwise small town,” Cmdr. Lance Ketterling said. “We don’t see anything on the horizon that sparks an immediate cause for alarm.”

Fair security, he said, has gotten adept at handling problems when they arise. Palmer increases staffing during what the department anticipates will be peak times — big concerts, weekends and closing time.

“We’ve got guys where this is their 15th or 16th fair,” Ketterling said. “They know what is expected of them and they know exactly what is coming down the pike.”

Alaska State Troopers also are increasing staffing this weekend, with overtime patrols planned to coincide with Labor Day and the end of summer.

“Troopers will be looking for aggressive, distracted and impaired driving. The enhanced enforcement started Aug. 17 and runs through Sept. 3,” according to a trooper press release.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

ALASKA STATE FAIR

Thursday, Aug. 23

$2 Thursday

Borealis Theatre

7 p.m. — Creed

The Sluicebox

3:30 p.m. — VooDoo, premier classic rock

5 — Lisa Lisa, funky blues

6 — 907, Alaska’s favorite live cover band

8:30 — Tom Rigney & Flambeau, fiery cajun tunes

Jolly Roger Pub

2 p.m. — Farrell Dillon, dangerously dexterous comedy magic

3 — Frank Iarossi, original country

4 — Diana Z, energetic indie pop originals

5 — The Long & the Short of It

6 — Marty Raney & Friends, twisted Alaskan humor

Heineken Stage at the Woodlot

4 — The Family Homestead Hour with Hobo Jim

7 — 4th annual Legendary Karaoke Final Qualifying Round

SBS Woodlot

1, 3 and 6 p.m. — Scheer’s Lumberjack Show

Grandstand Lawn

1, 3 and 5 p.m. — Pirates for Hire, live-action pirate-themed entertainment troupe

Don Sheldon Events Center

Noon to 10 p.m. — Our Body: Live Healthy, world-renowned educational exhibit displays real human specimens. (Recommended for fairgoers ages 12 and older.)

Alyeska Pipeline Colony Stage

12:30 p.m. — Miracle Drummers and Dancers

1 and 2:30 — Magic by Robbie

2, 4 and 7 — Powerhouse, percussive dance

3 — The Music Canvas, sizzling star showcase

4:30 — The Last Rounds, old-time rock ‘n’ roll

5:45 — Alison McCarty, Yup’ik songwriter

6 — Eric Giliam, illusionist

6:30 — Damian Guerrero, hip-hop dancer

8 — Army Arctic Warriors Show Band

GCI Cable Bluebonnet Stage

12:30, 3 and 6:30 p.m. — Paul Isaak, funny juggler

1 — Dan Lesperance, smooth country pickin’

2 — Diana Z, energetic indie pop originals

3:30 — Tony James, soul-stirring guitar

4:30 — Farrell Dillon, dangerously dexterous comedy magic

5:30 — Rick Brooks, fingerstyle extraordinaire

Pioneer Plaza

2, 4, and 6 p.m. — Cirque De La Vie

Raven’s People Tent

2, 3:30 and 5 p.m. — Miracle Drummers & Dancers

2:30, 4, and 5:30 — Bee Akee Curtis

6 — World Eskimo-Indian Olympic Demo

Wineck Barn

Noon and 5 p.m. — “Alaska Far Away” documentary

Noon to 8 p.m. — UAF “OneTree” VAA birch art exhibit

1:30 — Garden tours guided by the fair’s head gardener

2 — “Where the River Matanuska Flows” documentary

Kid Zone

Noon to 8 p.m. — Children’s garden

1, 4 and 6 p.m. — Woody’s Menagerie, educational wildlife exhibit

Farm Exhibits

Noon — Goat Fun Day demos and activities

Noon to 8 p.m. — Fowl Weather Friends, hens and roosters in a barnyard setting

Noon to 8 p.m. — GCI Petting Zoo

Noon to 8 p.m. — Crop, flower, livestock, rabbit and poultry exhibits

Milking Parlor in Farm Exhibits

4 and 4:45 p.m. — Goat milking demonstration

5 p.m. — Cow milking demonstration

Hoskins Exhibits

12:30 p.m. — Beeswax lip balm

1:30 p.m. — Square-Agonals

2:30 p.m. — Chocolate dessert bowls

3:30 p.m. — Making yogurt

Irwin Exhibits

Noon to 10 p.m. — Woodworking, quilting, fiber arts, hand and needlework demos

Noon to 10 p.m. — Quilt show on the hour

Around the Grounds

1, 3, 5 and 7:30 — King BMX Stunt Show