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August 4, 2008

Fair’s Beer and Barley Wine Festival to Benefit Creation Station

The Alaska State Fair plans to host the first-ever Mighty Matanuska Beer and Barley Wine Festival and Auction on Friday and Saturday, October 17 – 18, 2008 at Raven Hall on the fairgrounds. Tickets will be available at www.alaskastatefair.org. All proceeds from the event will provide support for the Creation Station science exhibit programs at the Fair.

“We want to improve the type of programming at the Creation Station, as well as the length of time it is available. We believe kids in this area will significantly benefit from an improved and expanded program,” said Ray Ritari, Fair general manager. Specifically, Ritari said the Fair would like to offer bigger and better exhibits, extend the Creation Station beyond Fair time, offer more school visits and field trips, and improve the Creation Station facility, which currently requires roof repairs and other maintenance.

The beer and barley wine festival is designed to be a fun way for the community to get involved in supporting the Creation Station.

“It’ll be a good time, and the end result is science-based education for kids,” Ritari said.

While plans are still in development, organizers expect the festival to include sampling of beers and barley wines from across Alaska and the Northwest, live entertainment, food vendors and a fundraiser auction benefiting the Creation Station.

The Fair is currently seeking donations for the auction from businesses and individuals. Ritari said items, as well as experiences, such as hotel stays or guided fishing trips, are welcomed. The Fair itself is also planning to put some unique items up for auction, such as the opportunity to set off fireworks, have the assistance of the Fair gardening crew for a day, or attend meet and greets with next year’s entertainers.

“We’ll be offering things people find intriguing at the Fair, once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” Ritari said.

The Creation Station, which is currently only open during the Fair, features exhibits that provide hands-on science education in a fun, entertaining atmosphere. This year’s Creation Station, sponsored by MTA, features two exhibits – the Space Spot, which is designed to bring basic astronomy and space science to communities without a science center, and Outreach to Space, where visitors learn about traveling and living in space.

In addition to all of this year’s fairgoers, nearly 900 fourth and fifth graders will also visit the MTA Creation Station during educational field trips offered as part of the Fair’s third annual “Science and You” program, which is sponsored by MTA and the Fair, along with a grant from the State of Alaska Division of Agriculture.

For more information on the festival, or to donate an auction item, visit www.alaskastatefair.org, call 907-745-4827 or e-mail info@alaskastatefair.org.

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