The theme for the 2008 Alaska State Fair was “Alaska Turns 50, Bring on the Fun” – and Alaskans certainly brought it. They arrived in droves on the second Saturday, setting single day attendance records for the Fair and breaking sales records for several of our diverse vendors. In fact, one vendor shared it was his “best day ever in 28 years!” And despite the less-than-optimal weather, this year’s walk-up gate attendance appears to equal – or possibly exceed – last year’s Fair, which enjoyed 12 days of great weather and drew in nearly 300,000 fairgoers.
Even on days with strong attendance, getting in and out of the fairgrounds was easier than ever, thanks to our new traffic and parking plan. With the new plan, fairgoers were able to spend less time parking and more time walking the trails, browsing vendor booths, enjoying carnival rides, watching shows and concerts, participating in contests, viewing exhibits, and sampling all the great food.
This year’s Fair included perennial favorites, such as the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off, won by Scott Robb’s 79.1-pound entry, and the announcement of the Farm Family of the Year, which went to the Brad Lewis family of Palmer. Then, there were exciting new additions to the Fair event calendar, such as the Target Fireworks display, which drew rave reviews, such as “the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen in Alaska, end of story!”
This year’s entertainment line-up was the most diverse and arguably the best we’ve ever had at the Fair. More than 17,600 fans enjoyed the AT&T Borealis Concert Series, which featured legends like Charlie Daniels and Ralph Stanley, as well as aspiring legends, including Terry Fator and Sean Kingston, along with many other great entertainers.
Long-time Fair events, such as the lumberjack show and rodeo, continued to be popular with fairgoers, who also enjoyed more new events free with Fair admission including tribute band concerts at the new Woodlot stage, and the tractor pull, lawnmower races and a “drive it yourself challenge course” at the Kendall Toyota Grandstand.
Fairgoers also soaked in some culture through performances by ShaeLaurel, a talented Irish family band, and the Northern Lights Dancers’ traditional Alaska Native dances and interactive blanket tosses.
As our 2008 theme suggests, the Fair also had plenty of opportunities to celebrate Alaska’s 50th anniversary. Thousands of fairgoers gathered to witness the launch of the brand new State of Alaska quarter – on the same day Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain’s vice presidential running mate.
These examples are just a sampling of the many events and activities we were proud to present at the 2008 Fair. On behalf of the Alaska State Fair board and staff, our appreciation goes out to the thousands of volunteers and sponsors who help make this event possible. We also thank our 300,000 fairgoers, who challenge us to continue to improve the Fair each year. We look forward to providing a fun, statewide event that brings Alaskans together at the fairgrounds at the end of each summer.
See you at the 2009 Fair!
Ray Ritari, Fair General Manager