Date: March 4, 2021
Save the Date for 14 Days of Fun at 2021 Fair
Fair Announces Expanded 14-Day Schedule for 2021: August 20 – September 6
Palmer, Alaska – Alaskans will have even more time to enjoy the Alaska State Fair in 2021, as organizers have announced an expanded 14-day schedule for this year’s event. The 2021 Fair, themed Seeing is Believing, will be held Friday, August 20, through Monday, September 6, at the fairgrounds in Palmer. Hours will be 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. During the 14-day run, the Fair will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (August 24 – 25 and August 31 – September 1).
“Our goal by adding another weekend is to help spread out the Fair crowds and keep fairgoers as safe as possible as Alaska continues to respond to the global pandemic,” said Jerome Hertel, Fair CEO, adding that the Fair will be adhering to the current CDC recommendations for large events and will be filing a mitigation plan to the State.
“The expanded schedule will also provide an additional economic boost for the over 400 vendors at the Fair and, of course, provide an extra weekend of fun for our guests,” he added.
The schedule for the 14-day Fair will look much the same as previous years, with a couple of noteworthy exceptions during the first weekend, August 20 – 23:
- The first weekend will feature fairgoer favorites, including carnival rides, vendors and concerts.
- The first weekend schedule will also include a free-with-Fair-admission RAM Trucks Timed Event Challenge in the Grandstand.
- The Farm Exhibits building will be closed the first weekend, as the livestock and their owners need the extra week to prepare. Animals will be in the barn on Thursday, August 26.
- Perishable exhibit items will also not be featured the first weekend.
- Early admission prices will be extended through Monday, August 23.
The announcement offers some good news after a challenging year. Last summer, the Fair made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 event, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. That was only the second time in the Fair’s 85-year history that the event was canceled; the last time was a hiatus from 1942 – 1946 due to the War.
“Like so many other Alaska businesses and organizations, the Fair has struggled over the past year. As a private nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation, we rely on the support of fairgoers, sponsors and grant-makers. That support was significantly reduced in 2020 due to the tough decisions we had to make to protect the health of our fairgoers, staff, volunteers, vendors, entertainers and others,” Hertel said.
While the annual Fair did not occur, Fair staff was able to organize several smaller events in 2020 that encouraged community support and involvement, while adhering to public health recommendations. Those events included the Encore Drive-In Nights concert series, pop-up drive-in movie series, Food Truck Fare, Harvest Fest, and the Bright Up the Night holiday light display.
“We found some creative ways to connect with our community, but we missed coming together at the Fair last year. We look forward to once again being a gathering place for Alaskans at the 2021 Fair,” Hertel said.
Raise a glass to the future of Alaska’s farmlands at Brew Tap! The event, held Friday, August 31, will feature local brews made with local ingredients, as well as live music by the Super Saturated Sugar Strings. $1 from every beer purchased will be donated to the Alaska Farmland Trust, which is dedicated to preserving Alaska’s farmlands for future generations.
The award-winning Colony High School Marching Band, THEE Northern Sound, has been invited to perform in Normandy, France, for the 75thanniversary of D-Day in 2019. You can help them get there by buying tickets to see them perform on the Borealis Theatre stage on Tuesday, August 28. The band will also march in the Fair parade on Saturday, August 25.
Stop by the eWorX Don Sheldon Events Center to meet local artists James and Andi Havens from the Alaska Paleo Project and learn about Alaska’s recently discovered prehistoric creatures, including ancient sea monsters who inhabited Alaska’s ancient oceans over 75 million years ago.
What’s better than a Jim Gaffigan show? TWO Jim Gaffigan shows! The Grammy-nominated, New York Times best-selling stand-up comedian returns to the Fair for not one, but two performances on Sunday, September 2.
Sample a flight of craft beers or sip a pint of your favorite brew as you enjoy early admission to the Jonny Lang concert! Gates open at 5:30 so come early for a brew before the bluesy stylings of Grammy Award-winning guitarist Jonny Lang.
This brand new show, appearing daily, stars bioluminescent fish, reptiles and insects and is FREE with Fair admission. Great for both kids and kids at heart.
After day one of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Rodeo Alaska Champions Tour, end your day by dancing the night away at the Rodeo Dance with live music by Branch and Dean! This hot country duo, known for high-octane country like the raucous anthem “Your Ol’ Lady’s Gone” and their breakthrough hit “The Dash,” takes the stage Saturday, August 25 at 8:30 p.m.
Described as an African-style Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Zuma Zuma features nonstop action and amazing performances showcasing all different types of African culture. Fast-paced and full of acrobatic ingenuity, the show is part high-energy dance act, part Cirque du Soleil, and part Harlem Globetrotters. See them at the Alyeska Pipeline Colony Stage, FREE with Fair admission.
You’ve read about him in books, seen him on TV – and now you can meet everyone’s favorite curious little monkey in person! Curious George, one of the most beloved and most recognizable characters, is coming to the Fair to meet and read with fans young and old.
The very first Fair in 1936 featured the crowning of the Fair Queen – and we’re bringing back this royal tradition at the 2018 Fair! Join us at the coronation event on Thursday, August 23, where we’ll crown the queen and select other members of the Fair royal family, including the princesses and a cultural ambassador. #ASFQ18