Alaska State Fair

Planning for the fair began in 1935 and coincided with establishment of the Matanuska Colony, a New Deal resettlement community designed to assist out of work Midwestern families.[4] In establishing a colony in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley it was the U.S. government's intent to decrease Alaska's reliance on imported food, increase the Territory's population, and give Midwestern families on public assistance a new start.[5] Also in 2010, Valley resident and protester Sidney Hill was arrested for fourth-degree assault, disorderly conduct and trespassing after he caused a disturbance on the fairgrounds while carrying a large political sign.The incident was addressed on the fair blog,[9] and subsequent articles regarding Mr. Hill's activities were published in the Anchorage Daily News[10] and The Frontiersman.[15] The fair also features thousands of exhibitions and competitions; categories include artwork, baking, canning, ceramics, dance, fiber/fleece, flowers and gardening displays, handiwork/needlework, home-brewing techniques, home improvement displays, honey & bee products, livestock judging, music (of various genres), pet agility courses, petting zoo, photography, poultry judging, quilting/sewing, rabbit showing, locally-crafted spirited beverages/soda pop, woodworking, and more.Previous performers have included Ted Nugent, David Archuleta, Lonestar, Hinder, Shinedown, Boyz II Men, Darryl Worley, Collective Soul, Seether, Bucky Covington, Beach Boys, Bill Engvall, Rodney Atkins, Kansas, Gin Blossoms, The Rembrandts, Emerson Drive, Charlie Daniels Band, Craig Morgan, Terri Clark, Cheap Trick, Terry Fator, Uncle Kracker, Los Lobos, Toby Mac, Tanya Tucker, Tracy Byrd, Carman, Kenny Rogers, Howie Mandel, Chris Cagle, Chris LeDoux, REO Speedwagon, Sean Kingston, Tracy Lawrence, Three Days Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Iggy Azalea, Richie Havens and Micky Dolenz.
The Alaska State Fair, 2005.
State fairPalmerAlaskaPalmer, AlaskaMunicipality of AnchorageChugach MountainsMatanuska-Susitna ValleyAlaska LegislatureJohn F. KennedyAnchorage Daily NewsFrontiersmanCabbagehorticulturalPublic Broadcasting Servicebakingcanningceramicsneedleworkhome improvementpet agilitypetting zoophotographypoultryquiltingsewingrabbitsoda popwoodworkingTed NugentDavid ArchuletaLonestarHinderShinedownBoyz II MenDarryl WorleyCollective SoulSeetherBucky CovingtonBeach BoysBill EngvallRodney AtkinsKansasGin BlossomsThe RembrandtsEmerson DriveCharlie Daniels BandCraig MorganTerri ClarkCheap TrickTerry FatorUncle KrackerLos LobosToby MacTanya TuckerTracy ByrdCarmanKenny RogersHowie MandelChris CagleChris LeDouxREO SpeedwagonSean KingstonTracy LawrenceThree Days GraceJim GaffiganIggy AzaleaRichie HavensMicky DolenzMatanuska Valley ColonyRaymond Rebarchek Colony FarmTanana Valley State FairMat-Su Valley FrontiersmanAlaska Dispatch News