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283:. The total attendance that year reached 72,000. Over the years, fair attendance has continued its upward trend. During the 18-day fair in 1998, a record 361,804 people participated in the event. That same year, the fair accepted 10,890 exhibit entries – the highest on record. The fair set another record in 2003, with 312,419 visitors attending the fair over a 12-day period.
253:, an agricultural fraternal organization, that was organized in the Matanuska Valley in 1933. 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. In establishing a colony in the
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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, and subsequent articles regarding Mr.
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Fairground facilities have also continued to grow. In 1975, the fair became home to Colony
Village, which preserves some of the historic buildings from the Valley's early days. In 1997, the construction of Pioneer Plaza and Raven Hall was completed. In 2004, the fair opened its new Green Gate and
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The fair also features free entertainment around the grounds, with events and contests such as a rodeo, “Diaper Derby”, and the Alaska Grown Games. The fair also features a large midway with carnival rides and games, and presents big name concerts each year as part of the
438:, the fair features giant vegetable exhibits, like 2010's pending world record-breaking 46-foot (14 m), 8-inch (20 cm) gourd vine, and the state record-breaking 39-inch (100 cm) bean, 83-inch (210 cm) gourd and 1,101-pound (500 kg) pumpkin.
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Topping the list of fairgoer favorite pastimes is the fair’s food. Usually, between 50 and 70 food vendors are scheduled to attend the fair, offering usual
American staples like hot dogs, pizza, burgers and nachos, plus the more ‘exotic’ selections including
469:, Alaskan seafood and all kinds of foods served fried or on a stick. There are, also, many desserts including ice cream, cream puffs and more. More than 400 retail (non-food) stalls and vendors are also present at the fair each year.
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The fair's giant cabbage contest tradition began in 1941, when a $ 25 prize was offered for the largest cabbage and Max
Sherrod of the Valley took the prize with a 23-pounder (10.5 kg). The official Giant
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During World War II, the fair took a five-year hiatus from 1942 to 1946. But the fair was back in operation in 1947. 1950 saw the first carnival rides at the fair. In 1956, the fair Board petitioned the
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That first year's fair was held in the community center of the newly established
Matanuska Colony and included the crowning of the fair queen, a baby show, boxing matches, horse races, dances, a
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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.
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and beyond for the popular 1½-week event beginning at the end of August. The fair is famous for its record setting giant vegetables and picturesque location at the foot of the
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Weigh-Off was established in 1995. In 2012, grower Scott Robb entered a 138.25 pound (63 kg) cabbage, which not only took first place, but also set a new world record.
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and baseball games. There were also agricultural entries, including giant cabbages, grain, carrots, onions, celery, peas and other vegetables.
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The AT&T Concert Series is a big draw for the fair, which has played host to dozens of bands and performers over the last 75 years.
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for official designation as the Alaska State Fair. In 1960, the fair celebrated its 25th anniversary and was paid a visit by
President
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In 2010, it was estimated a total of 290,119 people attended the fair, which featured 8,081 exhibit entries and 450 vendors.
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241:. The event features amusement rides, food concessions, competitive exhibits, carnival games, live performances and more.
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The fair also features thousands of exhibitions and competitions; categories include artwork,
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The first Alaska State Fair was held
September 4–7, 1936. It was organized by members of the
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999:"Disappointment and money worries for hundreds of vendors after Alaska State Fair cancels"
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1967 was the fair's first year in its present 300-acre location at 2075 Glenn
Highway in
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and farming sides received national attention, when the makers of the
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In 2020, there was not a state fair, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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1936–1941, 1947-2019, 2021-, officially Alaska State Fair since 1959
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Tourist attractions in
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
1050:"Alaska State Fair: Household Opinion Survey, May 2010"
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M.D. Snodgrass: The
Founder of the Alaska State Fair
51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1021:"Alaska Man Rolls Record Cabbage Out of the Patch"
426:Taken from internal Alaska State Fair financials.
795:"What's new, what to do at the Alaska State Fair"
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165:Appx. 12 days in late August and early September
897:John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
766:"State Fair attendance up more than 9 percent"
461:visited the fair to film a 30-minute segment.
524:showing, locally-crafted spirited beverages/
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909:"State Fair History Website – Fair Facts"
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111:Learn how and when to remove this message
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294:Hill's activities were published in the
16:Annual state fair held in Palmer, Alaska
1082:"State Fair History Website – Exhibits"
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793:McCummings, Zakiya (August 18, 2017).
434:Situated in the heart of the fertile
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49:adding citations to reliable sources
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846:"Alaska State Fair History Website"
146:Alaska State Fair in September 2015
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36:needs additional citations for
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251:Northland Pioneer Grange No. 1
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1177:Festivals established in 1936
1162:1936 establishments in Alaska
997:Treinen, Lex (May 28, 2020).
821:Colberg, Talis James (2008).
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726:Raymond Rebarchek Colony Farm
317:The Alaska State Fair, 2005.
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1038:GardenSMART show archive
732:Tanana Valley State Fair
436:Matanuska-Susitna Valley
255:Matanuska-Susitna Valley
239:Matanuska-Susitna Valley
1167:Annual events in Alaska
721:Matanuska Valley Colony
1138:61.58139°N 149.13111°W
961:"Anchorage Daily News"
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1001:. Alaska Public Media
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1143:61.58139; -149.13111
800:Alaska Dispatch News
621:Charlie Daniels Band
449:In 2007, the fair's
296:Anchorage Daily News
197:Appx. 294,500 (2016)
45:improve this article
1182:Festivals in Alaska
1134: /
774:. November 15, 2011
60:"Alaska State Fair"
1088:on October 4, 2010
935:"ASF blog archive"
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270:Alaska Legislature
915:on March 29, 2009
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1090:. Retrieved
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769:
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709:Micky Dolenz
697:Jim Gaffigan
677:Chris LeDoux
669:Howie Mandel
665:Kenny Rogers
653:Tanya Tucker
625:Craig Morgan
609:Gin Blossoms
597:Bill Engvall
550:
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532:, and more.
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184:Years active
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43:Please help
38:verification
35:
18:
1192:State fairs
1141: /
1129:149°07′52″W
778:October 16,
701:Iggy Azalea
673:Chris Cagle
637:Terry Fator
633:Cheap Trick
629:Terri Clark
573:Boyz II Men
530:woodworking
506:photography
502:petting zoo
498:pet agility
459:GardenSMART
430:Attractions
170:Location(s)
1156:Categories
1126:61°34′53″N
806:August 24,
738:References
657:Tracy Byrd
593:Beach Boys
553:Ted Nugent
492:displays,
486:needlework
223:state fair
192:Attendance
156:State fair
71:newspapers
971:August 4,
945:August 4,
827:(Thesis).
645:Los Lobos
569:Shinedown
512:judging,
500:courses,
332:Visitors
101:July 2010
715:See also
649:Toby Mac
561:Lonestar
544:Concerts
538:AT&T
526:soda pop
514:quilting
482:ceramics
420:304,270
412:307,599
404:307,908
396:312,419
388:287,196
380:272,447
372:268,143
364:285,417
356:295,530
348:289,615
340:290,119
298:and The
225:held in
195:0 (2020)
1025:NPR.org
585:Seether
510:poultry
478:canning
444:Cabbage
245:History
237:in the
202:Website
85:scholar
661:Carman
605:Kansas
565:Hinder
522:rabbit
518:sewing
474:baking
281:Palmer
178:Alaska
174:Palmer
87:
80:
73:
66:
58:
1060:(PDF)
1053:(PDF)
494:honey
467:gyros
262:rodeo
162:Dates
152:Genre
92:JSTOR
78:books
1094:2010
1068:2010
1007:2023
973:2011
947:2011
921:2010
884:2010
858:2010
808:2017
780:2014
707:and
417:2000
409:2001
401:2002
393:2003
385:2004
377:2005
369:2006
361:2007
353:2008
345:2009
337:2010
329:Year
217:The
209:.org
64:news
47:by
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