The Tanana Valley State Fair is an annual

state fair A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in th ...

held in

College A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. The event commences on the first Friday in August, and is a major annual event in

Interior Alaska Interior Alaska is the central region of Alaska's territory, roughly bounded by the Alaska Range to the south and the Brooks Range to the north. It is largely wilderness. Mountains include Denali in the Alaska Range, the Wrangell Mountains, and ...

. The fair is held on a hundred-acre plot of land just outside the city limits of Fairbanks, in the approximate center of College Road. The fairgrounds, along with portions of the

Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge is a 2,200 acre (7.3 km2) bird sanctuary, located within the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska and partially within the city limits of Fairbanks. It consists of wetlands, field ...

and surrounding businesses on the north side of College Road, comprise the eastern reaches of the College

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the count ...

adjacent to Fairbanks. It features amusement rides, food concessions, competitive exhibits, contests and live performances. As of the 85th Annual Fair in 2012, an adult day pass cost $10 and season pass cost $35.

History

The Tanana Valley Fair was founded in 1924, making it the oldest state fair in

. Experimental agronomist George William Gasser and local real estate businessman and homesteading farmer Harry Markley Badger were instrumental in forming the not-for-profit

Tanana Valley The Tanana Valley is a lowland region in central Alaska in the United States, on the north side of the Alaska Range, where the Tanana River emerges from the mountains. Traditional inhabitants of the valley are Tanana Athabaskans of Alaskan Athab ...

Fair Association. From 1924 to 1951, the fair was held in various locations in downtown Fairbanks. All fairs since 1952 have been held at the current location, on land which the association originally leased from the University of Alaska. In 1936, the Matanuska Valley Fair formed in

Palmer Palmer may refer to: People and fictional characters * Palmer (pilgrim), a medieval European pilgrim to the Holy Land * Palmer (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Palmer (surname), including a list of people and ...

. It saw a name change in 1959 to the "

Alaska State Fair The Alaska State Fair is an annual state fair held in Palmer, Alaska, United States. The fairgrounds are located approximately one hour north of Anchorage and draw visitors from the entire Municipality of Anchorage and beyond for the popular 1½ ...

" when

was upgraded from a territory to a state in the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

. That same year, both fairs requested to be the "Official Alaska State Fair." Subsequently, the governor of Alaska determined the fairs would alternate the title with the Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks using the title in even-numbered years and the Alaska State Fair in Palmer using the title in odd-numbered years. "Tanana Valley State Fair" was adopted as the permanent name of the fair in Fairbanks in 1985. The Alaska State Fair in Palmer is held annually for about two weeks around the beginning of August. The Southeast Alaska Fair is held in Haines for four days over the last weekend in July. There are also fairs in

Ninilchik Ninilchik (russian: Нинильчик) (Denaʼina language, Dena'ina: ''Niqnalchint'') is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, 2010 c ...

and Kodiak in late August and early September, with smaller fairs held in Delta Junction, Kenny Lake and Salcha. There was no fair in 1942-45 nor 2020.

Years Themes & Color Schemes

* 1980 - Parades of People * 1982 - Fun for You in '82 * 1983 - Tanana Valley Showcase * 1984 - Silver Salute * 1985 - Alaska: Tomorrow's Adventure * 1986 - "Weather or Not" * 1987 - We the People * 1988 - Fun! Fair! Fairbanks! * 1989 - Here Come the Clowns! * 1990 - Lettuce Entertain Ewe * 1991 - Days of Swine and Roses * 1992 - And the Beet Goes On! * 1993 - 93 Cheers for Volunteers * 1994 - A Ticket to Ride * 1995 - "Education - It's Only Fair" * 1996 - Shake Rattle & Roll * 1997 - Attack of the Killer Cabbages! They're big, they're green, and they're here! * 1998 - Strawberry Fields for Heifer * 1999 - Poultry in Motion * 2000 - Give Peas a Chance * 2001 - 2001: A Fair Oddity * 2002 - There's No Place Like Home * 2003 - Bright Lights Pig City * 2004 - Corn to be Wild ''(Colors: yellow.)'' * 2005 - Feast or Salmon * 2006 - Diamonds are Fair-Ever * 2007 - Faster Than a Speeding Pullet * 2008 - Pirates of the Carrots & Beans * 2009 - Tradition is Our Mission * 2010 - Barn in the USA * 2011 - Northern Nights & Midway Lights (80th anniversary!) * 2012 - The Age of Asparagus * 2013 - Salmon Enchanted Evening ''(Colors: midnight blue, copper, and silver.)'' * 2014 - Peonies From Heaven * 2015 - Blue Jeans & Country Dreams * 2016 - Family, Fun, and the Fair * 2017 - Raven About the Fair * 2018 - May The Fair Be with You * 2019 - Love Is A Cattle Field * 2021 – Don't Stop Be-leafing (no 2020 fair) * 2022 - Sheep Herder in Paradise

Farmer's Market

The associated Tanana Valley Farmer's Market was founded in 1978 as a means for fair exhibitors to sell their produce and goods. It is currently open from May to September three days a week. Tanana Valley Farmer’s Market
Retrieved on 25 July 2012 The market was formerly located on the fairgrounds property, very near to the intersection of College Road and Aurora Drive and the main entrance to the fairgrounds. The market, including the building housing it, was moved to a site approximately a half-mile (800 m) to the west in 2005.

References

External links

* {{Alaska

1924 establishments in Alaska Annual events in Alaska August events Festivals in Alaska Tourist attractions in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska Festivals established in 1924

History

Years Themes & Color Schemes

Farmer's Market

See also

References

External links