This year's winners
Lovers of giant vegetables crowded the bleachers in the Farm Exhibits building at the Alaska State Fair on Friday evening with one question on their minds: Would the world cabbage weight record be broken?
The new record to beat is 1,101 pounds in the giant pumpkin contest at the Alaska State Fair. On Wednesday, Dale Marshall, of Anchorage, beat the old state record of 1,019 pounds, set in 2006 by this year's second place finisher, John "J.D." Megchelsen.
ALASKA STATE FAIR
Rumors abound that the previous record weight of 127 pounds for a cabbage at the Alaska State Fair may be broken today. Check back for the results after 6 p.m. today.
Reporter Kaylin Bettinger has spent the past week at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. In addition to writing about people and events, she's been making a checklist of practical tips for fairgoers.
Alaska State Fair officials have reviewed an Aug. 26 incident in which a man waving a sign clashed with security guards and was forced to the ground, and say the guards acted appropriately.
Fairgrounds events and performances
A line stretched almost out of the tent at the Oasis Beer Garden at 4 p.m. on Thursday, the opening day of the Alaska State Fair. Amidst chaos that comes with rides, food vendors, events and music, grabbing a beer gives some people a chance to chill out.
Fairgrounds events and performances
When it comes time to announce the performers at the Borealis Theatre at the annual Alaska State Fair, there are always two things to expect: a wide variety of genres covered and many artists attempting to recapture their glory.
Fairgrounds events and performances
This year's winners
Ten minutes of mayhem Thursday at the Alaska State Fair -- caught on video and posted on YouTube -- jump-started an Internet debate on free speech this week and landed a familiar roadside activist in jail.
A full list of events and prices for the week and a half of events at the fair in Palmer.
Students, parents and fair vendors have figured out ways to adjust to the earlier start to the school year to keep everyone involved relatively happy.
Fairgrounds events and performances
COLUMN: JULIA O'MALLEY
As the Alaska State Fair drew near this year, the usual food fantasies took hold. But then, from some mean part of my brain, a dangerous question snaked its way through: Just what would a belly full of all that actually do to me, diet-wise?
Lumberjack show is a state fair favorite
Ventriloquist Michael Harrison held a puppet on his hand at the Bluebonnet Stage at the Alaska State Fair. What had the audience -- more than 100 people from small kids to grandparents -- laughing? A wedgy joke.
Conor, 10, and Quinn Janigo, 8, tagged along with me Monday at the Alaska State Fair. The boys each had $50. Booths that I routinely ignore were paradise to them.
The weather at the second day of the Alaska State Fair may have curbed some of the crowds, but at the Woodlot at 1 p.m., a rain-jacket-clad crowd erupted in laughter at Fred Sheer's Lumberjack Show.
Just after noon on Friday at the Alaska State Fair, Paul "Dizzy Hips" Blair had very still hips. Blair puts on a hula hoop show a few times per day at the fair and he was scheduled to start his first performance a few minutes later. But his hoops were locked in a trailer and he'd forgotten the lock combination.
The Alaska State Fair, which opened at noon today, is always about food, rides, music and people -- and this year is no exception. Organizers hope the weather will hold and draw even larger crowds than the almost 300,000 people who attended last year.
Giant pumpkins are delivered for the weigh-off Wednesday August 31, 2011 at the Alaska State Fair.
PHOTO GALLERY
The Alaska State Fair Rodeo began Saturday, August 27, 2011, and continues at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 28.
READER PHOTOS
If you brought your camera to this year's state fair, post your photos and check out how others had fun.
WEBSITE
Visit the official state fair web site for more information on events, purchasing tickets and what to expect from the week and a half extravaganza in Palmer.
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