Saturday's best bets
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Alaskans probably already know what to expect from George Thorogood and the Destroyers. For one, the band and its signature brand of blues-rock played last year's fair. That, and "Bad to the Bone" is one of the single most recognizable songs in the rock 'n' roll canon. Catch them 7 p.m. on the Borealis Stage, $35 or $75 for reserved seating.
Alaska State Fair Fiddle Contest
Hear some fiddlers flaunt their talent, showcasing their bluegrass, Celtic, swing and Cajun licks at the Colony Stage, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Strongman of the North
Catch these feats of strength from some of Alaska's biggest and burliest as they compete in events like the Farmers Walk, Yoke Walk, Tire Flip and the Sandbag, Keg and Sled Medley, at the Office Court, noon-5 p.m.
Meet and Great Alaska's Iditarod Legends
Meet four-time Iditarod champions Lance Mackey and Martin Buser along with Dick Mackey, Dee Dee Jonrow, Mitch Seavey, Dallas Seavey, Hugh Neff and Ramey Smyth, plus some athletic dogs, 1:30-5 p.m. at the Borealis Plaza.
-- Matt Sullivan
SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE
** = extra fee applies
Borealis Theatre
7 p.m. -- George Thorogood and the Destroyers**
The Sluicebox
No minors after 6 p.m.
1:30 p.m. -- Bottle Caps for Dollars
3 p.m. -- LTM (Lulu, Trish and Marilyn)
4:30 p.m. -- Nokie Edwards, former lead guitarist with The Ventures
6:30 p.m. -- Bo Porter
8:30 p.m. -- Hobo Jim
Jolly Roger Pub
2 p.m. -- Dave King
3 p.m. -- Gothard Sisters
4 p.m. -- Bootleg Brown
5 p.m. -- Kerr Family Band
6 p.m. -- Monica Lettner
7 p.m. -- Alt Twang
Woodlot Stage
4 p.m. -- Homesteader Games with Hobo Jim
7 p.m. -- Hell's Belles
Woodlot
1, 3 and 6 p.m. -- Scheer's Lumberjack Show
Grandstand
4 p.m. -- Rally Cross**
Grandstand Lawn
1, 3 and 5 p.m. -- Pirates for Hire, a pirate-themed entertainment troupe.
Don Sheldon Events Center
10 a.m.-10 p.m. -- "Our Body: Live Healthy" educational exhibit displays real human specimens. (Recommended for ages 12 and older.)
Colony Stage
10:30 a.m. -- Sunshine Generation of Anchorage
11:30 a.m. -- Alaska State Fair Fiddle Contest
2, 4 and 7 p.m. -- Powerhouse
2:30 p.m. -- Barrow Traditional Dancers
3 p.m. -- Kodiak Island Drummers
5 p.m. -- Alaska's Got Talent
8 p.m. -- Element 47
10 p.m. -- Alaskanette Baton Corps
Bluebonnet Stage
12:30, 3 and 6:30 p.m. -- Juggler Paul Isaak
1 p.m. -- Frozen Pony with Jeanene Walker
2 p.m. -- Bootleg Brown
3:30 p.m. -- Dave King
4:30 p.m. -- Alt Twang
5:30 p.m. -- Gothard Sisters
Pioneer Plaza
2, 4 and 6 p.m. -- Cirque De La Vie
Pebble Corral
1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m. -- Canine Stars
Office Court
Noon-5 p.m. -- Strongman of the North Showdown
Borealis Plaza Tent
1-5 p.m. -- Meet and greet Alaska's Iditarod legends
Raven's People Tent
1 and 3 p.m. -- Jack Dalton, Yup'ik storyteller
2 p.m. -- Uncle Albert and the Sunshine Band
3:30 p.m. -- Barrow Traditional Dancers
5 p.m. -- Raven's Radio Hour, Alaska Native style comedy
7 p.m. -- Kodiak Island Drummers
Wineck Barn
Noon and 5 p.m. -- "Alaska Far Away" documentary about New Deal pioneers.
Noon-8 p.m. -- UAF "OneTree" Birch Art Exhibit
1:30 p.m. -- Garden tours guided by the fair's head gardener
1:30 and 4:30 p.m. -- Matanuska Colony Barns, presentation by author Helen Hegener
2 p.m. -- "Where the River Matanuska Flows" documentary
Kid Zone
10 a.m.-8 p.m. -- Children's garden
1, 4 and 6 p.m. -- Woody's Menagerie, educational wildlife exhibit
Farm Exhibits
Noon-4 p.m. -- Junior Market Livestock Auction
Noon-8 p.m. -- Fowl Weather Friends, hens and roosters in a barnyard setting.
Noon-8 p.m. -- Petting zoo
Noon-10 p.m. -- Crop, flower, livestock, rabbit and poultry exhibits
Milking Parlor in Farm Exhibits
4 and 4:45 p.m. -- Goat milking demonstration
5 p.m. -- Cow milking demonstration
Hoskins Exhibits
11:30 a.m. -- Paint a Lady Bug Rock
12:30 p.m. -- Beaded Bracelet
1:30 p.m. -- Quick and Easy Candy
2:30 p.m. -- Whole Grain Bread
3:30 p.m. -- Heart Healthy Bread Spreads
4 p.m. -- Entry Homemade Quick Bread Baking Contest
7 p.m. -- Judging Homemade Quick Bread Baking Contest
Irwin Exhibits
Noon-10 p.m. -- Woodworking, quilting, fiber arts, hand and needlework demos
Noon-10 p.m. -- Quilt show, on the hour
Yellow Gate Lawn
2, 4 and 6 p.m. -- Equi-Mazing equestrian trick riders
Around the Grounds
11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. -- Flight Crew, UAA student team pursuing higher education
1, 3, 5 and 7:30 p.m. -- King BMX Stunt Show