Alaska State Fair

The fair in Palmer ends on Labor Day after a three-weekend run.

The summer’s lack of sunshine and abundance of rain made for smaller entries in contests that might not be giant pumpkins or cabbages but still managed to produce a 10 1/2-foot-long gourd and a 3-pound tomato.

The fairies have long been a fair favorite, donning green tulle skirts and feather boas, cheering on competitors at the giant vegetable weigh-offs and taking photos with fans young and old.

Here’s why a solo day at the fair is the perfect pre-winter vacation for adults.

There are plenty of concerts, contests and displays, plus Military Appreciation Day on Sunday and First Responders Day on Monday.

Although his Alaska State Fair entry couldn’t touch the record, reigning pumpkin champ Dale Marshall took home yet another win.

Sunshine welcomed crowds as they walked, ate and rode their way around the State Fair in Palmer. The fair runs until Sept. 4.

Wrestling, disco dancing, dogs and duct tape will be featured this weekend at the fair, along with big concerts at the Borealis Theatre main stage.

There are gatherings devoted to fungus and forests, salmon and solstice.

Dale Marshall topped his previous mark Monday with a pumpkin named Cookie Monster, which weighed in at 2,147 pounds.

From cooking challenges to strongman showdowns and, of course, racing pigs, here are a dozen stops to make on the long weekend at the fair.

Some opening weekend visitors were drawn to food vendors, or the animals. Others made a requisite pit stop for a photo button.

Some of this year’s vegetables were donated to make healthy meals for seniors in Palmer. Others ended up in the bellies of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center’s bears.

From live music, to giant pumpkins, to rides and the rodeo, check out some of our favorite images of the Alaska State Fair 2021.

New favorites on our dining reviewer’s list: Donut burgers, deep-fried peaches, Dole Whip, and fried peanut potatoes with a side of bacon mayo.

Thursday’s breeding competition included goats, sheep, swine and cattle.

Between courses of elephant ears and corn dogs, here are some Alaska-centric delicacies to put on your fair food list.

Every August, thousands of Alaskans make the annual trek to the state fair in Palmer. Here’s what a stroll around the fairgrounds on the first weekend looked like.

Pro strongwomen competed in five events, including a dog sled pull and tossing a 50-pound salmon.

Ongoing wildfire danger, along with other hazards, may throw a wrench into some fairgoers’ plans.

It begins and ends with oysters.

There’s country, rock 'n' roll and comedy coming to the Borealis Theatre at the Palmer Fairgrounds from Aug. 22-Sept. 2.

Indulge your inner child, or bring your own kids, and have fun. We couldn’t possibly list everything that’s going on, but here’s our A-to-Z list to get you started.

Ten-week-old Duroc pigs sprinted around a track during the Kenai Peninsula Racing Pigs event at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer on Sunday.

An Anchorage woman getting on a ride broke a bone in her heel and injured her hip, she says. The fair says the car shifted during loading.