A smaller state fair than the one in Palmer, the Southeast Alaska State Fair makes up for it in thrills and chills like the lumberjack contest and the intimacy of greeting local and nearby towns' friends.
Elvis performs at last year's Tanana Valley State Fair Senior Lunch. He was a hit and will return to the annual lunch event this year, July 31 at noon, joined by the Pavva Inupiaq Dancers. The lunch is free to seniors age 60 and older.
July is peak season for festivals around Alaska. Here are some highlights:
Chugiak/Eagle River Bear Paw Festival, July 10-14. Free. Grand parade, Slippery Salmon Olympics, Human Foosball Tournament, community service awards, classic car show, music, vendors, much more. http://www.bearpawfestival.com
Girdwood Forest Fair, July 5-7. Free. A family fair that features Alaskan artists, hand-crafted items, exotic foods, and entertainers from all over Alaska. https://girdwoodforestfair.com/
Homer Peony Celebration, July 1-30. Free. Come July, Homer, dubbed "The City of Peonies," boasts 25 peony farms. Come witness the blooms at their peak and enjoy farm tours, art classes, gallery exhibitions, workshops, and self-guided tours. http://www.homeralaska.org/events/.
Kenai 8th Annual Rock'n the Ranch at the Rustyravin, July 19-20. The music festival you do not want to miss. Beer garden, food and craft vendors, family friendly, and camping. Limited tickets sold, go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6270243
Seward Mount Marathon Race, July 4. The Mount Marathon Race, 5K or 3.1 miles with an elevation gain of almost 3,000 feet, became an organized run in 1915 and is a key part of Independence Day celebrations in Seward.
http://www.seward.com/event/seward-july-4th-festival/729/
Valdez Gold Rush Days, July 31-August 4. Free. Annual 5-day celebration honoring the past, present and future of Valdez. Money raised is donated to a variety of local charities and organizations focused on children and the future of Valdez. http://www.valdezgoldrushdays.org/
SOUTHEAST
Copper River Salmon Jam, July 15-20. Free. A Taste of Cordova food celebration, small fry activities, Alaska Salmon Run, and musical performances too! https://salmonjam.org/
Haines Southeast Alaska State Fair, July 25-28. Senior Early Bird Ticket, $24. Contests, food, crafts displays, and music. Cows Go Moo, The Femmes, Delhi2Dublin, The Whiskeydicks, and Kitchen Dwellers. https://seakfair.org
Wrangell Alaska Bearfest, July 24-28. Free. In the heart of the Tongass National Forest, Wrangell is home to both black and brown bears. Bearfest is a tribute to these surroundings and the nature of what makes Wrangell so special. Check out the Bear Safety Workshop, photo workshops, art workshop for kids, and lots more. http://www.alaskabearfest.org/schedule.html
INTERIOR
Delta Junction Deltana Fair & Music Festival, July 19-24. Seniors $5 day pass. Enter the blueberry pie contest, the Pipeline Run, Miss Deltana and Cutest Baby Contest. Live music and annual parade. Dr. Crusberg's Memorial Pet Show-if your pet does tricks, enter them for free. The Forget-Me-Knot Quilters Guild members create a quilt to raffle for Delta area residents who have suffered a loss from a house fire. http://www.Deltanafair.com
Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, July 17- 28. Ticket prices vary. A multi-disciplinary festival with classes in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, literary arts, culinary arts, and healing arts. FSAF brings in 120-plus guest artists from around the globe. https://fsaf.org
Fairbanks Tanana Valley State Fair, July 26 – Aug. 4. Tickets: Senior (60+), $8, Senior Season Pass, $40. It's the fair's centennial! Baby Show, Most Attractively Decorated Booth, Cabbage Contest. Senior Lunch in the Big Top Tent, July 31 at noon. New events include the Competitive Exhibits Scavenger Hunt, track and field, Alaska Heritage Day Fiddle Fest, Adult Hula Hoop Competition, and Fairbanks Has Talent. http://www.Tvsfa.org
Fairbanks World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, July 10-13, Seniors, $10. Witness the traditional physical skills that Alaska Natives used for centuries as games of strength and agility. https://www.weio.org/
Glacier View River Retreat Fourth of July Car Launch, Adults (13 and up), $20. Around 2 p.m., watch as a Chrysler New Yorker, 1983 Silverado, Dodge Caravan, Taurus, Explorer, and others get launched off a 300-foot cliff. Lots of food trucks available. http://www.facebook.com/events/822472696368940
Kachemak Bay Highland Games, July 6. Daily, $10. Traditional games in Homer, like tossing the caber. The Harp Twins with the Volfgang Twins will perform. Local vendors, food trucks and bagpipes, bagpipes, bagpipes. http://www.kachemakbayscottishclub.org/index.html
McGrath Back to Bluegrass Festival, July 20-21. Annual festival supports local radio station KSKO. Glacier Blues Band and Hope Social Club and others perform. Go to "Back to Bluegrass XIII" Facebook page.
