Tanana Valley State Fair
The Tanana Valley State Fair is an annual state fair held in College, Alaska, United States. The event commences on the first Friday in August, and is a major annual event in Interior Alaska. 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 and surrounding businesses on the north side of College Road, comprise the eastern reaches of the College census-designated place 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. The Tanana Valley Fair was founded in 1924, making it the oldest state fair in Alaska. 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 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. It saw a name change in 1959 to the "Alaska State Fair" when Alaska was upgraded from a territory to a state in the United States of America. 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 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. 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 2023 - Don't go Bacon my Heart 2024 - Thank You For Bee-ing a Friend 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. 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. Alaska State Fair Festival State fair Official website