PALMER, Alaska—
Alaska State Fair organizers are hoping that recent wet weather won’t put a damper on turnout this Labor Day weekend. Officials say that the weather has even benefited a few exhibits and vendors. The splash of puddles, the crinkle of ponchos: it's all part of this year's fair, as visitors braved the weather to get their fill of food and rides.
“Yup, rain or shine, anything,” said fairgoer Julie Morman.
“I don't think I've been up here yet when it hasn't rained,” said Ryan Morman.
“I come away convinced that Alaska, Alaskans are the hardiest fairgoers in the country,” said the fair’s marketing director, Dean Phipps. “I've seen people here, full rain gear, rain boots.”
The fair only rolls around once a year so instead of skipping the festivities, ponchos and XtraTuf boots became this year's fair fashion.
“You know just how our weather fluctuates,” said fairgoer Brandon Trowman. “We actually lived in Vegas for a while, at fairs -- no one looks like we do. We're comfortable in our own skin, you know?”
But even those decked out in rain gear slipped inside to escape the drizzle, making it a more lucrative year for indoors exhibits.
“When it's raining hard, people find other things to do,” Phipps said. “They go inside to the commercial exhibits, a lot of the farm exhibits did better, souvenirs all sold out of ponchos, the coffee lines are good”
Some savvy fairgoers tried to avoid the long lines by seeking out the overcast skies.
“Well, we decided to come to the fair when it's raining because we didn't think that many people would be here today: more for us,” said fairgoer Michelle Trowman.
It was a good plan, but it didn't seem to work.
“I'll tell you one thing: rain doesn't scare Alaskans away,” Phipps said.
With the fair wrapping up, it's a sign that summer is coming to close. Some Alaskans say they'd happily take the rain over the upcoming winter.
“I think it's just a way of life here,” said fairgoer Kori Radcliffe. “We're so used to the really cold weather and snow this is the easy part of it -- the winter is the tough part.”
Every year fairgoers head home with lighter wallets and heavier stomachs. But this weekend they’ll also leave with muddy shoes -- a reminder of this year’s memories.
Fair officials won't know for a few weeks how many people attended this year's fair, but organizers say they don't expect a drop in attendance.
Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com
