The Southeast Alaska State Fair this year will feature two new amusements, a “bounce house” for children and a “bungee run” for children and adults.
“This is a way for the fair to invest in itself, and to offer new rides for kids which we haven’t had in the past,” said fair manager Kelly Hostetler. The fair also will be bringing back a petting zoo to McPherson Barn.
The inflatable “bounce house” is 18 feet long, 15 feet wide and high, and includes a jumping area, a climbing area and a slide. “We’ve borrowed a bounce house in the past, but this one will be fair-owned, so we can have it for the fair and other events at the fairgrounds,” Hostetler said.
The “bungee run” is a 35-foot-long, 11-foot-wide foam chute in which adults or children run, only to be pulled back in by bungee cords.
Hostetler said she considered bringing a rides vendor to the fair, but found it would be considerably more expensive than the organization purchasing its own amusements. She said she hoped that the two new attractions would pay for themselves by the end of this year’s fair.
Their combined cost was $5,300, which came from fair savings. The amusements will go in the kids’ corner at the fairgrounds.
Hostetler said the fair is actively seeking animals for the petting zoo. Also, the first fair exhibits – eight boxes of items shipped from Hollis – recently arrived. The fair starts July 29. Exhibits are due beginning July 23.