The Southeast Alaska State Fair is in “good shape for 2015 and the sustainable future” despite a $17,000 drop in income, mostly from decreased attendance, executive director Jessica Edwards reported at the fair’s annual membership meeting Aug. 28.
Gate revenues dropped to $70,790 from $86,727. Income from rides and from beer and wine sales, $28,451 and $27,446 respectively, increased over 2014, Edwards reported.
A sketchy weather forecast, an unfavorable exchange rate for Canadians and lack of fast ferry service for the first time in years were possible factors in the decline.
Edwards said she is investigating the reason people didn’t come with an eye toward making changes, including chartering a vessel to bring people from Juneau, if necessary. The loss of the day boat “definitely had an effect on attendance for day visitors,” she said.
On the up side, the fair is enjoying record membership – 182 members this year – and high volunteerism. About 1,000 hours of volunteer time are donated during the fair and 200 hours are donated during the Great Alaska Craft Beer and Homebrew Festival in May, Edwards said.
Providing 22 percent of the fair’s income, the brewfest is “incredibly important” to fair finances, Edwards said. A record 17 brewers and distributors participated this year and 200 tickets to its gourmet dinner sold out in 16 days.
Edwards said she would look for more ways to integrate the beer festival into the community to get visitors and dollars circulating through town.
The fair sponsored nine events at the fairgrounds – including fun runs, film festivals and its annual Spring Fling membership party. The number of rentals for non-fair events at the fairgrounds jumped to 16 in the past year, up from 12 the year prior and two in the previous year.
Rentals included weddings, banquets, retirement parties, and fundraisers, she said. “This is a real shift in community perception of the fairgrounds and the kinds of things that can happen out here and I think it’s really positive,” Edwards said.
A community salmon barbecue held in Dalton City and sponsored by the commercial fishing industry will likely change in the future, as there’s more interest from the Kluane-Chilkat International Bike Relay to participate in the event. Both events are held on the same day.
Challenges for the fair include “lots of maintenance” on aging structures, a changed relationship with the Haines Borough, and loss of Haines Brewing Co. as an anchor tenant in Dalton City. Edwards said it’s crucial to keep an open retail outlet in the brewery building, at least during cruise ship season.
Besides a new climbing wall and zip line run, grounds improvements during the past year included rebuilding vendor and foods booths, community garden fence, a ride ticket booth, the horse arena, Klondike deck furniture, the children’s sandbox and horseshoe pits. Pending improvements include rebuilding the Bennett Building in Dalton City, redesigning the disc golf course and reconfiguring the front gate ticket booths.
Edwards said she’d like a new recreation committee to plan for the west side of the grounds, including the former gravel pit and horse arena.
Comments from fair members included that the event should go “smoke-free” and that efforts be made to “soften” the sound from the Main Stage.
Members Paul Wheeler, Eric Forster and Theresa Raven were re-elected to the fair’s board.