Spinach bread, beach wrestling, Jamberry nail art and an expanded disc golf course will debut at the 48th Southeast Alaska State Fair, which continues through 4 p.m. Sunday.
“It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” fair executive director Jessica Edwards said as low clouds and rain settled over town Wednesday. “That’s the Spirit of Southeast,” Edwards joked, matching the weather to this year’s fair theme.
“Fortunately, Southeast Alaskans know how to go outside and recreate in the rain. Plus, it’s warm out and – cross your fingers – not too windy,” Edwards said.
The weather-theme connection wasn’t lost on groups planning entries in Saturday’s Grand Parade. Melissa Ganey had four umbrellas in her shopping basket early this week, though she declined to reveal details about the float she was organizing.
The Haines Community Marching Band ditched an earlier plan to play “Singin’ in the Rain” due to difficulty finding sheet music. They opted for The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm.”
On Wednesday at the fairgrounds, volunteers judged perishable exhibit entries, vendors set up booths, and a sound crew worked in Payson’s Pavilion.
Karey Larson and Ross Benischek said they brought their spinach bread here from Talkeetna due to requests from customers familiar with the Southeast fair. “They said, ‘You should come to Haines.’ It’s fun for us to try something new,” Larson said.
Their bread – made with spinach, roasted garlic and five cheeses – and Brazilian limeade will be featured with three other food stands near the fair entrance, raising the number of food vendors to 19, fair director Edwards said.
Edwards said entries into the fair’s annual Wearable Art Contest also appear to be up. They include Kate Boor’s “Glovely,” a skirt and top made from rubber gloves, and Ketchikan resident Jackie Jones-Bailey’s “Coho Antoinette,” a blue-tarp gown and train crafted from fishing gear, with a towering headpiece floating a scale-model fishing boat. The show starts 5 p.m. Friday under Payson’s Pavilion.
In Harriett Hall Wednesday, Juneau residents Joscelyn Brownlee and Tana O’Leary were setting up their displays of adhesive nail art, and minding their infant children.
“It’s the latest trend in nail art,” Brownlee said. “They’re for women of all ages, but we also have youth designs. And they’re water tight. They last two weeks on your hands or six weeks on your toes.”
On the opposite side of the hall, preserved foods judges C.J. Jones and Josh Hibbard were sampling spoonfuls of strawberry-raspberry-habanero syrup. “It has just a little bite at the end. I’d put it on my pancakes,” Hibbard said.
Near Raven Arena, Jeremy Reed and a crew were finishing adding eight holes to the fairground’s 15-year-old disc golf course. Maps of the expanded course are available at Hole 1, near the ice-skating shack. Reed said he has collected 16 prizes for Sunday’s state fair disc golf tournament, set for 11 a.m.
The fair’s first beach wrestling tournament will be held 4 p.m. Friday outside the Klondike Saloon. The sport integrates sumo, Greco-Roman, freestyle and collegiate wrestling. No experience is necessary. Pre-register at the fair information booth or contact organizer Andrew Cardella at [email protected].