Acrobats, gypsy funk and a circus dance party at Main Stage
A collection of 30 singer songwriters, bands and other acts, including a late-night “circus dance party” will perform on one of the three stages around the fairgrounds this weekend.
Denver-based Euforquestra will play from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday evening on the Main Stage. Guitarist Mike Tallman said the group’s name is a combination of the words “euphoria” and “orchestra.”
“We try to keep it pretty high energy and try to engage people on the dance floor,” Tallman said.
Their six-member bands will bring drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, tenor saxophone and a trumpet to the Main Stage. Euforquestra got its start when several of its members went to college together in Iowa and added new band mates that ultimately transformed their sound from rock, to what it plays today-a combination of funk, pocket and groove music.
“At our first sound check with the bigger band somebody looked at the stage and said it looked like an orchestra set up,” Tallman said. “One of the guys coined Euforquestra that night. That was almost 15 years ago and here we are with that name and our terrible Spanglish spelling.”
Euforquestra has collaborated with musicians from Trey Anastasio Band, String Cheese Incident and Phish.
Hawaiian-based Leche De Tigre will perform Latin gypsy funk Friday and Saturday. Their multilingual lead singer will perform in English, French and Spanish. Guitarist Dan Brauer said they got their start at a ceviche bar in Kona, Hawaii. The band’s percussionist will play congas and timbales.
Brauer said people should be prepared to dance. “That’s the main thing with our music, creating songs to make people move around,” Brauer said. “That’s the main goal, having a good time.”
The McDades will add a Celtic and world music influence Saturday evening from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Main Stage.
Their music “fuses the spontaneity of jazz improvisation and infectious global rhythms,” according to the band’s website.
Shannon Johnson, singer and fiddle player, is one of three siblings who have been playing music together their entire lives. “Both my brothers studied jazz so there’s improvisation in the music. It’s going to be a really fun show. Lots of energy. Come on down.”
At 12 a.m. Sunday morning DJ Le Phreak and Circo Valiente will perform on the Main Stage. Described as veteran artists from the circus renaissance, “Acrobats, aerialists, hand balancers and stiltwalkers” will perform with the DJ for a circus dance party.
Circo Valiente will also perform family shows during the day.
Pick up a copy of the 2018 Fair Program for more details on music, show times, contests and other events related to the weekend’s festivities.
Record number of food booths to offer fair classics along with pelmini, shish kabobs and more
It wouldn’t be a fair without the food, and this year more vendors than ever will be serving up the best of their fried, boiled, baked and grilled cuisine.
Southeast Alaska State Fair vendor manager Deana Stout said there will be 21 food booths this year, up from 16 last year, as the event continues to grow.
She said a new area near the front gate will host booths serving cotton candy, hot dogs, kettle corn and food from local restaurant Pilot Light, easily accessible while listening to music and watching other entertainment on the park stage.
“People will be interested in checking out those new booths. It is truly fair food,” Stout said.
Fair vendors new and old will offer other classic fair food like pulled pork, corn on the cob, burgers, pizza, ice cream and pie. But this year’s offerings also include a wide variety of international foods, including falafel, baklava, samosas, pelmeni and Thai food.
Resident Corrie Stickler is making pelmeni, a Russian dumpling filled with meat or potatoes and served with butter curry sauce, sour cream and cilantro. Stickler said she started going to Pel’meni, a restaurant in Juneau, and learned how to make the dish at home. She served pelmeni for the first time at beer fest and will try it again at the fair. “Hopefully everyone enjoys all the food,” Stickler said.
Sarah Bishop will again serve samosas, a fried triangular-shaped pastry often filled with potatoes and commonly served in India and Southeast Asia. Vija Pelekis will serve falafel, a traditional Middle Eastern dish of deep-fried ground chickpeas or fava beans.
Harriet Brouillette will make Indian tacos, and Kim Larson will run the Bustin’ Burritos booth again this year, which won 2017 food vendor of the year.
Merrick Bochart will serve fair food for the first time at the new Jungle Grill. Bochart said she plans to serve steak shish kabobs with peppers, pineapples and onion, watermelon slices and virgin mojitos.
“I thought it was a cool opportunity to make some money. I’ve participated in the fair in all ways in the past and this seemed like a fun way to be there. It’s always fun making food,” Bochart said.
A new vendor from Fairbanks will cook up catfish, barbeque and other southern delicacies, and Sally Boisvert from Four Winds Farm will serve fresh salad, croutons and homemade dressing.
“We have all kinds of really interesting food this year,” Stout said.
Fairgoers can also expect staples like the Chilkat Valley Preschool’s fish tacos, Haines Woman’s Club’s desserts and the Uglys of Haines’ grilled burgers and corn. The organizations use fair sales as fundraisers. Stout said vendors are mostly local, with a few from elsewhere in the state.
Stout said because of the increase in food vendors, she had to create spaces for new booths and move old ones. “Make sure to look for your favorite food places in different locations,” Stout said.
Fair goers are encouraged to compost their food waste and recycle plates, cups and utensils in Haines Friends of Recycling bins at the food court.
Convenience, squirt gun fights and boogying down among fair faves
Symaron Marquardt, 36
The wearable arts show because it’s exciting to watch people’s creativity explode.
Eileen McIver, 29
I like being able to see people you want to see all in one easy, convenient location.
Drake Messano, 7
I like the Ferris wheel and squirt gun fights.
Kiersten Long, 14
The food is great, but I especially like the music.
Chuck Mitman, 64
I’m in the “fossil group,” the Uglys of Haines. We’ve been serving pork sandwiches and corn on the cob for 16 years. But I like seeing the kids have fun, they’re so jovial and it reminds me that God is not discouraged.
Andrea Nelson, 42
I like escaping the crowd at the horseshoe pit and the obstacle bucking event at the logging show.
Isabelle and Scarlette Alamillo, 10 and 12
We love seeing the animals in the barn.
Russ Lyman, 54
For me it’s the music, boogying down and having a fun time dancing.
Janine Allen, 30
The people watching.
Mike Ganey, 37
My favorite part is all the variety of food.
Oliver Hansen, 14
My favorite thing at the fair is the roasted corn.