The Southeast Alaska State Fair board approved plans for a summer fair. It will be held in the Haines fairgrounds July 29 to Aug. 1. The fair will happen unless the state or the Haines Borough cancels the event.
Kari Johnson, executive director of the fair, said there will be multiple local, in-state, and out-of-state musical acts. The Lacks, Diggin Dirt, Alec and Them Rounders, and Supernova have committed to performing. Johnson said the board is working to expand the number of acts. The musicians will be playing a variety of different genres.
Johnson said food will still be offered at the fair. Vendors will be required to follow the COVID-19 sanitation guidelines.
The vendors will be required to wear masks. Johnson said packaging and presentation of food will depend on the vendors. It will not be required that all food is individually packaged.
There will be an art exhibit in Harriet Hall. Johnson said art will be submitted from across the Southeast. The display will be open to the public.
There is currently no capacity limit to the fair, according to Johnson. She said all events and programs will be held outside. This is because the air circulation will help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We have honestly no idea how many people will attend,” said Johnson. “We think this will be mainly Haines, Skagway, and Juneau. We are expecting a significant decrease in attendance.”
Masks will not be mandated at the fair, but they will be highly encouraged. “All masks will be recommended,” said Johnson. “This goes for everyone, whether you are vaccinated or not.”
Johnson said the fair will be arranged so that people are forced to social distance. She said that the southeast fair board is currently working with Plan Safer Events, an Alaska Department of Health and Social Services resource, to keep their mitigation plans updated.