Fun at the Alaska State Fair
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You would have thought that living in areas with plenty of farming and animals we would have gone to at least a county fair before.
Nope!
Instead it took a move to Alaska to get us visiting the proverbial state fair. Well, that and friends who said $2 early admission on opening day coupled with rare nice weather to make for our trek up to Palmer for the state fair. The boys didn’t mind setting aside their school books for this field trip.
I wish we’d stayed a little longer to see more of the fair than we did. I figure there is always next year along with planning ahead for the budget.
On our shoestring budget (aka no rides and food being bought), what did we do?
* Tried to watch a demo on making lip balm from beeswax, but ended up leaving after a short while when the natives got restless. (Three families with 10 kids between them means potential for a lot of restless natives!)
* Viewed some artwork, preserves and baked goods in the building the demo was in.
* Checked out the 4H building where the younger kids collected goodies (e.g. pencils and coloring pages) while I picked up pamphlets about growing and preserving here in Alaska. Also took a peek at entries from 4H members.
* walked through a reptile exhibit with both familiar and unfamiliar creatures.
* watched a BMX bike ‘show’ while several of the older kids hit the rides. My boys were enthralled with the ability to spin and flip bikes. Since we got there before it started, they had front row ‘seats’ for the show.
Of course, there were plenty of sights and smells to take in. What we didn’t do was see all the vendors exhibiting at the fair OR even get a chance to see the agricultural aspect. But, we did get some exercise walking around!
Of course, there’s always next year (when maybe dad can come along and get the boys excited about the agricultural side of the fair!)
Whoa that two headed calf is kinda freaky!We go to our state fair some years but I prefer our County Fair – free admission! Then it doesn't seem so bad buying food there. We do plan on going to our state fair this year so Rissa can look at the animals.
Jamie ~ there's a LOT to see up here, no two headed calf experience necessary. It was in the reptile oriented exhibit which I found a bit odd. Hence, the picture.Tonya ~ the calf was a stuffed head. Had it been alive, they probably would have been charging just to lay eyes on it.Hallie ~ from what I've heard and seen, Alaska tends to have people loving or hating it. I'm bucking the trend and saying I'm in the middle. Of course, give me more time and I might sway in one direction.
I just found your blog via Field Trip Friday and was so excited to see the Alaska stae fair!! It makes me so homesick! I SOOO enjoyed seeing the pictures…it's funny the things you miss when you are away. Thanksso much for posting these…I can't wait to check out the rest of your blog….We loved Alaska and can't wait to get back!www.oubrokenroad.blogspot.com
Your post caught my attention in my Google Reader this morning so I starred it so I could comment later and then I realized that you linked up to Field Trip Friday. We've been to some of our local fairs (figures they always fell on week's that we didn't have much cash on hand either) but we've never been to a state fair. Looks like you managed to make it memorable after all. Was that two-headed calf alive or stuffed? Thanks for linking up to Field Trip Friday!
I can't wait to visit Alaska so that we can decide how and wht to do about making a move there.The fair looked fun but the whole 2 headed calf thing,huh that is what I have to say about that.Blessings~