Blue skies, big crowds mark opening weekend of Alaska State Fair

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Congressman Nick Begich talks business ideas with small business owner Rina Bretz, whose shop Freeze Dried Alaska can be found on the Green Trail. (Tell her Must Read Alaska sent you.)

The 2025 Alaska State Fair kicked off its first weekend in Palmer with sunshine, packed roads, and a performance by “Weird Al” Yankovic that drew thousands.

Traffic heading toward Palmer backed up for miles as fairgoers streamed into the Alaska State Fairgrounds, eager to enjoy rides, games, and exhibits under unusually warm and clear mid-August skies. Longtime fair attendees noted that good weather is not always guaranteed at the annual event, making this opening weekend a bonus for those who ventured out early.

Yankovic’s Sunday concert was a highlight, blending parody music and comedy for an enthusiastic crowd. Other fair staples filled the grounds: giant vegetables, livestock displays, food booths, and the carnival midway.

Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 at the Alaska State Fair.

The 2025 Alaska State Fair runs through Sept. 1 at the Palmer fairgrounds. Gates are open daily from 11 am to 10 pm, with closures on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Full schedules, including concerts and special events, are posted at the Alaska State Fair’s website.

2 COMMENTS

    • Can’t wait to meet up with you and Nicholas. No one is going to recognize Tom and me now that we are old and gray and politically inconsequential, but if we hang out with Nicholas we may get to relive our old glory days.

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