Once again, the streets of Whitehorse will be bare as its citizens flock to the next big summer weekend event.

On this weekend, July 29 to Aug. 1, the draw will be the Southeast Alaska S

tate Fair in Haines, Alaska.

The private, non-profit organization is once again filling its 42 acres of land with parades, Bingo, the Logging Show, a Fisherman’s Rodeo, singer-songwriter and fiddle competitions, fair rides (from Ferris wheels to mechanical bulls) and carnival games for the kids.

Back in 1968, when it first started in “the little American Legion in Haines”, it was organized by the Haines Homemakers Club.

Jessica Edwards, the assistant fair director, says it was more of a home economics fair. But with the resurgence of the back-to-the-land survival skills, the fair still has home arts and crafts, cooking and baking.

There are also food preserving and homemade beer and wine.

Among the 15 food vendors, there will be pizza and Mexican food.

Lately, there has been more of an entertainment focus. Along with rides for the kids, there will be music in the Klondike Saloon (in “Dalton City” on the movie set for White Fang) and workshops.

On the main stage, there will be NANDA, a troupe of four dancing, juggling, Kung-fu acrobats from Washington State, California Hula Hoop artist, Spiral, Grammy-award-winning Inuit musicians and storytellers, Pamyua and blues singer Michelle Fournier.

The headliners will be the funky Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, the northern roots of Trampled By Turtles, hip-hop’s Blue Scholars and master guitarist Scott Huckabay.

The Yukon will be represented, as well, by Kim Beggs, Sasquatch Prom Date, Sophisticated Cavemen, Nicole Edwards and Dave Haddock.

“Over the years, we’ve had good relations with performers in the Yukon,” says Edwards. “Nicole has come here for years, and we had a Northern Neighbours Night once.

“There are so many talented people there.”

Last year, The WhiskeyDicks came and brought an overwhelming number of Yukoners with them. This was a good thing, since the local radio station wouldn’t say “WhiskeyDicks” on the air.

There are not many hotel rooms left, but attendees can try calling 1-907-766-2234 as there may be rooms further from town available.

As well, there will be free camping downtown at Tlingit Park.

“This is a big boon for the town,” says Edwards. “It brings in a lot of people.”

More information is available at www.seakfair.org.


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