Scenes from the Fair

[Blue_In_AK]

With all the heavy hearts on DU these days, I thought you all might enjoy some scenes from our little state fair on Monday.

Everybody loves big veggies -- here is a 32-1/2 pound beet, which I believe is a new state fair record.



A happy alpaca



Chow time



The perennial garden (my favorite spot where I took lots of flower pictures - once you start, you can't stop)...



Every year some of the local artists participate in "Wild Salmon on Parade" where they're given a plaster cast of a salmon (or halibut) and then they can do whatever creative thing they want to with it. This one is called "Leonardo DaFishi's 'Last Supper'"



The scene from the top of the ferris wheel - Knik Glacier in the background



Balloons



And a great fireworks show to top it off




I have monster trucks, motocross guys flying through the air, musicians, hair paint, etc. etc. It was hard to pick just eight.

[F.Gordon]

1. Looks like a lot of fun

You did an incredible job of capturing the feel of the place. And you got fireworks!!! It looks like it's on or near a farm?

Thanks so much for these. I've gone from heavy heart to rage. Been burying my self in work so I don't explode and go on a rampage looking for SUV's with W stickers and running them off the road.
:evilgrin:

Don't be afraid to use the photogroup smugmug Blue'. You could start a gallery with your fair photographs and force the view into "Slideshow" which goes full screen and would let you post a whole bunch... then just post the link for everyone to click on and view. It's actually very very easy.

Edit: It's the witching hour. Fingers go dancing by themselves. Just typing anything they like.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I know, F.

I've been meaning to do it, but I've been really, really busy with work, and then at night all I want to do is sit here and read DU. The first time I get a break, I'll definitely post some photos with SmugMug.

This weekend we're doing a glacier cruise in Prince William Sound (I may have mentioned this before) with our stockbroker and other suckers (!! - the least they can do for us, huh?) so hopefully I'll have some good shots. The weather's supposed to be pretty nice - fingers crossed.

ed. - Yes, the fairgrounds are in Palmer, about 40 miles north of here which is in the middle of the Matanuska Valley, world famous for huge vegetables and excellent marijuana, if you're into such things. :) Somebody brought out a 942-pound pumpkin today which we saw on TV, zucchinis about the size of full-term healthy newborns, kohlrabis as big as my head (big), and cabbages as big as beach balls. The veggies are really something to see.

[F.Gordon]

3. Alaskan Herb? No way

I don't recall you mentioning the cruise before. Maybe Blue' is into Matanuska Majane? ;)

Have fun...just don't forget to go.
:evilgrin:

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Way...

The premium brand used to be called "Matanuska Thunderf**k" although my guess is there are many, many different strains growing up there now. Every once in a while they bust a grow, but people up here are pretty casual about mj use ... in fact, it's legal to have up to an ounce and I forget how many plants -- five, I think -- in your home.

[BamaGirl]

4. Very cool pics Blue

I love the view from the ferris wheel!

[F.Gordon]

5. I agree. Forgot to mention that before

I also like Chow Time.
:kewl:

[intheflow]

7. I love fairs!

When I lived in Massachusetts I worked The Eastern States Exposition, lovingly referred to as the Big E, every year for many years. The Big E was the "state fair" of all the New England States. It was HUGE, much larger than anything I've encountered out west.

Yet even given the very different sizes of our fairs, you have captured my fair experience almost to a "t". (The only thing missing is some big country singer and lots of fried food.) I always loved the pigs best, always rode the ferris wheel, always checked out the artists, always stayed for the fireworks. Thank you for this wonderful bit of autumn flashback!

All my fair photos are on film, and I only have one already scanned in. I took this when I first started taking photos almost 15 years ago now. For a long time I thought it was the best photo I'd ever taken. I offer up this photo of my favorite ride to the fair gods

[Blue_In_AK]

8. No country singer,

but here's half of Love Puppets, local boogie blues band, getting down...

[intheflow]

9. Love Puppets!

:rofl: No, seriously, they look great. I think I know their soul-mate counterparts in Massachusetts, I've run in that crowd. :rofl: