Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Southeast Alaska State Fair board voted unanimously last week to hold some version of a fair this summer along with other events typically organized by the organization. Fair spokesperson Amanda Randles said factors such as the U.S.-Canada border status and quarantine requirements will determine the scope of the event.

“We will have something during the weekend of the fair, we’re just not sure what it will be yet but, by golly, the gates will be open,” Randles said.

The fair board made the decision to organize a fair, and smaller events including Winterfest, Spring Fling, the Haines Fishermen’s Community Salmon Barbecue and Backcountry Games. The board will decide in early February whether to plan the Great Alaska Craft Beer & Home Brew Festival.

The fair typically hosts bands and musicians from Canada and the Lower 48 which attract nearly half the fair’s attendees. Fair executive director Kari Johnson said the big question mark is whether musical acts from down south will be able to attend if quarantine requirements are still in place, and if the Canadian border remains closed.

“It could be we have a normal fair and we can bring entertainers, or it could be a local thing where we’re doing local entertainers and not having any travelers here,” Johnson said. “Food vendors, entertainment, contests might look a little bit different. We’re still looking at rides and things for kids but that also might be a little bit different.”

The Fair has pending contracts with headliners who were scheduled to perform at last year’s fair. Canadian performers must obtain visas, an expensive and lengthy process that can take up to three months, Randles said. Vendors travel from the interior and western Alaska. Randles said she’s in the process of contacting entertainers to better understand their deadlines.

“There’s going to be other stuff that we’re just going to have to wing it as we get closer,” Randles said.

Winterfest is scheduled for Feb. 2. The event typically includes games for all ages along with a cross-country ski race and a backcountry race up and over Mount Ripinsky that draws Canadian competitors.

Spring Fling, an annual membership celebration, will be held outdoors and is scheduled for April 23.

The fishermen’s barbeque, which is typically paired with the summer bike relay, is scheduled for June, but will likely be organized on a smaller scale.

Johnson said Fair staff are excited to organize events and went to the board with plans to do so.

“We’re ready to have events and we’re ready to have something for Haines to do,” Johnson said. “Whether it’s big or small, we just want to be there and have something for people to look forward to.”

Johnson said Fair staff will work with the borough on mitigation efforts.

The U.S.-Canada border has been closed since March. A task force formed by the Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum that tackles global issues, is studying how and when to lift the closure, and expects to publish findings in March. Individuals and organizations in border communities can submit comments about the border reopening by emailing Christopher.Sands@wilsoncenter.org.