Among the countless events inherited from Fourth of July festivities stretching decades into the past, two new events will feature in this year's festivities.
A Red, White and Blue fair aims to boost participation in the Southeast Alaska State fair by providing prospective participants with an early means of participation. In addition to that, big wheel and wheel-barrow races will carry the Wrangell-wide party past the end of events on the Fourth and into the weekend.
Nostalgia inspired the fair, in part, said Shawna Buness, who is chairing the event.
“We're kind of modeling it off of the Haines State Fair,” she said. “Cyni (Waddington) and I grew up participating in county fairs, and we just missed it and wanted to bring our version to Wrangell.”
Exhibits for the fair are due by June 29. So far, Wrangellites have submitted arts and crafts, preserved foods, beer and wine. The fair had netted 102 exhibits by Tuesday. The exhibits are separated into 18 different departments, which are themselves divided into one to six different classes, Buness said. Judges will employ identical standards to those employed by the Haines fair.
“We have ribbons and rosettes for department champions,” she said. “Bragging rights and really pretty ribbons.”
The Southeast State Fair will be held July 31 to Aug. 3.
Wrangellites thinking about going up the river after July 4 should consider delaying their trip by a day. This year, festivities will actually extend to July 5, with big-wheel and wheel-barrow races scheduled for that day. Organizers are hoping for a big turnout, said Cyni Waddington who is chairing the events with her husband John.
“A lot of people that go up-river,” she said. “We're a little nervous about that, but we're hoping that there's enough people that stick around with their kids that wanna participate.”
Wrangell's Fourth of July is the premier summer community event and has been for decades. A full list of events is available in the center spread of this week's edition.
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