The Kenai Peninsula Fair opens Friday, Aug. 9, at the historic fairgrounds in Ninilchik. Fair coordinator Lara McGinnis said there are some new changes this year; the biggest is that the fair is free to attend.

Friday is sponsored by South Peninsula and Central Peninsula hospitals . It is designated as senior day. Global Credit Union stepped in and made a kids day, for Saturday. The fair board also decided if attendees bring in donations to help out the Homer food bank they will make attendance free for each day.

“We support a lot of nonprofits and small businesses and we want people to be able to come and spend money to buy products and invest in our community instead of paying an entrance fee,” McGinnis said. There will still be a $5 parking fee to help with parking congestion.

The theme for the 2024 fair is “Back to the Last Frontier.”

“What we’re remembering is where we started, which was a little tiny fair in the basement of the school, celebrating kids classrooms. We’re focusing on children 10 and under and all the things that bring smiles to their faces. When you bring a smile to the face of a child, you lighten up everybody else’s world, too,” she said.

Some of the highlights this year will include horse rides, hamster balls and Paul Isaak (a juggler and comedian from Canada who juggles fire on his back on the top of a unicycle). Isaak will also perform at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer starting Aug. 16.

The fair will also showcase competitions. The board has reinvented what used to be called the “Backwoods Girl” from a women’s only competition to one open to all genders. On Sunday afternoon, competitors will be tasked with packing water, stacking firewood, frying an egg, starting a fire and caring for a baby all at once. “If you’ve got what it takes to make it in the Last Frontier, you’ll be able to do all of those things,” McGinnis said.

Friday night will begin the scarecrow-building competition with 10 scarecrow posts. The fair will provide competitors with a kit. Participants can bring three bring items and build a scarecrow that people will vote on over the weekend. The scarecrow that gets the most votes will be donated to the fair and the winning builder will receive a pair of Xtratuf boots.

The Homestead Games will take place throughout the rodeo portion of the fair. That will include everything from hay tosses to sack races. Beloved racing pigs are also back, as always. These are a huge crowd favorite, McGinnis said.

The big event for the weekend is the rodeo show. Rodeo Alaska from Anchorage is producing that feature. “It is a stellar, top-notch, Lower 48-level rodeo. We’ve got $1,200 in prizes for our bull riders. So our bull riding is going to be fantastic, and that level of professionals and contestants that will come in is going to be pretty good, cool,” McGinnis said.

One of the features of the fair that has really changed over time is the exhibits. McGinnis said that 19 years ago she wrote out entry checks to about 2,000 entrants. Now they are down to about 600. “We are encouraging art at the fair, but it’s not as big as a part as it use to be,” she said.

“Our fair has changed and not changed. I mean, we still have the kids petting zoo, which was really fun, and we haven’t had that up until the last probably three years as we’ve been able to expand our our space,” she said.

But other than that McGinnis said she hasn’t seen a lot of change.

“I see the same families coming through, getting older and reconnecting with each other. There are things to do besides play Candy Crush on your phone,” she said.

“It’s an outdoor venue to get out, get off of your technology, and come see real livestock. Engage with your community. Connect with your neighbors,” she said.

The fair is designed for people from all over the peninsula — from Homer to Cooper Landing. The fair board also expects to see visitors come down from Anchorage.

A specific fair schedule is available at www.kenaipeninsulafair.com. The website also details vendors showcasing at the event.

Silas Luke Jones performs on the Ocean Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Attendees dance in the rain at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion) Attendees dance in the rain at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)