The Kenai Peninsula Fair will again fill the fairgrounds in Ninilchik next weekend, bringing performers, animals, games and food together for an event stretching from Friday, Aug. 11 to Sunday, Aug. 13.
Fair Coordinator Lara McGinnis said Wednesday that each year the fair offers a variety of attractions for a family audience — local musical talent, carnival games, horse rides, a petting zoo, a rodeo and the “always fun” pig races.
New this year is a ticketed comedy show Friday night headlined by Greg Morton — seen on “America’s Got Talent.” There will also be performances by Stilt Circus, a “phenomenal” variety show — on stilts — and attractions by Tons of Fun Entertainment including an obstacle course and climbing wall
McGinnis said she loves what the fair brings to Ninilchik and the Kenai Peninsula.
“These are life-changing experiences,” she said. “That’s why kids keep coming back.”
Those kids aren’t just the ones coming to partake in the festivities — they also include the performers taking the stage and the volunteers making the event happen.
Silas Jones, dubbed “Guitar Prodigy” on the fair program, is a 17-year-old guitarist out of Homer who’s played at the fair since 2021. Last year he drew a crowd as he strummed and tapped on his instrument. He’s set to play Friday at 3 p.m.
Adelyn McCorison is similarly a budding musician from Homer who McGinnis said came looking for a chance to perform. She’s set for appearances on all three days.
McGinnis said one act, the Pushki Pickers, features an artist who’s been playing the fair since the age of 4 — Josh Krohn, who currently heads up KBBI radio.
“It’s awesome when the kids you watched grow up come back to perform at the fair,” McGinnis said.
She credits community support from local organizations and volunteers with making the fair even a possibility — especially in recent years when they’ve run the fair the week after Salmonfest. She said it’ll be members of Freedom House and the Ninilchik Wolverine Basketball team preparing the space next week in the days leading up to opening.
The Kenai Peninsula Fair will be held at the Kenai Peninsula fairgrounds Aug. 11-13. The fair will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The rodeo runs Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. The comedy show is Friday at 7 p.m., and tickets are available at kenaipeninsulafair.com.
Admission to the fair is $10 for adults, and $5 for youth and seniors. Youth and senior admission will be further discounted to $3 on Friday. On Sunday, free admission can be secured with a donation to the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank.
For more information about the Kenai Peninsula Fair, visit facebook.com/kpfair.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
