Following a yellow brick road, under a bridge, to the Forest Fair

By Hannah Dillon

TNews Associate Editor

A rainy Saturday began with a parade of Girdwood community members, some dressed as colorful butterflies and mushrooms, and some with elf ears and cloaks. (All costumes were,  of course, accompanied by Alaska’s signature shoe, the rainboot.)

The 49th annual Forest Fair was held on July 5, 6 and 7. This year’s theme was “bubbles and bugs” which gave the Forest Fair the energy of a fantasy land. 

Bug-themed sled team marches dow Alyeska Highway during the Girdwood Forest Fair parade. (Photos by Hannah Dillon)

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. the Girdwood parade began at the Alyeska Day Lodge and traveled down the Alyeska Highway. Fire trucks, giant dolls, decorated cars and people dressed as bugs – with an abundance of bubble wands – marched their way towards the Forest Fair, tossing candy to eager children.

A “yellow brick road” began just past the bridge over Glacier Creek. Colorful signs painted by community members directed Forest Fair attendees under the bridge and through a foot path marked by rocks painted yellow along the way.

The end of the yellow brick road opened to the sound of music, the smell of food, laughter and rain tapping the top of vendor tents where people could buy and sell unique and handmade wares while eating fresh corn-on-the-cob. 

Walking muddy pathways one wound through a maze of vendors inviting fairgoers into tents to keep dry and purchase unique and intricately made items. 

Some of the eye-catching booths included a henna stand, gem surveying, wand making, mushroom grow kits, face painting, hand-crafted Indigenous bead work and basket weaving.

These vendors were just a few of the over 200 according to Alaska News Source.

Parade marcher twirling iridescent wings.

Even with the surprising abundance of rain on the three-day event, business kept going, music kept playing and people kept eating. 

“Today, even with the dreary weather, it's been steady,” said Anchorage small business owner Sierra Bransen of Luckiest Mama about the rainy day’s turn-out as she prepared to make another earring made of beads.

The massive number of people that attend the Forest Fair each year allows a large audience for four different music stages— the Marlow Pavilion, The Swingin’ Slide Stage, Hoppin’ Barley Stage and the Beach Stage—all of which feature over five bands each day.

Audiences in  a beer garden listened to lively music as they danced and drank while those who stopped for something to eat were enveloped by the aroma of funnel cakes, corn pigs, oysters, tamales, gyros, corn on the cob and pastries.

The 49th annual Girdwood Forest Fair had a great turn-out and a happy energy throughout the three-day event – it seemed the rain only brought everyone closer together.