28th Annual Beerfest cancelled, SEAK Fair Board cites public safety

 

For Alaska brewers, the Haines Beerfest is a chance to share their craft. And for Haines, it’s an early summer community gathering and economic boon that draws thousands of visitors to town.

But in the era of social distancing and closed borders, it’s just not feasible.

The Southeast Alaska State Fair cancelled the 28th annual Beerfest event in Haines. It’s the latest in a long list of events to be cancelled due to health restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is really hard and we know that our decisions are impacting, you know, the whole community,” said Deborah Marshall, the Southeast Alaska State Fair Board Director. She’s served on the board for about a decade.

“And we also are absolutely not going to throw an event that is outside of the CDC or the state guidelines.”

The event—officially the Great Alaska Craft Beer and Home brew Festival— was scheduled for late May. She said that the board considered a postponement, but only about half of the twenty Alaska brewers that signed up would be able to make it at a later date. Additionally, the Canadian border remains closed to non-essential travel. That limits the mobility of brewers from the interior and shuts out Canadian attendees, who are the majority of ticket holders.

Marshall said the health of the Haines community was the board’s foremost concern, but she regrets the economic and social impacts the decision will have.

“I’ll get emotional right now. Where community happens. You know, Haines, economically, you talk to the businesses [and] that beer festival weekend is is a huge weekend for everybody [that’s] not dependent on cruise ships,” she said.

It’s also the moneymaking event that allows the Southeast Alaska State Fair to fund its other offerings, like the Spring Fling, which will be offered virtually this year.

Fair Director Kari Johnson estimated the revenue loss to be in the range of $70,000.

“It is a financial hit for us for sure,” she said.

“It’s one of those events that helps keep us going.”

Johnson credited previous director Jessica Edwards with creating a savings surplus that should get the organization through the year, with some cost cutting. Johnson applied for the federal Payroll Protection Program (a part of the CARES Act), so the Fair can pay employees for another two and a half months. She said she anticipates reducing hours and an employee furlough later in the year.

The board has not yet made a decision about whether to change its plans for the 52nd annual Southeast Alaska State Fair. Johnson said that all plans are fluid.

“I think every event is on the table right now. And so, you know, just not really knowing what’s gonna happen in the future and trying to figure out what’s viable for us,” she said.

The board plans to have a final decision by May.

The Fair will offer virtual alternatives to its programming, including Spring Fling and a long-distance pie contest. And the Fisherman’s barbecue is still on the calendar in September, even though the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Race was also cancelled.