Magic by Robbie performs on the Ocean Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Magic by Robbie performs on the Ocean Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Music, magic, daredevils and pigs

Kenai Peninsula Fair brings an assortment of activities to Ninilchik

The 71st annual Kenai Peninsula Fair was in full swing Friday at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik.

Booths, vendors and food carts lined the walkways and filled one large indoor space, but the flashier attractions included a wide lineup of performers and activities strewn around the fairgrounds.

Pig races were held around every other hour, allowing fans to place bets on pigs released into a small looping track. The less directionally inclined of these pigs would be chased through the track by young volunteers.

Two main stages, the Ocean Stage and the Inlet Stage, featured a rotating cast of performers. These were largely representatives of Alaska, though there was some national talent. These included a magic performance, a violin, plenty of guitars and a performance by Yale’s a capella group, the Whiffenpoofs.

One standout was Silas Jones, a 16-year-old from Homer who played both original songs and arrangements entirely on one acoustic guitar — slapping it, scratching it and otherwise producing sounds to emulate a larger soundscape.

A crowd, including the members of the Whiffenpoofs, assembled around the Inlet Stage for the duration of his performance, laughing and clapping along as Jones worked through technical difficulties and entertained the crowd through his theatrics and animated movements.

In a back corner of the fairgrounds, a large metal globe was set up for performances by the Fearless Flores Family, a family of daredevils who ride dirtbikes around inside it. Most of the action featured the three kids, who range from 8 to 19 years old, while their father acted as host and entertained the crowd on a microphone.

At the end of the night, a rodeo was held featuring horse and bull riders from around the state for barrel races and a competition called Beauty and the Beast.

The Kenai Peninsula Fair will continue Saturday and Sunday, with more pig races, more showings of the Fearless Flores Family, and more musical performances. A concert will be held featuring Home Free at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

Pigs race out of the starting gate at the Kenai Peninsula Fair pig races on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Pigs race out of the starting gate at the Kenai Peninsula Fair pig races on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mike Morgan sings and plays guitar on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mike Morgan sings and plays guitar on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

An ax is thrown at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

An ax is thrown at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fischer Klodt dodges the swing of a goblin’s sword at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fischer Klodt dodges the swing of a goblin’s sword at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A challenger attempts the strongarm challenge at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A challenger attempts the strongarm challenge at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ziana Flores of the Fearless Flores Family rides into the “Globe of Death” at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022 in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ziana Flores of the Fearless Flores Family rides into the “Globe of Death” at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022 in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Pigs race at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Pigs race at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The head of a dance troupe leads both dancers and passerby in a flash mob style performance at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The head of a dance troupe leads both dancers and passerby in a flash mob style performance at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer youth Silas Jones performs on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer youth Silas Jones performs on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Rachel Ababio delivers a solo during a performance of the Whiffenpoofs at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Rachel Ababio delivers a solo during a performance of the Whiffenpoofs at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Evelyn Cooley competes in the barrel race at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Evelyn Cooley competes in the barrel race at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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