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If you haven't made it to the Tanana Valley State Fair yet, don't worry—there are still five days left to join in the fun! The fair continues through Sunday, August 9, with carnival rides, live entertainment, competitive exhibits, livestock, local vendors, and, of course, plenty of fair food. It's one of Fairbanks' longest-running summer traditions and a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with family and friends.

Whether you're there to see a favorite exhibit, browse handmade goods, enjoy a concert, or simply indulge in a corn dog and lemonade, there's something for everyone. You can view the daily schedule, concerts, and special events on the fair's website to help plan your visit.

Support events and businesses that help make Fairbanks a great place to live, work, and play. Click images for more information.

Middle Fork Logistics is celebrating the grand opening of its new Fairbanks location, and you're invited! Stop by on Wednesday, August 5, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at 1407 30th Ave. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, free food trucks, beverages, and live equipment demonstrations. Come meet the team, check out their new facility, and help welcome them to the neighborhood! Get more details here.

For many people, tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons can seem a little intimidating at first. That's exactly where Epic Sages comes in. Founded out of a passion for storytelling and gaming, Epic Sages exists to help people of all ages discover the fun of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) by making them approachable, welcoming, and easy to learn.

Whether you're looking for a family activity, a game night with friends, a unique team-building experience for your business, or simply want to explore a new hobby, Epic Sages hosts and teaches a wide variety of tabletop role-playing games. While many people are familiar with Dungeons & Dragons, they also run Pathfinder, Blades in the Dark, and dozens of other game systems. In fact, their growing library includes more than 50 different tabletop role-playing systems, so there's always something new to discover.

Owner, Roger Peters—more commonly known as Rook—says Epic Sages began after noticing there simply weren't many people willing to teach newcomers how to play these games. The founding members shared a passion for introducing others to the hobby and decided to create a place where anyone could learn in a welcoming environment.

Although it's difficult to choose just one favorite project, Rook says he's especially proud of Epic Sages' ongoing live-play series on YouTube, where viewers can watch real games unfold and experience the storytelling, strategy, and creativity that make tabletop role-playing games so much fun.

One of the most rewarding parts of the business, however, is often much simpler: watching someone's face light up when they discover the perfect set of dice. Alongside hosting games, Epic Sages also offers a variety of tabletop gaming accessories to help players personalize their adventures.

While Epic Sages is proud to call Fairbanks home and enjoys being part of the city's thriving nerdy community, their reach extends far beyond Alaska. Because many of their games can be hosted online, they help friends and families connect through tabletop adventures no matter where they live.

If you've ever been curious about tabletop role-playing games—or you're an experienced player looking to try something new—Epic Sages would love to welcome you to the table. Whether it's your first roll of the dice or your hundredth adventure, they have a game ready for you.

Connect with Epic Sages

Ongoing
Tanana Valley State Fair — runs through August 9
Click here for information about discounted Fair entry days

Tuesday August 4
Southside Community Farmers Market — 4-6:30pm
Pioneer Park Pickers Weekly Music Jam — 6:30-8:30pm

Wednesday August 5
Dewalt Demo Day at Denali Industrial Supply — 10am-2pm
UAF Geophysical Institute Free Public Tour — 1pm
Middle Fork Logistics Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony — 5-7pm

Thursday August 6
Food Truck Thursdays at Alaska Gear Company — 11am-3pm

Friday August 7
First Friday with Diana Solie at the Roaming Root Cellar — 4-7pm
4-H Market Project Auction — 6pm
The Workshop - Featuring Robin Farmer Art & Linnea Boreal Silverworks — 5:30-8:30p

Saturday August 8
The Workshop - Featuring Robin Farmer Art & Linnea Boreal Silverworks — 10:30am-6:30pm
Science for Alaska Summer Series: Alaska's Cold Winter in a Warming Climate — 11:30am
North Star Ballet Open House: Free Class Day and Bun Workshop — 12-4:30pm

Sunday August 9
The Workshop - Featuring Robin Farmer Art & Linnea Boreal Silverworks — 10:30am-2:30pm

Monday August 10
Chess Club at Noel Wien Library — 5:30-7pm
Gazebo Nights at Pioneer Park — 6-7pm

Fairbanks is full of interesting people, opinions, and stories. Each week, we'll ask a quick question just for fun and share some responses in the next edition.

Last week we asked “The Tanana Valley State Fair starts this week! What's the one thing you're looking forward to most?”

Fair food was definitely a top response. Barbara shared that one of her favorite memories is spending the day enjoying fair food with her son when he was little. Gage summed it up in just two words: funnel cakes! Denedra said one of her favorite traditions is her family's annual photo button from the Button Guys, while another reader is most excited for a ride on the Ferris wheel. It's always fun to hear about the little traditions that make the fair special for so many Fairbanks families.

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See you around town,

Your Friends at FYI Fairbanks