- This event has passed.
Giant Veggies on Display
Giant Veggies Have Arrived at AWCC!
The giants have arrived! Come see Alaska’s prize-winning produce on display at AWCC before the bears dig in. Every year, the Alaska State Fair showcases some of Alaska’s most impressive produce, from record-breaking pumpkins and colossal cabbages to supersized squash, massive kohlrabi, beets, rutabaga, parsnips, carrots, cucumber, zucchini and other garden giants. But what happens to these prize-winning veggies after HarvestFest ends? They head south to AWCC!
Thanks to the generosity of the Alaska State Fair, local growers, and community donors, a selection of these enormous veggies are donated to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where they become enrichment, and eventually a very impressive meal, for our resident wildlife.
See the Giant Veggies Before the Bears Do!
The giant veggies are now on display on the deck of Bison Hall at AWCC, giving visitors a chance to admire these Alaska-grown behemoths up close before the main event.
Snap a photo with the giant produce, marvel at what can grow under Alaska’s midnight sun, and pick your favorite. Then come back on Saturday for Big Bears Big Veggies, when our resident brown bears get their paws on the goods!
“Big Bears Big Veggies is more than a playful spectacle, it’s a vivid demonstration of community, conservation, and connection,” says Sarah “Howie” Howard, Executive Director of AWCC. “With the Alaska State Fair and local farmers’ generosity, this event transforms surplus produce into an educational and enriching experience for both our bears and community members alike.”
The Countdown to Big Bears Big Veggies Is On!
Come see the veggies while they’re still intact, because once the bears arrive, all bets are off.
Giant Veggies on Display: Now through Friday
Big Bears Big Veggies: Event on Saturday at 12PM
Included with general admission to AWCC
Sarah Howard drives a tractor of vegetables into the brown bear habitat.