Alaska Festivals: Kodiak Crab and Midnight Sun
There will be a carnival-like atmosphere at the midway where you’ll find carnival rides and games. Other games include the Elks 5th Annual Sixtathalon Iron Person contest. Activities include darts, pool, bowling, shuffleboard, putting, and Wheel of Fortune. Winners will collect a percentage of the entry fees which are 10.00 each. Proceeds will go to Elks charities. Participants must be at least 21.
Kids will have plenty to keep them busy too. They will have a heap of fun digging through the sawdust pile looking for $1000.00 in hidden coins. There’s also a frog jumping contest which is in its 22nd year, a foot race just for kids and much more.
The Village Bar will host their annual search party where participants look for hidden tokens on the road system and redeem them for prizes. Participation is limited to those 21 and older. Shoonaq Tribal Bingo will hold games every day of the festival.
Habitat for Humanity Street Bowling will take place every day of the festival as well as Christian concerts and activities. There will also be an opportunity for those able to donate blood. With all the food and fun the festival brings, it is also an excellent opportunity to give back to the community as many of the activities are also being used as fundraiser opportunities.
Steve Horwath Memorial Chess Tournament will take place at the teen center on May 26th. Medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded. There will also be table tennis, tennis, and fencing tournaments.
Be on the lookout for the film festival, art show and glass show. Take a stroll through the many different museums as well.
The Shrimp parade and the Grand Festival Crab parade will be held on May 27th. There’s a community block party at Sargent Park the same day from 4 – 11 PM. Local as well as other Alaskan bands will be performing.
There are foot races, runs and marathons. There are car races and ATV races. There are bed races and skateboard contests. There are bike and boat blessings. There is even a fisherman’s memorial ceremony dedicated to fishermen lost at sea. There is something for everyone at the Crab Festival. You can purchase crab food delights in an assortment, such as crab legs and crab sandwiches. There is also a sourdough pancake breakfast on May 29th and a Seafood Cook-off the same day.
The 13th Annual Rubber Duck Derby will be held with a first place prize of $5,000. Rubber ducks will be sold and released into the river to race for the money!
On the last day of the festival, May 29th, there will be a Veteran’s Memorial Service sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign War.
This is not meant to serve as an exhaustive list by any means. There are many more activities planned than listed here if you can imagine that. Check the website for updates to the schedule by going to www.kodiak.org/crabfest.
The 101st Midnight Sun Game will be played on June 21 at Growden Park in Fairbanks, Alaska. The game is a celebration of the summer solstice and part of the Midnight Sun Festival. Game play begins at 10:30 PM and the game usually lasts until about 1 or 2 AM. There has never been any artificial light used at the Midnight Sun Games. The light does fade somewhat about halfway through the game but usually returns toward the end of the game. The game is stopped at midnight for the singing of the Alaska flag song.
Fairbanks’ semi-pro baseball team, the Goldpanners will be hosting the Beatrice, Nebraska Bruins for the 100th anniversary Midnight Sun Game.
30,000 people are expected to attend the Midnight Sun Festival in downtown Fairbanks. Festival attendees will enjoy food and fun & games as well as music and arts and crafts. There will be a street dance and a BBQ chicken feed. There will also be a dunking booth and plenty of activities for children. The festival will last from 12 noon until 12 midnight but of course, many people will leave the street fair in time for the baseball game.
For more information on the Midnight Sun Festival or to register for a booth, go to www.downtownfairbanks.com. For more information about the Goldpanners or the Midnight Sun Game, go to www.goldpanners.com.
