Fireweed blooms along the Homer Spit walking path by the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting

Fireweed blooms along the Homer Spit walking path by the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting

HarborFest to debut in Homer with music, boat show, arts and culinary competition

The event will also feature a chef competition, return of Wooden Boat Society.

An all-day festival featuring live music, a boat show, a culinary competition, local vendors and interactive art experiences will celebrate Homer’s maritime culture this weekend.

Homer Chamber of Commerce, Sacred Acre, ARCHES Alaska and The Kannery are collaborating to host HarborFest this Saturday at the Homer Deep Water Dock on the Homer Spit.

A highlight of the event will take place on the main stage at 11 a.m. Four teams of local chefs will compete in “a live culinary throwdown showcasing and celebrating the culinary scene in Homer.”

The event also marks the conclusion of 2025 Taste of Homer, a weeklong celebration of Homer’s eateries. The event kicked off May 31 and ends Saturday. Taste of Homer winners will be announced during the chef competition.

A boat show sponsored by Honda Marine, Bay Weld Boats and the Homer Marine Trades Association will showcase a wide variety of boats, marine products and activities for families, professionals and outdoor adventurers.

For families, the Wooden Boat Society will return with its miniature wooden boat-building activity. A designated Kids Corner will be open all day with crafts, face painting, and hands-on fun. Homer Electric Association will host an educational and interactive booth for kids and parents.

For the adults, a beer garden will be hosted in collaboration with local Alaska breweries and sponsors.

Homer Council on the Arts will host a Live Art Tent with local artists demonstrating their skills and creativity on-site. Live music will play throughout the day, including the musical talents of Free Creatures — an alternative hip-hop, psych-rock, and electronic trio from Oregon — and Alaska’s own Black Barrel & the Bad Men and Silas Luke Jones. Homer’s Atz Kilcher will also perform with The Last Frontier Band. Other artists include the Copper River Band and Kurmudgeon.

The release notes that Na-Dena’ and Pacific Alaska Tours will be offering shuttle bus services throughout the day on the Spit. Coldwater Alaska will also offer a boat shuttle service for attendees from the event area to the other side of the harbor.

Tickets are available now at homerharborfest.com and include full access to all music performances, vendor booths, marine displays and live art showcases.

More about Taste of Homer

Taste of Homer is a weeklong “community-wide tasting adventure” aimed at spotlighting restaurants, food trucks and chefs. Participants who visit five or more participating local businesses will be entered for a chance to win a Lady of the Sea Adventures dinner cruise for two. To participate, pick up a “passport” at the chamber and have a server initial at each location. Participants can also bring receipts to the chamber. Passports must be turned into the chamber on or before June 14.

Editor’s note: The start time for the culinary competition has been updated. It will begin at 11 a.m.

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