A showcase of local vendors, boats, music, food and the Homer marine trades industry as a whole was hosted this weekend on the Homer Spit. A way to bring tourists into the area during the slower, early summer season, the inaugural event got off to a rainy, windy start on Saturday morning. But by later that afternoon the worst of the storm had passed and many gathered to dance, eat and drink into the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Taste of Homer Chef’s Competition was postponed due to the early weather forecast. According to the HarborFest website, the competition will feature four local teams including Tutka Bay Lodge, The Meandering Goat, Fire Grill and The Kannery. Each team will tackle three surprise rounds using local ingredients, with 45 minutes per dish to impress the judges and crowd. The competition will be judged by local chefs Sean Maryott, Maura Brenin and Harrison McHenry and is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, June 11.
Taste of Homer awards were still given out to participating local businesses, despite the weather. Boatyard Cafe won third place for their octopus asada sopes. Carmen’s Gelato won second place for their beloved, frozen sweet treat. First place went to Johnny’s Corner, a title they claimed for the second year in a row. Their featured dish this year was halibut dumplings with a blueberry teriyaki sauce.
Fika Coffee Roasters and Zen Den Cafe collaborated and won “Best Drink” for their iced cold brew, topped with lavender cold foam. Mina Gherman with the chamber of commerce said this year’s vote numbers more than doubled from last year’s 250, with more than 700 votes being cast by participating food enthusiasts in the 2025 Taste of Homer, a weeklong celebration and exploration of local food.
Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Society made a reappearance on Saturday, providing families an opportunity to engage in a tradition some might remember from Wooden Boat Festivals of the past. Beginning in 1993, the Wooden Boat Festival was an annual event in Homer until 2019, when the pandemic stuttered the long-held tradition. Along with the help of parents and volunteers on Saturday, a new generation of youth could participate in the construction of their own handmade, toy wooden boats.
David Kudwa, secretary for the KBWBS board of directors, said bringing the tradition of the Wooden Boat Festival to HarborFest this year was exciting for the nonprofit, which was created in the 1990s by local wooden boat builders and enthusiasts. A poster board with a photograph of founding member, Dave Seaman, hung in the corner of the booth. It was a quiet remembrance of the local mariner, who recently passed away.
Music went late into the night on Saturday, with headliners Dirtwire closing out the night. Black Barrel & The Bad Men played for a raucously happy crowd, who demanded an encore song from the band as they were exiting the stage. Local singer/songwriter Silas Luke Jones performed as well, taking the opportunity to announce he’ll be featured on the 20th season of America’s Got Talent.
Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection offered non-alcoholic drink options for interested attendees and distributed Narcan throughout the event. The festival was organized and supported by Honda Marine, the Homer Chamber of Commerce, Bay Weld Boats and the Homer Marine Trades Association.
A large, creeping orca puppet enters the crowd during the Black Barrel & The Bad Men performance at the inaugural HomerFest on the Homer Spit on Saturday. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Local musician Silas Luke Jones performs blindfolded during his performance at the inaugural HomerFest on the Homer Spit on Saturday. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
