Man throws a ball toward the dunk tank during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Man throws a ball toward the dunk tank during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Midnight afternoon

Nikiski turns out for annual solstice festival.

Families from Nikiski, Kenai and even Soldotna headed out to the Nikiski Community Recreation Center last weekend to celebrate summer solstice.

The annual Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival was held by the North Peninsula Recreation Services on Saturday. There were vendors, musicians, games, a dunk tank and free watermelon. The parking lot filled up and cars overflowed onto the edges of Poolside Avenue.

Kids were seen participating in field races, there was an impressive martial arts demonstration by the youth from Challenge Martial Arts and crowds of people played games.

Eric Eleton, service area director, said the event was a success.

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“We don’t have a way to do a proper head count of the event but we estimated that about 4,000 people came out for the festival,” he said

Challenge Martial Arts puts on a show during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Challenge Martial Arts puts on a show during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Spectators watch martial arts and music preformed by numerous talented youth at the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska on June 21, 2025. (Phot by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Spectators watch martial arts and music preformed by numerous talented youth at the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska on June 21, 2025. (Phot by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

People visit vendor stands at the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

People visit vendor stands at the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

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