Best Bets
■ Kenai Performers present a July 4 Cosplay Costume Contest as part of the Kenai’s fourth of July festivities at the Green Strip park by the softball fields. Costume parade and judging begin at 2 p.m. Cash prizes include $150 Grand Prize for Best of Show and $25 to Best of each category. This is a free, family friendly event open to all ages. Contest rules and entry forms available at Curtain Call Consignment Boutique in Kenai and on our website KenaiPerformers.org. Sponsored in part by Nancy Fields, State Farm agent and Alaska Fashion Tackle. For more information call Terri at 252-6808 or 262-5486.
■ Salvage Art’s exhibit for artistic creations made from repurposed and recycled materials will be displayed during the Kenai River Festival June 10-12.
Registration will be from 3-6 p.m., Friday, June 10, at the Soldotna Creek Park. Categories include Large Sculptures, Small Sculptures, Containers, and Accessories. There will be separate groups for youth and adults. Group projects are accepted in any categories. This event is co-sponsored by ReGroup and Kenai Fine Art Center. Winners will be presented on Sunday afternoon based on votes from the public. For more information call Jan 252-2773.
■ The Vagabond Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Gary Sloan Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. Saturday is a smoke-free show.
■ World Projects, in conjunction with Kenai Peninsula Orchestra, is pleased to present the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony Orchestra in concert at 6 p.m., Sunday, June 19, in Kenai Central High School’s Renee C. Henderson Auditorium. SLOYS will be joined by members of the Central Peninsula Community Orchestra for pieces by Newbold and Badelt and will perform selections by Brahms and Mussorgsky. Admission is free for all.
Events and Exhibitions
■ Kenai Performers present a July 4 Cosplay Costume Contest as part of the Kenai’s fourth of July festivities at the Green Strip park by the softball fields. Costume parade and judging begin at 2 p.m. Cash prizes include $150 Grand Prize for Best of Show and $25 to Best of each category. This is a free, family friendly event open to all ages. Contest rules and entry forms available at Curtain Call Consignment Boutique in Kenai and on our website KenaiPerformers.org. Sponsored in part by Nancy Fields, State Farm agent and Alaska Fashion Tackle. For more information call Terri at 252-6808 or 262-5486.
■ Salvage Art’s exhibit for artistic creations made from repurposed and recycled materials will be displayed during the Kenai River Festival June 10-12.
Registration will be from 3-6 p.m., Friday, June 10, at the Soldotna Creek Park. Categories include Large Sculptures, Small Sculptures, Containers, and Accessories. There will be separate groups for youth and adults. Group projects are accepted in any categories. This event is co-sponsored by ReGroup and Kenai Fine Art Center. Winners will be presented on Sunday afternoon based on votes from the public. For more information call Jan 252-2773.
■ The Kenai Watershed Forum’s 26th annual Kenai River Festival is June 10, 11 and 12 in Soldotna Creek Park! This is a free, fun, educational and inspirational festival to celebrate the lifeblood of the Peninsula — the Kenai River! Come and enjoy the Festival Kids Zone, Rock for the River Concert, Run for the River, a local beer garden and 50-plus Alaskan food and art vendors! Find out more at: kenaiwatershed.org/community-outreach/kenai-river-festival/ or by calling 260-5449.
■ World Projects, in conjunction with Kenai Peninsula Orchestra, is pleased to present the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony Orchestra in concert at 6 p.m., Sunday, June 19, in Kenai Central High School’s Renee C. Henderson Auditorium. SLOYS will be joined by members of the Central Peninsula Community Orchestra for pieces by Newbold and Badelt and will perform selections by Brahms and Mussorgsky. Admission is free for all.
■ A call for artists to submit up to two expressive, distinctive, original quilted wall hangings, up to 9-square-feet, for the June, 2016 Art Quilts Extraordinaire Exhibit in Gallery Too at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook Ave. in Old Town Kenai. Kits or traditional patterns would not fit into the concept of this exhibit. Submissions are due by 4 p.m. May 28 to the Kenai Fine Arts Center. Art center hours are noon-5 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday.
■ The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center hosts an exploration of “Traditional and Contemporary Ravenstail Weavings” by artist Kay Field Parker.
■ ARTspace Drawer is on display at the Soldotna Library, the first annual collection of locally created 2D art. The first of its kind in Alaska, this display is made possible by a partnership between Soldotna Rotary, ARTspace Inc., and the Soldotna Public Library.
■ Registration for the upcoming 15th Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference is open. Sponsored by the Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College for teachers, writers, students and general public, the highly-acclaimed 2016 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference will be held June 10-14 at Land’s End Resort in Homer. This year’s keynote presenter will feature 2012-2014 U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize finalist Natasha Trethewey. Conference presenters include 17 award-winning, nationally-recognized authors, editors and agents who will conduct creative writing workshops, readings, craft talks and panel presentations in creative fiction, nonfiction, poetry and the business of writing. A special post-conference writing workshop will be held across Kachemak Bay at Tutka Bay Lodge for conference registrants. A Youth Workshop for high school students on graphic novels will held June 10. Advanced registration is required. For program and registration information see: http://writersconference.homer.alaska.edu.
■ The 15th annual Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival will be held from June 16-19 in Seldovia. Headliners performing Friday and Saturday evenings are flautist Tomoka Raften with classical guitarist Armin Abdihodžic, and the Nervis Rex band from Anchorage. Other performers include: Food for the Soul, Dan Pascucci, Amy Lou Hettinger, Jeni and Mark Davis, Betsy Scott, The Grandmother Drum, Dirty Hands, Brian Slover, Bonnie Nichols and Jimmy Kimball, Andrea Pearson, Robert Pepper, and Glen Simpson. Events include Open Mic night Thursday, performers busking around Seldovia Friday, workshops Saturday afternoon, evening performances Friday and Saturday. The “En Plein Air” event for visiting artists will also happen over weekend. Tickets: $49 for adults for the entire weekend, teens $16, children under 12 Free. For more information: 907-399-7379, Facebook at Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival or at seldoviamusicfestival.info.
Entertainment
■ The Vagabond Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Gary Sloan Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. Saturday is a smoke-free show.
■ The Music in the Park series continues June 8 with Kelsey Shields and Robb Justice at 6 p.m. at Soldotna Creek Park.
■ Veronica’s in Old Town Kenai has Open Mic on Thursday at 6 p.m. live music at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Call 283-2725.
■ The Alaska Roadhouse hosts a Blind Draw Horseshoe Tournament every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.; Double Elimination and Blind Draw means anyone can win! All are welcome, call 262-9887 for more information.
■ A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.
■ The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Garrett Mayer on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Raymond Machen-Gray on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
■ An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.
■ AmVets Post 4 has reopened in its brand new building on K-Beach across from Jumpin Junction. Eligible veterans and their families are invited to stop by to find out more about AmVets and their involvement in the Veteran community. For members and invited guests, Friday night dance to DJ Roy, and Saturday Burn your own steak and karaoke with Frank.
■ Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.
■ The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.
■ Hooligans Saloon in Soldotna has poker Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 5:30 p.m. and live music Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
■ The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.
■ Mykel’s in Soldotna has live music Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. with Bob Ramponi and Dave Unruh.
Markets, fairs and bazaars
■ Farmers Fresh Market opens for the season on June 7 at 3 p.m. Find the market at the Kenai Peninsula Food bank every Tuesday from 3-6 p.m. until September. Local plant starts, flowers and produce and special events all summer long. A benefit for the Food Bank.
■ The Kenai Saturday Market is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays at the Kenai Visitors Center. Local vendors include: food, produce, clothing, gifts and much more. For more information, visit www.kenaichamber.org.
Films
■ Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 for listings and times.
■ Call Kambe Cinemas at 283-4554 for listings and times.
Down the Road
■ The Pratt Museum in Homer is open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.
Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.
