Progress Days block party keeps celebration going

For the second year, Soldotna’s Progress Days parade was followed on Saturday by a Progress Days Block Party at Parker Park. Vendors, food trucks, carnival games and contests entertained hundreds under the shining sun.

Walking into the block party space, which filled much of Parker Park and Park Avenue across from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration Building in Soldotna, the first thing a visitor would encounter was a booth with free hot dogs from the City of Soldotna. City council member Jordan Chilson and Mayor Paul Whitney manned a grill with dozens of dogs cooking at a time — while council member Dan Nelson was joined by City Manager Janette Bower and City Clerk Johni Blankenship in serving them out.

Further down the way, a row of booths were hosted by craftspeople, local politicians and more, across from a row of food trucks. At the end of the space was a large tent with carnival games.

The block party is organized by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, and executive director Heidi Sorrell said Saturday that Parker Park gives the event a unique feel compared to many other events hosted in and around the city. She said the carnival was designed to appeal to all ages with prizes donated by the Soldotna Elks Lodge, free cake in honor of the 50th anniversary of Davis Block & Concrete, and a slew of contests and other attractions.

New this year was the “Dignitary Dunk Tank,” where a rotating cast of local public officials — Kenai City Council member Alex Douthit, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Tyson Cox, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, Rep. Justin Ruffridge, Rep. Bill Elam and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman — took many a plunge at the hands of softball-tossing youngsters.

Attendees also competed for best beard, in a pie eating contest, or in the sockeye sprint — which challenged people to race across the lawn while brandishing a “slippery sockeye” freshly caught in the Kenai River.

Richard Hathaway won $100 for bringing the best beard to Parker Park, he said people had always encouraged him to join the beard contest with his eye-catchingly long beard — “here we are.”

Buck Carroll also took home a $100 prize, for having the best moustache — he said he’d been wearing one for 63 years.

For more information, find “Soldotna Chamber of Commerce” on Facebook.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.