Onlookers await the passing of parade floats at the Progress Days Parade in Soldotna on July 27, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Onlookers await the passing of parade floats at the Progress Days Parade in Soldotna on July 27, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Progress Days to look different this year

The chamber had planned to expand Progress Days to a four-day event.

The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce was planning to have a different Progress Days celebration this summer.

Just not this different.

Shanon Davis, executive director of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, said that before the new coronavirus pandemic, the chamber had planned to expand Progress Days to a four-day event, with three days of concerts at Soldotna Creek Park followed by a parade on July 25.

Due to the pandemic, the chamber has cut Progress Days down to one day. Wednesday, the chamber will put on a Soldotna Strong Progress Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Soldotna Creek Park.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Davis said losing the four-day event is tough. At the same time, the chamber is happy to salvage something for Progress Days.

“It is bittersweet,” she said. “We are a chamber that is well-known for engaging with our community. It’s been a huge adjustment for us to continue to try to find ways to support the business community in any way we can.

“We’re encouraging people that even though the summer looks different, they can still get out and enjoy Alaska.”

Davis said the first big blow to the chamber’s original Progress Days plan came at the end of June, when the Soldotna City Council said there will be no music concerts at Soldotna Creek Park this summer.

Then, as COVID-19 cases continued to rise, David said chamber board and staff decided a parade wouldn’t happen.

“We agonized over it and really went back and forth and back and forth,” she said.

Chamber staff then brainstormed and worked with Annette Villa of Soldotna Wednesday Market to come up with the new plan.

The plan started with the Soldotna Strong Shop Local Campaign. Shoppers grab a card from any participating location and get a stamp for every $10 spent in participating stores. A card is filled up with 10 stamps.

Participating businesses are available by navigating through the events tab to “Progress Day” at visitsoldotna.com.

Wednesday, all full cards will be put in a drawing for a $500 Visa card.

“It’s been going great,” Davis said. “Several of the businesses that are a part of it reached out for more shopper cards. People have definitely been using them.”

The Wednesday event also will included a live radio remote, a 1:30 p.m. performance on the big stage by Forever Dance Alaska and an expanded Soldotna Wednesday Market.

In addition to the normal vendors, Davis said the market will include businesses looking to engage with the community, but not necessarily selling anything.

“There hasn’t been a lot of opportunity to engage with the community this summer,” Davis said.

The finale of the event will be the Amazing Chamber Chase. Up to 20 teams can sign up for the event. Davis said five teams are signed up thus far. The cost is $25 per four-person team, with $5 for each additional member and teams capped at six.

At 5:30 p.m., teams will be emailed 20 clues to find locations within 1.5 miles of Soldotna Creek Park. Teams will find selfie stations at the spots. Teams report back to Soldotna Creek Park at 8 p.m. Prizes will be available for most selfies and best team costume.

“It’s going to be very fun,” Davis said. “We’ve been having fun going over clues and making sure they’re not too hard and they’re not too easy.”

More in News

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $170,000 for new police camera system

The existing system was purchased only during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2024.

Winter Marshall-Allen of the Homer Organization for More Equitable Relations, Homer Mayor Rachel Lord, and Jerrina Reed of Homer PRIDE pose for a photo after the mayoral proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month on Tuesday, May 27 at the Cowles Council Chambers. (Photo courtesy of Winter Marshall-Allen)
City of Homer recognizes Pride Month, Juneteenth

Mayor Rachel Lord brought back the tradition of mayoral proclamations May 12.

File
Potential remains of missing Texas boaters discovered in sunken vessel

The vessel capsized 16 miles west of Homer in Kachemak Bay in August.

A sign for The Goods Sustainable Grocery is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
New Saturday Market to launch this summer at The Goods

The summer bazaar will feature craftspeople from around the central and southern Kenai Peninsula.

Council member Alex Douthit speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai loosens restrictions on employee purchase of city property

Municipal officers like city council members are still prohibited from buying property.

Mount Spurr is seen from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, on May 11, 2025. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Likelihood of Spurr eruption continues to decline

Spurr is located about 61 miles away from Kenai and 117 miles away from Homer.

Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce President Dawson Slaughter (left) and Susie Myhill, co-owner of Anchor River Lodge and co-chair for the chamber’s sign committee, unveil the new “most westerly highway point” sign on Tuesday in Anchor Point. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point chamber unveils new highway sign

The sign marks the “most westerly” highway point in North America.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
1 dead in Anchor River vehicle turnover

Alaska State Troopers were notified at 7:46 a.m. of a vehicle upside down in the Anchor River.

The barge, crane, and first pile of rock for the Kenai Bluff Stabilization Project is seen during a break in work at the bank of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai bluff project underway

A roughly 5,000-foot-long berm will be constructed from the mouth of the Kenai River to near the city dock.

Most Read