Soldotna’s Marydale Avenue and Binkley Street on Saturday morning were lined with hundreds of people eagerly ringing in the 67th Progress Days with the traditional parade.
Political campaigns, local businesses, athletes and more took the streets in a procession that lasted well over an hour.
Central Emergency Services fire engines led the way, followed closely by this year’s Progress Days grand marshall, Kathy Gensel, and the Progress Days king and queen, Ryan and Lauri Kapp. Nugget the Moose also appeared.
Represented were Frontier Community Services, Heritage Place, Forever Dance Alaska, Aspen Creek Senior Living, AlaSkins, the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival, Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula, Century 21 Realty Solutions and others.
With Alaska’s primary election looming, many of the local candidates for the State Senate and House of Representatives seized the opportunity to get out in the sunshine and shake some hands. Sen. Jesse Bjorkman and Rep. Ben Carpenter, who are vying for the Senate District D seat, walked with the parade. Also participating in the parade were House District 7 candidates Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Ron Gillham. House District 8 candidates Bill Elam and John Hillyer also joined the celebration.
The parade started in the Soldotna High School parking lot, traveling up Marydale until turning right onto Binkley Street and running past the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration Building. Shortly after, the parade dispersed, but Progress Days festivities continued through the day and weekend at a Block Party at Parker Park and other events around Soldotna.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10046 rolls with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Heritage Place staff and residents walk with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nugget the Moose greets attendees while rolling with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A driver with the Kaknu Kruzers smiles with her passenger moose while rolling with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Performers for Aspen Creek Senior Living roll with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, gives candy to children while walking with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sara Erickson, of AlaSkins, tosses candy while rolling with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, shakes hands as he walks with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
John Hillyer, candidate for the Alaska House of Representatives, walks with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rodeo-goers walk with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade stretches down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ron Gillham, candidate for the Alaska House of Representatives, walks with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Pikachu, Uncle Sam, Stitch and others ride a float for Allstate Insurance’s Waterbury Agency with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A boy scout deposits a bounty of candy at the feet of children while walking with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A float calling for collaboration rolls with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Athletes from the Special Olympics Alaska Kenai Peninsula Community walk with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, walks with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Elam, candidate for the Alaska House of Representatives, walks with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade down Binkley Street in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Forever Dance Alaska performers deliver a routine while walking with the 67th Annual Soldotna Progress Days Parade on Marydale Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
