Soldotna’s Progress Days celebration will mark 67 years of the city’s growth this weekend with events hosted at locations across the community.
The familiar parade and fair will be held Saturday, July 27. Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Maddy Olsen said Monday that the parade will follow the usual route, from Soldotna High School up Marydale Avenue and then down Binkley Street before exiting at Shady Lane. Parade lineup starts at 9 a.m., and the parade starts at 11 a.m.
The event will be followed by a block party from noon to 8 p.m. at Parker Park, with family activities by Soldotna Parks and Recreation, carnival games by the Soldotna Elks Lodge and a variety of contests. There will be a look-a-like contest, mustache and beard contest, pie-eating contest and the Kenai Performers cosplay costume contest. There will also be the diaper derby for young children.
Olsen said that this year’s festivities expand far beyond the parade and block party, marking a broader celebration with the Soldotna community. Instead of the previous three-day long Progress Days Fair, the spotlight will be put on those other community events.
“There’s so much going on,” she said.
An events calendar describes festivities stretching from Wednesday, July 24, to Sunday, July 28. Included are the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo, themed events at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, races at Twin City Raceway, Peninsula Oilers games and the rodeo. Also included is this week’s performance of the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series, where Riverfront Gang will open for Black Barrel & the Bad Men.
Olsen said that the annual progress days celebration is meant to celebrate the ways Soldotna has grown while also looking to its future.
Parade registration is free to chamber members and $10 for nonmembers through Thursday. Day-of registrants will pay $25.
A full calendar of events can be found with the web version of this story or in the community calendar at visitsoldotna.com. For more information, find “Soldotna Chamber of Commerce” on Facebook.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
