Two young contestants hold their pumpkins at the City of Kenai’s 9th annual Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Pumpkins make a splash at annual fall fest

There were hayrides, face painting and a pumpkin-decorating contest for the kids.

Two young contestants hold their pumpkins at the City of Kenai’s 9th annual Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork is displayed for silent auction at the Kenai Art Center on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Kenai Art Center’s annual auction open through Oct. 25

The exhibition features an array of art across mediums donated by local artists

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork is displayed for silent auction at the Kenai Art Center on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Poster for the 2024 International Fly Fishing Film Festival. (Promotional image courtesy International Fly Fishing Film Festival)

Fly fishing film fest set for Monday

The event will feature the familiar silent auction and Kenai River Brewing’s Two-Timing Trout Ale

Poster for the 2024 International Fly Fishing Film Festival. (Promotional image courtesy International Fly Fishing Film Festival)
Pumpkins wait to be dropped from planes for the entertainment of people during Kenai Aviation’s Fifth Annual Pumpkin Drop at the Kenai Municipal Airport Operations Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Costumes, pumpkins and seasonal scares

Peninsula packs October with Halloween events

Pumpkins wait to be dropped from planes for the entertainment of people during Kenai Aviation’s Fifth Annual Pumpkin Drop at the Kenai Municipal Airport Operations Building in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Artwork by Susie Scrivner for her exhibition, “Portraits of the Kenai,” fills the walls of the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai through ‘fresh eyes’

October show at Kenai Art Show a celebration of Kenai Peninsula, a call for more creativity

Artwork by Susie Scrivner for her exhibition, “Portraits of the Kenai,” fills the walls of the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Late Anchor Point artist Norman Lowell is seen in this 2003 photo provided by the Norman Lowell Gallery on Sept. 19, 2024. (Courtesy)

Losing the light

Anchor Point artist Norman Lowell dies at 96

Late Anchor Point artist Norman Lowell is seen in this 2003 photo provided by the Norman Lowell Gallery on Sept. 19, 2024. (Courtesy)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Central High School Marching Band performs “Snakes and Songbirds: The Music of the Hunger Games” during the Kenai Marching Showcase at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai on Saturday.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Central High School Marching Band performs “Snakes and Songbirds: The Music of the Hunger Games” during the Kenai Marching Showcase at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai on Saturday.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The “Americans and the Holocaust” traveling exhibition is seen at the Seward Community Library and Museum in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

Exhibit examining American perception of Holocaust visits Seward

“Americans and the Holocaust” sheds light on how, when and what Americans learned of the Holocaust during the 1930s and 1940s

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The “Americans and the Holocaust” traveling exhibition is seen at the Seward Community Library and Museum in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.
Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion
Cam Choy, Associate Professor of Art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on June 8, 2019.

‘Cam was the Dude’

Kenai Peninsula College hosts memorial show for late art professor

Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion
Cam Choy, Associate Professor of Art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on June 8, 2019.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Marching Band debuts their new routine based on “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” during an exhibition at Kenai Central High School on Aug. 16.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Marching Band debuts their new routine based on “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” during an exhibition at Kenai Central High School on Aug. 16.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Performers’ cast of “The Bullying Collection” rehearse at the Kenai Performers Theater in Kalifornsky on Monday.

Difficult topics in the spotlight

Storytelling contends with bullying, suicide and violence in new Kenai Performers show

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Performers’ cast of “The Bullying Collection” rehearse at the Kenai Performers Theater in Kalifornsky on Monday.
Photo provided by Sally Oberstein
Dancers at the Homer Mariner Theater perform in Nice Moves during the Alaska World Arts Festival in 2022.

The Alaska World Arts Festival returns to Homer

The festival will begin Sept. 13 and run through Sept. 26.

Photo provided by Sally Oberstein
Dancers at the Homer Mariner Theater perform in Nice Moves during the Alaska World Arts Festival in 2022.
Flyer for the Kenai Performers’ production of “The Bullying Collection” and “Girl in the Mirror.” (Provided by Kenai Performers)

Kenai Performers tackle heavy topics in compilation show

The series runs two weekends, Sept. 12-15 and Sept. 19-22

Flyer for the Kenai Performers’ production of “The Bullying Collection” and “Girl in the Mirror.” (Provided by Kenai Performers)
Children dance as Ellie and the Echoes perform the last night of the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series at Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna music series wraps up season with local performers

The city is in the second year of its current three-year grant from the Levitt Foundation

Children dance as Ellie and the Echoes perform the last night of the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series at Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Emilie Springer/ Homer News
Liam James, Javin Schroeder, Leeann Serio and Mike Selle perform in “Leaving” during last Saturday’s show at Pier One Theatre on the Spit.

Homer playwrights get their 10 minutes onstage

“Slices” 10-minute play festival features local works

Emilie Springer/ Homer News
Liam James, Javin Schroeder, Leeann Serio and Mike Selle perform in “Leaving” during last Saturday’s show at Pier One Theatre on the Spit.
Attendees dance at Salmonfest in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Attendees dance at Salmonfest in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Triumvirate Theatre’s cast of “The Sound of Music” rehearse at Soldotna High School on Friday, Aug. 2.

Triumvirate Theatre comes alive with ‘The Sound of Music’

The stage adaptation of the 1960s Julie Andrews film opens Friday

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
The Triumvirate Theatre’s cast of “The Sound of Music” rehearse at Soldotna High School on Friday, Aug. 2.
Winners of the Kenai Performers Cosplay Costume Contest stand with their prizes at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Performers host 4th annual cosplay contest

Dragon slayers, Disney animations and Chinese novels make waves at Progress Days celebration

Winners of the Kenai Performers Cosplay Costume Contest stand with their prizes at the Soldotna Progress Days Block Party in Parker Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ryan Reynolds plays Deadpool and Hugh Jackman plays Wolverine in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” (Promotional photo courtesy Marvel Studios)

On the Screen: ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ brings crass jokes, heart to MCU

It’s a bizarre love letter to an era of superhero cinema that probably was better left forgotten

Ryan Reynolds plays Deadpool and Hugh Jackman plays Wolverine in “Deadpool & Wolverine.” (Promotional photo courtesy Marvel Studios)
Sierra Ferrell performs on the River Stage at Salmonfest in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Salmonfest returns Aug. 2-4 for ‘musically infused family reunion’

The three-day event will feature art, festivities and an array of performers

Sierra Ferrell performs on the River Stage at Salmonfest in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)