Events

Gingerbread houses constructed by 4-year-old Izzy and 5-year-old Judah are displayed as part of the 11th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Candied community

Gingerbread artists construct more than houses

Gingerbread houses constructed by 4-year-old Izzy and 5-year-old Judah are displayed as part of the 11th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Post 20 Past Cmdr. David Segura places poppies on a symbolic grave during a Veterans Day celebration at the American Legion Post 20 in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Honoring commitment and sacrifice

Veterans Day ceremony highlights contributions of servicemembers

Post 20 Past Cmdr. David Segura places poppies on a symbolic grave during a Veterans Day celebration at the American Legion Post 20 in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo courtesy Ben Meyer From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.

Seizing the opportunity to explore

Packrafting adventure the topic of next KPC Showcase

Photo courtesy Ben Meyer From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.
A pack of runners, in costumes and in warm clothes, take off at the start of the Costume Caper at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Costume caper draws 2 dozen for a chilly morning fun run

The 2-mile run and food drive is put on by North Peninsula Recreation Service Area

A pack of runners, in costumes and in warm clothes, take off at the start of the Costume Caper at Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A pumpkin is released from a plane during Kenai Aviation’s Fifth Annual Pumpkin Drop at the Kenai Airpark in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Aviation celebrates fall with falling pumpkins

Hundreds gathered Saturday for the Fifth Annual Pumpkin Drop

A pumpkin is released from a plane during Kenai Aviation’s Fifth Annual Pumpkin Drop at the Kenai Airpark in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
“The Land We Share: A Love Affair Told in Hunting Stories” is held aloft under light rainfall in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sharing about sharing the land

Local authors Christine Cunningham and Steve Meyer will discuss their book at upcoming KPC showcase

“The Land We Share: A Love Affair Told in Hunting Stories” is held aloft under light rainfall in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Halloween lights and iconography decorate the corridors of the Haunted Chamber at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Haunted Chamber’ debuts this week

In the maze on Monday were lights, skeletons, spiders and tombstones

Halloween lights and iconography decorate the corridors of the Haunted Chamber at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Holt tells a fishing tale at Odie’s Deli on Friday, June 2, 2017, in Soldotna, Alaska. Holt was among the seven storytellers in the True Tales Told Live, an occasional storytelling event co-founded by Pegge Erkeneff, Jenny Nyman and Kaitlin Vadla. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion file)

True Tales, Told Live returns next week with stories about luck

Life with no notes

Bill Holt tells a fishing tale at Odie’s Deli on Friday, June 2, 2017, in Soldotna, Alaska. Holt was among the seven storytellers in the True Tales Told Live, an occasional storytelling event co-founded by Pegge Erkeneff, Jenny Nyman and Kaitlin Vadla. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion file)
An angler holds up a massive fish in “Jacks: A Film by Jako Lucas & Ra Beattie.” (Photo courtesy International Fly Fishing Festival)

Fishing film fest to return

The International Fly Fishing Film Festival, or IF4, will return to the Kenai Peninsula on Monday

An angler holds up a massive fish in “Jacks: A Film by Jako Lucas & Ra Beattie.” (Photo courtesy International Fly Fishing Festival)
Some of the pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin-decorating contest are seen here during the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai’s Fall Pumpkin Fest set for Saturday

The fun actually starts early, as a central element of the festival is a pumpkin decorating contest already underway

Some of the pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin-decorating contest are seen here during the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Oct. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
A girl dressed as Snow White takes candy from a witch at the Orca Theater’s Trunk or Treat in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

October packed with Halloween events

October brings with it fall festivities, trick-or-treating opportunities and other seasonal celebrations

A girl dressed as Snow White takes candy from a witch at the Orca Theater’s Trunk or Treat in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Attendees search the waters of the Kenai River for sightings of Cook Inlet belugas during Belugas Count! at the Kenai Bluff Overlook in Kenai, Alaska on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Belugas Count! celebrated in Kenai

At a viewing station on Kenai’s bluff overlook, dozens gathered and peered out over the Kenai River during a morning session

Attendees search the waters of the Kenai River for sightings of Cook Inlet belugas during Belugas Count! at the Kenai Bluff Overlook in Kenai, Alaska on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Architect Nancy Casey speaks in front of a small gathering at the Fireside Chat presented by the Kenai Watershed Forum on Nov. 30, 2022, at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Watershed Forum’s Fireside Chats return Wednesday

The chats will cover a range of interesting topics, centered on knowledge, research and projects

Architect Nancy Casey speaks in front of a small gathering at the Fireside Chat presented by the Kenai Watershed Forum on Nov. 30, 2022, at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Abigal Craig, youth winner of the Seventh Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby, is presented a novelty check by Kenai River Sportfishing Association Executive Director Shannon Martin, City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Samantha Springer at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Silver Salmon Derby nets fish, funds for river protection

116 fish were weighed by 79 anglers across the six days of competition

Abigal Craig, youth winner of the Seventh Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby, is presented a novelty check by Kenai River Sportfishing Association Executive Director Shannon Martin, City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Samantha Springer at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
People set out on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Moving to make a difference

Walk to End Alzheimer’s, an annual awareness event and fundraiser, comes to the peninsula

People set out on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Andrew Agosti prepares carrot gnocchi at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival’s Chef Tent at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Vendors and vegetables

Harvest Moon Local Food Festival celebrates local food scene at Soldotna Creek Park

Andrew Agosti prepares carrot gnocchi at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival’s Chef Tent at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 21, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Cook Inlet belugas the center of returning educational celebration

Belugas Count! set for Sept. 23

Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 21, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Harvest Moon Local Food Festival returns Saturday

The event will feature live music, cooking demonstrations, educational talks, food trucks, guided edible walks, a pie-baking contest and the Fermentation Station

Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A Civil Air Patrol cadet serves lunch to attendees of the Old Timer’s Luncheon at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Old Timer’s Luncheon makes a comeback

The event started “at least 35 years ago” as a group of homesteading women who would get together once a week

A Civil Air Patrol cadet serves lunch to attendees of the Old Timer’s Luncheon at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Artwork donated for the Harvest Auction hangs at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Art Center’s annual Harvest Auction opens Friday

Throughout August, art was donated by members of the community

Artwork donated for the Harvest Auction hangs at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)