Events

Teague Vanek barbecues salmon during Industry Appreciation Day festivities at the Kenai softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Industry Appreciation Day celebrates ‘pioneers’ of local economy

Hundreds gathered on the Kenai softball greenstrip Saturday

Teague Vanek barbecues salmon during Industry Appreciation Day festivities at the Kenai softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The crowd can be seen from the main stage at Kenai’s Industry Appreciation Day at the Kenai Park Strip on Aug. 24, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Industry Appreciation Day to bring free food, fun to Kenai on Saturday

The event started more than 30 years ago and is “a free picnic” at its heart

The crowd can be seen from the main stage at Kenai’s Industry Appreciation Day at the Kenai Park Strip on Aug. 24, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Jamie and Clara Nelson take a well-deserved rest on a couch during the Brewery to Bathroom .5K at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Working up a sweat discouraged in the search for a cure

Brewery to Bathroom benefits American Cancer Society

Jamie and Clara Nelson take a well-deserved rest on a couch during the Brewery to Bathroom .5K at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Silas Luke Jones performs on the Ocean Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Fair brings festivities in defiance of rainfall

Rain or shine, the fair will be running through the weekend

Silas Luke Jones performs on the Ocean Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids burst from the start of the Brewery to Bathroom .5K "The race for the rest of us" on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Silly charity run targets the people who don’t participate in charity runs

Brewery to Bathroom, a 0.5K sort-of-parody of other charity 5K runs, raises awareness about cancer

Kids burst from the start of the Brewery to Bathroom .5K "The race for the rest of us" on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

4-H expo kicks off in Soldotna

Livestock competition rewards shape, showmanship

Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Silas Jones performs on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik.

Kenai Peninsula Fair to bring music, food, games to Ninilchik

The event will take place Friday, Aug. 11 to Sunday, Aug. 13

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Silas Jones performs on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik.
Rayna Reynolds tends to her cow at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

4-H Agriculture Expo set for Aug. 4-6

The annual expo is a weekend to focus on agriculture and 4-H in the community and in Alaska

Rayna Reynolds tends to her cow at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Owen McWilliams hangs tightly onto a mechanical salmon at the Progress Days Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, July 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Warm weather, fair games mark 66th Progress Days

Events will continue through Sunday

Owen McWilliams hangs tightly onto a mechanical salmon at the Progress Days Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, July 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Performers takes the stage in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, August 5, 2022, for Salmonfest, an annual event that raises awareness about salmon-related causes. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Local, national talent ready for Salmonfest

Represented among the talent are local acts like Blackwater Railroad Company, Medium Build and the Hope Social Club

Performers takes the stage in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, August 5, 2022, for Salmonfest, an annual event that raises awareness about salmon-related causes. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Environmental Education and Visitor Services Intern Meredith Baker helps Blake Voss, 3, paint during Fish Week at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

A fishy week of events at the refuge

Hands-on activities for kids will be available at the center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day through Saturday

Environmental Education and Visitor Services Intern Meredith Baker helps Blake Voss, 3, paint during Fish Week at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Promotional poster for 66th Annual Progress Days in Soldotna. (Photo courtesy Soldotna Chamber of Commerce)

Progress Days brings packed schedule of attractions, contests to Soldotna

Soldotna will celebrate the 66th Annual Progress Days next weekend with a fair, a parade and other festivities stretching from Friday to Sunday, July 21… Continue reading

Promotional poster for 66th Annual Progress Days in Soldotna. (Photo courtesy Soldotna Chamber of Commerce)
Players for the American Legion Twins smile and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo feature: Parade, candy, festivities ring in Fourth of July

The Fourth of July Parade again proceeded through Kenai on Tuesday, featuring dozens of businesses and other entities waving hands, waving flags and throwing candy.… Continue reading

Players for the American Legion Twins smile and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Administrative Assistant Claire Jones and Donations and Communications Manager Lilly Murray stand with Soldotna Vice Mayor Lisa Parker as they fundraise for the King of the River Food Drive at the Wednesday Market in Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai-Soldotna rivalry central to new food bank fundraiser

The latest fundraiser for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank pits the cities of Kenai and Soldotna against one another in a friendly competition to donate… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Administrative Assistant Claire Jones and Donations and Communications Manager Lilly Murray stand with Soldotna Vice Mayor Lisa Parker as they fundraise for the King of the River Food Drive at the Wednesday Market in Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Muddy runners move down the Tsalteshi Trails’ Porcupine Loop in Soldotna, Alaska, as they participate in the KDLL Mud Run on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo provided by KDLL 91.9 FM)

Becoming ‘one with the mud’

Runners get dirty in support of public radio

Muddy runners move down the Tsalteshi Trails’ Porcupine Loop in Soldotna, Alaska, as they participate in the KDLL Mud Run on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo provided by KDLL 91.9 FM)
Sarah Chesser works a Nikiski Fire Department hose during Family Fun in the Midnight Sun on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Families enjoy Nikiski community event

Family Fun in the Midnight Sun is hosted by the North Peninsula Recreation Service Area

Sarah Chesser works a Nikiski Fire Department hose during Family Fun in the Midnight Sun on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Connie Brannock’s Tiny House of Funk. (Photo provided by Seldovia Arts Council)

‘Unchained’ and drumming in Alaska

Connie Brannock’s Tiny House of Funk seeks to “extend joy through music” at Soldotna Creek Park

Connie Brannock’s Tiny House of Funk. (Photo provided by Seldovia Arts Council)
A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Food bank to host spring fest Friday

This year’s Spring Festival will be the largest the organization has put on — with 15 booths set to offer services

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ellie and Elias Ritter run Squeeze the Day in front of Odie’s Deli in Soldotna, Alaska, on Lemonade Day, Saturday, June 10, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kids serve up lemonade in annual entrepreneurial event

The event was organized by the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce

Ellie and Elias Ritter run Squeeze the Day in front of Odie’s Deli in Soldotna, Alaska, on Lemonade Day, Saturday, June 10, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A plane operated by LifeMed Alaska is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula Air Fair on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

In the pilot’s seat

Air fair offers public opportunity to tour planes, helicopters

A plane operated by LifeMed Alaska is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula Air Fair on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)