You Won’t Be Bored This Midnight Sun Weekend

(photo courtesy of http://www.alaska.org)

June 21^st is the longest day of the year (with the most daylight) and up here in Fairbanks we turn that into a pretty big celebration. Can you blame us for celebrating the sunlight? We spend eight months in the cold and the dark. We like the make the most of our summers.

This weekend, from Friday to Sunday, Fairbanks will be jam-packed with activities, concerts, sports, festivals and fun! Not sure what to do, or what all is happening around town? Check out our list of ways to have fun in the sun this weekend.

Golden Heart Softball’s Midnight Sun One-Pitch Tournament. If you enjoy watching softball, or playing it, this event is for you. Beginning Saturday, June 20th at midnight, this tournament tests its players by playing softball ALL NIGHT and ALL DAY Saturday and continuing on into Sunday when the winning team stands victorious. Divisions are men’s, women’s and co-eds. Located at the Hez Ray Softball Fields next to the Big Dipper. For more information or to join a team contact Golden Heart Softball.

33^rd Annual Midnight Sun Run. Saturday June 20^th at 10pm join thousands of Fairbanksans for a 10K run starting at the UAF campus and ending at Pioneer Park. Dress in costume and enter the costume contest if you feel so inclined. For more information or to register for the race, go to their website, here.

2015 Midnight Sun Festival. From noon on Sunday, June 21^st until midnight that night you can enjoy the Midnight Sun Festival downtown – an annual event filled with food, shopping and entertainment. Favorite local restaurants and food stands will be set up to offer you their yummy goodness and you can peruse booths with anything from clothes to collectibles and listen to live music – all under the midnight sun. Don’t miss this yearly Fairbanks tradition!

Country Band “Lonestar” at The Blue Loon. This Midnight Sun Weekend head out to The Blue Loon for an outdoors, all-ages show to see Country Band “Lonestar” in concert. Gates open at 4pm on Sunday, June 21^st and the grounds are split into an over-21 side and an alcohol-free side so feel free to come have fun with friends and have a few drinks or to bring the family and enjoy the music. Tickets are available at The Blue Loon, Gulliver’s Books, and www.theblueloon.com.

Great Alaska Foodstock. Head out to the Howling Dog Saloon in Fox for this annual event each night this weekend – Friday, Saturday and Sunday for live music, auctions, and food. $5 or 5 cans of food grants you admission. Get more information at http://www.greatalaskanfoodstock.com/.

Fairbanks Goldpanners’ Midnight Sun Game.  Head out to Growden Field, adjacent to the Carlson Center, to watch the Goldpanners’ 110^th Midnight Sun Game beginning at 10:30pm Sunday, June 21^st. This has been a Fairbanks tradition since 1906. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this historical event.

This weekend is sure to be a busy – and fun – one! And the weather is predicting hot temperatures and clear skies. Make the most of this weekend – after Sunday, we start losing daylight again.

If you have an event going on this weekend that isn’t mentioned here, feel free to put it in our comments section.

What are your plans this Midnight Sun Weekend?

Stay-cation Places In and Around Fairbanks

Summer is coming and that means it’s time to take a break and relax. If you’re not planning on taking an out-of-state vacation, how about planning a stay-cation? Stay-cations are great for a number of reasons. One, they’re significantly less expensive than an out-of-state vacation. Two, you can explore places and communities you may not have been to before. And three, you and your family can still make lasting memories together right here near your home. Intrigued? Check out this list of great places right here near Fairbanks where you can get away for a day, a few days, or longer – and make great summer memories.

Denali National Park – Denali National Park is a great spot to stay-cation because it’s just a short drive away (a few hours) and there is so much to do there. You can stay at a hotel, there are several in the area including the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and the Denali Bluffs Hotel, you can rent a cabin (and again, there are several cabin sites in and around Denali National Park), or you can pitch a tent or park an RV and camp out. While you’re there, adventure abounds! Take a day hike and explore the park, go on a guided rafting trip, explore the visitors center, walk along Denali Park Village and check out the shops, go mountain biking, or bring or rent some four-wheelers and have some off-road fun. Learn more about Denali National Park here.

Chena Hot Springs Resort – Just 58 miles north east of Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs offers a fun escape for tourists and locals alike. It’s close enough to Fairbanks to jet out there for a day trip, but also great to stay at night or two at the resort and enjoy all that the resort has to offer. The restaurant at Chena Hot Springs is open from breakfast to dessert. In between soaks in the hot springs rock pool you can go on a guided ATV trip, horseback ride, take a dog sled ride, tour the Ice Museum or go hiking on one of the many hiking trails. You can even book a relaxing massage. A massage and a soak in the hot tub? Heaven. You can see all that Chena Hot Springs Resort has to offer here.

(photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com)

Camping Fun – Looking to really get away from it all? Grab your tent and sleeping bags and head out to one of the many campgrounds in and around Fairbanks. For a small nightly fee you can rent a camp space and spend some great family time around a campfire roasting hot dogs and making s’mores. Take day hikes, go for nature walks, enjoy the wilderness! The Department of Natural Resources has great information on where you can find campgrounds for your next adventure. You can even enjoy an overnight campout at one of the many public use cabins available around outlying Fairbanks.

(photo courtesy of Alaska Department of Natural Resources)

Play Tourist – If you have lived in Fairbanks for a while, you may not think about doing the tourist-y activities. But now’s the time to look at Fairbanks with fresh eyes! Fairbanks offers so many fun things for visitors, it’s time for you to get in on the action. Mine for gold at Gold Dredge No. 8, ride the Riverboat Discovery and watch the bush plane takeoff, see sled dogs in action, walk through the Chena Indian Village. Check out the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Have dinner at the Alaska Salmon Bake and spend some time remembering local history at Pioneer Park. Remember what it is you love about our community!

(Photo courtesy of travelalaska.com)

Anchorage – So you want to get out of town but don’t have the time – or funds –  to escape completely? Anchorage is the next best thing! It’s only a 6-hour drive (or a 55 minute plane trip) from Fairbanks so you can easily take a weekend trip (or make it a long weekend) to the big city. Dine at one of the many restaurants, spend some time shopping, see a concert, walk around downtown, take a walk or bike ride along the coastal trails, there is so much to do in Anchorage and you don’t have to travel too far to enjoy it.

(photo courtesy of Anchorage Downtown Partnership Ltd)

If you’re planning a stay-cation in or around Fairbanks this summer, what are your plans? What fun things will you be doing this summer? Tell us in the comments.

15 Summertime Races in Fairbanks

UPDATE 6/26/2015: Due to the smoke from the forest fires and the AQI (Air Quality Index) some of these races may have been postponed, including June 27th’s Run From The Cops. Check the running websites listed at the bottom of the page for information based on the current Air Quality condition.

If you are into running, you’ll be happy to know that Fairbanks has a number of races you can compete in all through the summer. Our long daylight hours allow for you to enjoy running – racing, trail running or just around the city – at any time of the day or night.

I wanted to share with you a list of 15 summertime races you’ll find here in Fairbanks (and there are a few in North Pole too) so you can start getting ready for racing season. The first 5K starts one month from TODAY. Now’s the time to lace up those sneakers.

On your mark. Get set. Go!

 April 11, 2015 – Beat Beethoven 5K

This 5K race takes you around the UAF campus and the catch? If you can make it to the finish line before the end of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony (about 31 minutes) you will receive a free ticket to the symphony. You can find more information about this race here.

May 2, 2015 – 34^th Annual Chena River Run

This 5K will take you on a fun course from Woodriver Elementary School to the Princess Hotel.  This is a classic run (they’ve been doing it for 34 years!) and a great way to welcome in the summer. Here’s a link to their facebook page for more details.

May 6, 2015 – 24^th Annual Golden Heart Utilities Water Walk & Run

An awesome way to get out and enjoy some evening sun. This 5K you can walk or run (hence the name) and is great to do with children or strollers. This mid-week walk/run has been around for a while also. Sponsored by Golden Heart Utilities.

May 9, 2015 – 7^th Annual Walk/Run for Autism

Even if you don’t run, you can walk this one and it’s for a great cause. This 5K race starts at Pioneer Park. You can go to the Autism Society of Alaska’s website, www.asagoldenheart.org, to learn more.

May 21, 2015 – Alaska Girl’s Walk & Wine

This 5K walk has a bonus – wine! This is a 5K run followed by a wine tasting event for women only. (Sorry, guys!) You must be 21 to participate in the wine tasting, but those under 21 can still race. Find the Walk & Wine on Facebook here.

May 30, 2015 – The Color Run

Returning to Fairbanks for the second year in a row, The Color Run is a really fun run to do with friends or family. Kids even have a blast, too! You start out wearing white and along the 5K route get doused with colors until you cross the finish line looking like a rainbow. And there’s an after party complete with prizes and music. Register on their website, www.thecolorrun.com.

June 7, 2015 – Mud Factor

You’ll start off clean, but prepare to get dirty. Crawling-on-your-belly-in-mud dirty. This 5K race takes you through rugged terrain and tests your skills with obstacles along the way. Register on their website www.mudfactor.com.

June 13, 2015 – 23^rd Annual Mosquito Meander

Sponsored by Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption, this 5K walk and run is all about family! Bring the kids and enjoy the trek. See www.fcaalaska.org for more information.

June 20, 2015 – 33^rd Annual Midnight Sun Run

This is our biggie. This race starts at 10 pm on the eve of the summer solstice – the longest day of the year! This 10K race starts at the UAF Patty Center and takes you through town and through neighborhoods finally bringing you to the finish line at Pioneer Park. Wear costumes and enter the costume contest and entertain the spectators that will cheer you on along the way. Keep an eye on their website (http://midnightsunrun.net) for updated information.

June 27, 2015 – Run from the Cops

This 5K starts and ends at the police station at 911 Cushman Street in downtown Fairbanks. It’s really a great way to get to know our local police officers and help support those that protect our community.

July 11, 2015 – Jingle in July!

This family-friendly Christmas-themed 5K also has a 1K kid’s race. Another great cause – this race is sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. Dress up in holiday costumes for an added element of fun. Starts at the Santa Claus House in North Pole.  See their website for more details.

July 18, 2015 – Run of the Valkyries

This Vikings-themed run will also award you a prize for best costume. Or just stretch your legs on this 8K course beginning and ending at Pioneer Park. Put on by Opera Fairbanks. See http://www.operafairbanks.org/events/ for more information.

July 19, 2015 – Run for the Refuge

You have your choice here of a 5K or a 10K trail run. This run benefits the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).  Begins at the UAF Ski Hut.

August 8, 2015 – Santa Claus Half Marathon

Beginning and ending at North Pole High School, followed by an awesome Barbeque! This half- marathon, 13.1 miles, will take you through and around the city of North Pole. If you like to run and would like to set your sights on a half-marathon, this one is for you!

September 19, 2015 – Equinox Marathon

I have to include this, and end with it, as this is the mother race. This is a marathon (26.2 miles) and an Ultra Marathon (40 miles!) and not for the faint at heart. Start and end at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and traverse the trails up and around the campus, then head out to the outer points of Ester Dome and back. Get more information and register on their website, www.equinoxmarathon.org.

 

This list isn’t nearly a complete list of all of the races that we have in Fairbanks during the summer. There really are a lot of them! You can check out Running Club North and Running in the USA for a full list of races and events from 5K’s to Ultra Marathons in our area. If you are really into running, Running Club North offers a lot of training and group runs that you may want to check out – and they run all year ‘round. There are also several different Triathlons during the summer months that you can look into as well, check out the Running Club North’s websites for information on those.

Tell us in the comments if there are any particular races I missed, which ones YOU like to run, or which you are looking forward to this year.

See you on the trails!

-Tarra