Salmon Daze and Summer Haze
Two outdoor celebrations take place downtown within hailing distance of each other on Saturday. Salmon Daze and the G Street Art Fair, with vendors, artists, a beer garden and -- oh yeah, smoked salmon -- starts at noon and takes place between Third and Fifth avenues on G Street. Musicians will include Ezza Rose from Oregon -- also playing at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Tap Root -- and Alaska's own John Damberg Jazz Quintet. At 1 p.m. the Avenue Bar's Summer Haze celebration will kick off with music by The Hoons and local bands, the Alaska Fire Circus, a skateboard demonstration and shaved ice, right in front of the bar on Fourth Avenue between C and D streets.
DeeDee Jonrowe induction
Longtime Iditarod race competitor DeeDee Jonrowe will be inducted into the Mushers' Hall of Fame at the Knik Museum on Goose Bay Road during the museum's annual potluck and picnic. The ceremony will include food (bring a dish to share) and a mail delivery by dog sled. The public is welcome to attend, 1 p.m. Sunday.
Summer Family Festival
Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats present their annual Summer Family Festival 11-5 p.m. Saturday. Head to Reflections Lake, Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge, Mile 31.5, Glenn Highway for music, watercrafts, food, bird presentations, conservation information and educational entertainment. Free. (palmerhayflats.org)
The Governor's Family Picnic
Leave the cooking to Sean and Sandy Parnell this weekend as they host the first in a series of Governor's Picnics for fellow Alaskans. The first takes place at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, 4 p.m. Friday and the next will happen at noon Saturday on the Delaney Park Strip, near I Street in Anchorage. Other picnics are planned for Fairbanks, Juneau and Homer.