Fur Rendezvous, Anchorage's 71-year-old winter festival, has been dogged by debt, mired in a city-led makeover, shaken by board turnover and dissed by just about everyone for being out of touch. Now it's about $100,000 in debt and has a staff of one.
Not long ago, the city threatened to take it over and make it part of a new festival called Winter Fest, but things got complicated and the clock was ticking, so the city is giving Rondy $48,000 to keep it afloat for one more year.
Winter Fest is still on the drawing board.
"We're moving forward," said Susan Duck, Rondy's new director.
Between Feb. 24 and March 4, assuming there's snow, eager huskies will still pull sleds through Anchorage streets, fireworks will splash across the night sky and snow sculptors will carve for prizes.
But, make no mistake, Fur Rendezvous is headed for some major change. Already some classic events, like the masked ball and the Rondy Grand Prix, have been booted because of budgetary belt-tightening. Many others remain iffy, depending on turnout, sponsorships and volunteers.
If Mayor Mark Begich has his way, Rondy will morph into Winter Fest, an all-encompassing February festival that would include the start of the Iditarod, the Tour of Anchorage ski race and other sporting activities. Anchorage Convention and Visitor's Bureau would market it internationally in hopes of increasing wintertime tourism. There are already a few Winter Fest events in the works, such as a snow maze downtown, that will be held during this winter's Rondy.
Just how Rondy fits in with Winter Fest remains an unanswered question.
Over the years Rondy, with its old-time feel, slowly lost its audience to an ever-expanding array of diversions. Record warm winters also foiled weather-dependent events, from snow sculptures to dog races. Greater Anchorage Inc., the nonprofit that runs it, lost money, and for the last few years, asked the city for a bail-out, most recently of about $50,000.
This year the mayor decided to say no, telling the festival to retool its image to attract more people.
The city conducted a survey, looking at why the festival was failing. In it, more than 80 percent of people said they thought the festival was important, but fewer than half attended events.
"It's an old-fashioned concept from another generation, and it needs a face lift," said Ivan Moore, who conducted the survey.
Originally, there was talk that Greater Anchorage Inc. was going to run Winter Fest, enfolding old and new events under the guidance of the city.
But GAI couldn't afford to keep a staff, and some board members wanted out, creating internal upheaval. Then there was the issue of the organization's deficit that tarnished its attractiveness as a partner for other groups, said Schawna Thoma, deputy director of community and economic development.
The Winter Fest idea, supported by ACVB, wasn't fully developed. Everybody had a different idea about who should be in charge and what the festival should look like. A series of meetings at city hall couldn't get things straightened out in time.
"It just disintegrated in my opinion," said John Wood, a Greater Anchorage board member. "ACVB wanted to have total control. When I asked them what they wanted in terms of events, the person said, 'I don't know. I haven't been thinking about it.' "
Nance Larsen, vice president of communications and marketing for ACVB, wouldn't say how Rondy would fit into a Winter Fest plan.
"We're really looking at events that are sustainable, events that are financially responsible," Larsen said.
So, rather than have no festival this winter, the city decided to fund Fur Rendezvous once more, buying time to get Rondy/Winter Fest details figured out.
"We thought it would be easier to bring a lot of groups together," Thoma said. "It's going to be a transitional year."
As for the new Winter Fest events, the city is hiring an event planner, Thoma said.
Meanwhile, Rondy rides on the expertise and enthusiasm of Duck, who is in her 30s and the youngest Rondy head in recent memory. Her military husband was recently transferred, but she decided to stay here with her three children to guide the festival through the transition.
"It's like this is a baby to me," she said. "I have a strong belief in the future of this festival."
This winter, Rondy will tailor its events more to the interests of families and young people, she said. There will be more events that celebrate Alaska Native culture. It will also be more centralized downtown. Perhaps the first sign of Rondy shedding its old-school image: It has a page on the popular social networking site MySpace.com, at myspace.com/anchoragerondy.
Fur Rondy board members are at work on a plan for the debt, which may include looking for sponsorship. But there are still a lot of businesses and nonprofits wanting to be paid. The Anchorage Sourdough Chorus that puts on the successful Fur Rondy Melodrama, for example, is owed $10,000.
"The board fully intends for all the debts to be repaid," Duck said.
Rondy-sanctioned events run by other groups, like the stamp show, ice bowling, the mutt show, Purr Rendezvous and senior center activities, will also be handled differently, Duck said. She wants feedback from the community about how the festival should change.
"We need to hear what people want. This is for us, for us to get out and celebrate Alaska and Anchorage," Duck said. "We need the spirit of Rondy back."
Daily News reporter Julia O'Malley can be reached at jomalley@adn.com and 257-4325.
GOT SOMETHING to offer? Contact the city at winterfestival@muni.org or Fur Rendezvous at susan@furrondy.net.
Tentative event list
• Family Night Skate
• Fireworks
• Frostbite Footrace
• Fur Rendezvous Multitribal Gathering
• Fur Rendezvous Alaska Hold 'em Tournament of Champions
• Jim Beam Jam
• Melodrama
• Native Arts & Crafts Show
• Fur Rondy Fur Auction
• State of Alaska Hide & Horn Auction
• Parade
• Photo Contest
• Rondy on Ice -- Viva Skate Vegas
• Rondy SnoCross
• Snow Sculpture Competition
• Snowshoe Softball Tournaments
• World Championship Dog Weight Pull
• World Championship Sled Dog Races
Top five reasons people gave for not attending Rondy:
1. Not interested
2. Too busy
3. Out of town
4. Working
5. Sick
Top five favorite Rondy events:
1. Sled dog races
2. Snow sculptures
3. Carnival
4. Fireworks
5. Parade
