Visual Stories

Photos: July Fourth weekend celebration

In Anchorage, the July Fourth holiday will kick off with a pancake breakfast at the Delaney Park Strip at 8 a.m. ($5). A parade will follow at 11 a.m. at the Park Strip.

There will be a firefighter combat challenge and Mayor's Centennial Cup relay at noon at Ninth Avenue and H Street. Enjoy a special performance by the University of Washington Marching Band at 12:30 p.m. on the main stage and a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial flagpole.

Throughout the day there will be entertainment on the two stages, and everyone is welcome to participate in a commemorative centennial photo at 4 p.m. (main stage). There will be a free concert by the full Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, 6-8 p.m., main stage (rain location is Alaska Center for the Performing Arts). (279-7500, anchoragejuly4thcelebration.com)

Take in the annual Glacier Pilots-Anchorage Bucs double header at Mulcahy Stadium, with games starting at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. This year's event is a special throwback game featuring historic jerseys commemorating the Anchorage Centennial. $8. (anchoragebucs.com, anchorageglacierpilots.com)

Enjoy some classic picnic fare on the Anchorage Museum lawn, including fried chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad. Beer and wine are available for purchase. The picnic will be held outdoors, weather permitting. $14.95; children, $7.95. Noon-2 p.m. Saturday, 625 C St. (929-9200, anchoragemuseum.org)

Chugiak-Eagle River

The Chugiak Fourth of July Parade will start at the Latimer fire station on the Old Glenn Highway and finish at the Chugiak Senior Center. Turn out to watch – or march in – the parade, and bring a sack to collect all the candy thrown out during the event.

Wasilla

This year's parade starts at 11 a.m. and afterward there will be free hot dogs at the Mayor's Picnic at 1-3 p.m. at Wasilla Iditapark, 343 W. Nelson Ave. Sign up for the pie-eating contest and gunny sack race and enjoy live music from Against the Grain, Colony Calypso and The Fairbanks Cold Steel Ensemble. Free snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn plus games for the kiddos. 3-5 p.m. in the park. (357-9100, cityofwasilla.com; wasillaevents.com)

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Talkeetna

Businesses, artists and other groups in Talkeetna have been constructing moose sculptures — some 4-feet tall, some life-size — which will parade down Main Street. After the parade they will be auctioned off. Noon-1 p.m. Saturday. Other holiday events include Northern Susitna Institute's 100-meter Cardboard Boat Regatta race at Christiansen Lake at 2 p.m. The Moose Poop Drop happens at 7 p.m. at the Helipad. Denali Drama brings you 600 years of history in 6,000 seconds … "The Complete History of America (Abridged)" performance kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar. Round out the day with music from the Denali Cooks starting between 9 and 10 p.m. at the Fairview Inn. (talkeetnachamberorg/schedule/event)

Girdwood

Forest Fair is not an Independence Day event exactly, but it is an Alaska Fourth of July weekend tradition. The fair features artists, hand-crafted items, exotic foods and entertainers from across the state. A parade is set for 10 a.m. Saturday. Free. The fair is held from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at Mile 2.2 Alyeska Highway. (girdwoodforestfaircom)

Seward

Sewardians waste no time launching their Fourth of July fireworks. The spectacle gets underway at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Later that morning, Seward's famous footrace will push athletes to the limit over a 3,022-feet mountain course. Juniors start at 9:30 a.m., women at 11:15 a.m. and men at 3 p.m. Take in the food and crafts booths, games and more. (seward.com, 907-224-8051)

Kenai

Twin City Raceway -- The raceway hosts circle track racing during Independence Day weekend at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Mile 6.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway. Gates open at 3 p.m.; qualifying begins at 4 p.m. and races start at 6 p.m. Rain makeup is 1 p.m. the following day. Racing will be stock cars, late models, legends and sprints, depending on participants. Stick around after the races to meet the drivers. Military and veterans get in free. GCI account holders get in free. (Bring your bill/invoice). Otherwise, $5-$10; pit passes for ages 12 and older, $20. (907-260-6292)

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