Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Kenai City Manager Rick Koch smokes a cigar while driving a '73 Mustang with the Kaknu Kruzers car club during the annual Independence Day parade on Saturday July 4, 2015 in Kenai, Alaska.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Kenai City Manager Rick Koch smokes a cigar while driving a '73 Mustang with the Kaknu Kruzers car club during the annual Independence Day parade on Saturday July 4, 2015 in Kenai, Alaska.

Crowds celebrate Independence Day despite poor weather

Nothing could rain on Kenai’s annual “Honoring our Hometown Heros” Independence Day parade this year — not even rain.

Huddled under blankets, umbrellas and tents, area residents waved flags, cheered on parade participants and darted forward for flying candy. Exclamations of “Happy Fourth!” and “Happy Birthday, America!” floated through the streets as the parade progressed toward the park strip on Main Street Loop.

Tiffany Allemann, who attended the parade with her husband and their four children, said the rain did not dampen their weekend plans in the slightest.

“We just moved back (from Anchorage,) but we come to the parade every year,” Allemann said. “We grew up here.”

Allemann said she plans to spend the holiday weekend barbecuing with family and friends. Her nephew, Alex Pankion, enjoyed “when the motorcycles came through,” he said.

“I know what her favorite part was,” Pankion said, pointing to his sister, Charlotte Pankion.

“Horses!” she exclaimed.

Joe and Carol Harrison have lived in Alaska since they moved from Oregon in 1983. They have not missed a single Independence Day parade since. Sheltered under umbrellas on a hill overlooking the parade, they enjoyed themselves despite the weather.

“We came prepared,” Carol Harrison explained. “You take the entertainment when you find it.”

For the Harrison’s, Independence Day holds a special place in their family. Joe Harrison’s father fought in World War II, while his wife’s father died fighting at the Battle of the Bulge in 1945.

“We have a grandson who spent two tours in Iraq,” Joe Harrsion said. “We had a son in the Marine Corps.”

Tracy and Matthew Lay also enjoyed the day’s festivities with their 4-year-old daughter, Lorelie.

“I like the parade,” she said.

Lay explained that the horses were one of her favorite parts, pointing them out to her parents as they came down the street.

“Church is more fun,” she added.

Following the 11 a.m. parade, community members enjoyed an array of food, activities and vendors sponsored by local businesses and organizations at the Midway Festivities from noon to 4 p.m.

Buck Steiner, who has lived in Kenai since 1967, held a sign around his neck outside the Kenai Senior Connection, Inc. vendor booth, enticing passersby to stop for a hot dog or other food.

Steiner said he was grateful the steady drizzle did not turn into a pouring rain while he volunteered.

He said he has enjoyed volunteering for and celebrating Independence Day in Kenai for several years.

“It’s the same as anywhere else in the world,” Steiner said. “It’s a celebration of joy.”

One activity that proved popular among younger community members was the fighting ring set up by the Kenai chapter of Amtgard of Alaska, a live action role play group that “combines history and fantasy to create an exciting experience,” according to the group’s website.

Garrett Eady, of Kenai, said this year marks the second time the Kenai chapter has set up shop at the Midway Festivities.

“We looked it up and found the chapter in Anchorage. They were like, “Hey, we’re looking to start a chapter in Kenai,” Eady said. “The general rule is that anything that could have existed prior to 1650 — you know, pre-gun powder — if it could have existed back then…we’re pretty OK with it.”

For $1, friends and family members could fight each other for three rounds with foam swords, according to the group’s rules of combat.

Eady said the group’s presence at the park strip is more about awareness than making money.

The Kenai chapter meets at 1 p.m. every Sunday at South Forest Park, and participates in activities across the state with other chapters.

“We get a lot of excitement over our fighting ring. People like to hit their friends or strangers with foam sticks,” Eady said. “We want to give younger people, high schoolers and whatnot, something creative and constructive to do with their time.”

Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@peninsulaclarion.com.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  A group of Harley Davidson motorcycle riders made a ruckus in the streets during the annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2015 in Kenai, Alaska.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion A group of Harley Davidson motorcycle riders made a ruckus in the streets during the annual Independence Day parade on July 4, 2015 in Kenai, Alaska.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Noelle Cleghorn, 2, and her family gathered to watch the annual Independence Day parade despite the rain on Saturday July 4, 2015 in Kenai, Alaska.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Noelle Cleghorn, 2, and her family gathered to watch the annual Independence Day parade despite the rain on Saturday July 4, 2015 in Kenai, Alaska.

More in News

Montessori materials sit on shelves in a classroom at Soldotna Montessori Charter School on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Education debate draws state attention to peninsula charter schools

Dunleavy would like to see a shift of authority over charter school approvals from local school districts to the state

The Nikiski Senior Center stands under sunlight in Nikiski, Alaska, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Support available for community caregivers

Nikiski Senior Center hosts relaunched Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill

Senate Bill 140 passed the House by a vote of 38-2 and the Senate by a vote of 18-1 last month

The Alaska State Capitol on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
House passes bill altering wording of sex crimes against children

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer

Ben Meyer and Brandon Drzazgowski present to the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Watershed Forum gives update on streambank restoration

The watershed forum and other organizations are working to repair habitat and mitigate erosion

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai resident arrested on charges of arson

Kenai Police and Kenai Fire Department responded to a structure fire near Mountain View Elementary

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks in opposition to an executive order that would abolish the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives during a joint legislative session on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Legislature kills most of Dunleavy’s executive orders in rare joint session

All the proposed orders would have shuffled or eliminated the responsibilities of various state boards

Nikiski Middle/High School student Maggie Grenier testifies in favor of a base student allocation increase before the Alaska Senate Education Committee on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Students report mixed responses from lawmakers in education discussions

Delegates from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District lobbied the Alaska Legislature for more state funding and other education priorities

A child waves from the back of a truck as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
St. Patrick’s Day parade set for Sunday

The annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, hosted by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, kicks off at 2 p.m.

Most Read