It’s nearly the longest day of the year, and both Homer and Seldovia are gearing up for the return of their annual summer solstice celebrations.

The Homer Chamber of Commerce will host the 2024 Summer Solstice Festival on Thursday, June 20 from 3-9 p.m. in the chamber parking lot. The event, featuring “genre-defying” singer-songwriter, painter and motivational speaker Hope Cassity as the headlining performer, promises to be a “fun day of music, vendors, food trucks and fun for the whole family.”

Other vendors and activities so far include the Grace Ridge Beer Garden, a smoked salmon dip competition, kids games, skills competitions and more.

The chamber is still seeking vendors and musical performers for the festival. For inquiries about vendor applications, sponsorship or signing up to perform onstage during the event, contact the chamber at membership@homeralaska.org, marketing@homeralaska.org or call 907-235-2326.

Seldovia

The Seldovia Arts Council welcomes the official start of summer with the Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival, running June 20-22.

The festival will offer three days of live performances, artist-led workshops, open mic events, busking, vendor booths and bonfire jams in this “community-oriented celebration of summer, music and the arts.”

Headlining the festival this year are the Oregon bluegrass group Alder Street, Anchorage-based musician Witty Youngman and Talkeetna’s Solar Gain. A “selection of musicians from all over the state” will also be scheduled to perform, the festival website states.

The festival is currently accepting musician applications.

For more information on the festival and performing artists, and to purchase tickets, visit www.seldoviaartscouncil.org/festival/