Events

People set out on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Moving to make a difference

Walk to End Alzheimer’s, an annual awareness event and fundraiser, comes to the peninsula

People set out on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Andrew Agosti prepares carrot gnocchi at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival’s Chef Tent at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Vendors and vegetables

Harvest Moon Local Food Festival celebrates local food scene at Soldotna Creek Park

Andrew Agosti prepares carrot gnocchi at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival’s Chef Tent at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 21, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Cook Inlet belugas the center of returning educational celebration

Belugas Count! set for Sept. 23

Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 21, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Harvest Moon Local Food Festival returns Saturday

The event will feature live music, cooking demonstrations, educational talks, food trucks, guided edible walks, a pie-baking contest and the Fermentation Station

Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A Civil Air Patrol cadet serves lunch to attendees of the Old Timer’s Luncheon at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Old Timer’s Luncheon makes a comeback

The event started “at least 35 years ago” as a group of homesteading women who would get together once a week

A Civil Air Patrol cadet serves lunch to attendees of the Old Timer’s Luncheon at the Kenai Senior Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Artwork donated for the Harvest Auction hangs at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Art Center’s annual Harvest Auction opens Friday

Throughout August, art was donated by members of the community

Artwork donated for the Harvest Auction hangs at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Teague Vanek barbecues salmon during Industry Appreciation Day festivities at the Kenai softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Industry Appreciation Day celebrates ‘pioneers’ of local economy

Hundreds gathered on the Kenai softball greenstrip Saturday

Teague Vanek barbecues salmon during Industry Appreciation Day festivities at the Kenai softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The crowd can be seen from the main stage at Kenai’s Industry Appreciation Day at the Kenai Park Strip on Aug. 24, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Industry Appreciation Day to bring free food, fun to Kenai on Saturday

The event started more than 30 years ago and is “a free picnic” at its heart

The crowd can be seen from the main stage at Kenai’s Industry Appreciation Day at the Kenai Park Strip on Aug. 24, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Jamie and Clara Nelson take a well-deserved rest on a couch during the Brewery to Bathroom .5K at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Working up a sweat discouraged in the search for a cure

Brewery to Bathroom benefits American Cancer Society

Jamie and Clara Nelson take a well-deserved rest on a couch during the Brewery to Bathroom .5K at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Silas Luke Jones performs on the Ocean Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Fair brings festivities in defiance of rainfall

Rain or shine, the fair will be running through the weekend

Silas Luke Jones performs on the Ocean Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids burst from the start of the Brewery to Bathroom .5K "The race for the rest of us" on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Silly charity run targets the people who don’t participate in charity runs

Brewery to Bathroom, a 0.5K sort-of-parody of other charity 5K runs, raises awareness about cancer

Kids burst from the start of the Brewery to Bathroom .5K "The race for the rest of us" on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

4-H expo kicks off in Soldotna

Livestock competition rewards shape, showmanship

Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Silas Jones performs on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik.

Kenai Peninsula Fair to bring music, food, games to Ninilchik

The event will take place Friday, Aug. 11 to Sunday, Aug. 13

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Silas Jones performs on the Inlet Stage at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Aug. 12, 2022, in Ninilchik.
Rayna Reynolds tends to her cow at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

4-H Agriculture Expo set for Aug. 4-6

The annual expo is a weekend to focus on agriculture and 4-H in the community and in Alaska

Rayna Reynolds tends to her cow at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Owen McWilliams hangs tightly onto a mechanical salmon at the Progress Days Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, July 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Warm weather, fair games mark 66th Progress Days

Events will continue through Sunday

Owen McWilliams hangs tightly onto a mechanical salmon at the Progress Days Fair at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Saturday, July 22, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Performers takes the stage in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, August 5, 2022, for Salmonfest, an annual event that raises awareness about salmon-related causes. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Local, national talent ready for Salmonfest

Represented among the talent are local acts like Blackwater Railroad Company, Medium Build and the Hope Social Club

Performers takes the stage in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, August 5, 2022, for Salmonfest, an annual event that raises awareness about salmon-related causes. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Environmental Education and Visitor Services Intern Meredith Baker helps Blake Voss, 3, paint during Fish Week at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

A fishy week of events at the refuge

Hands-on activities for kids will be available at the center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day through Saturday

Environmental Education and Visitor Services Intern Meredith Baker helps Blake Voss, 3, paint during Fish Week at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 18, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Promotional poster for 66th Annual Progress Days in Soldotna. (Photo courtesy Soldotna Chamber of Commerce)

Progress Days brings packed schedule of attractions, contests to Soldotna

Soldotna will celebrate the 66th Annual Progress Days next weekend with a fair, a parade and other festivities stretching from Friday to Sunday, July 21… Continue reading

Promotional poster for 66th Annual Progress Days in Soldotna. (Photo courtesy Soldotna Chamber of Commerce)
Players for the American Legion Twins smile and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo feature: Parade, candy, festivities ring in Fourth of July

The Fourth of July Parade again proceeded through Kenai on Tuesday, featuring dozens of businesses and other entities waving hands, waving flags and throwing candy.… Continue reading

Players for the American Legion Twins smile and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Administrative Assistant Claire Jones and Donations and Communications Manager Lilly Murray stand with Soldotna Vice Mayor Lisa Parker as they fundraise for the King of the River Food Drive at the Wednesday Market in Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai-Soldotna rivalry central to new food bank fundraiser

The latest fundraiser for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank pits the cities of Kenai and Soldotna against one another in a friendly competition to donate… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Administrative Assistant Claire Jones and Donations and Communications Manager Lilly Murray stand with Soldotna Vice Mayor Lisa Parker as they fundraise for the King of the River Food Drive at the Wednesday Market in Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)