By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
After a year of canceled activities due to the pandemic, the Sitka Historical Society and Museum is bringing back the Fourth of July with a bang – two days of games, music, dancing and food at Totem Square.
The Old Time Fourth of July kicks off 10 a.m. Saturday, July 3, continues through midnight, resumes at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 4, and goes through 6 p.m.
A full schedule for all Fourth events will be available later this week.
The nonprofit organization and museum director, Hal Spackman, says it’s a celebration about more than the nation’s birthday.
“It’s two days of remembering old-time patriotism and old-fashioned fun,” Spackman said. “It’s refreshing to me because the Fourth is about people coming together, having fun and celebrating our community.”
The historical society tried out the concept two years ago, and it was a hit, Spackman said, with sunny weather adding to the festivities in 2019.
The games were reminiscent of contests in the olden days, including a pie-eating contest, potato sack races, and three-legged races. A number of food booths were available and music was played by local bands into the night on July 3, leading up to a fireworks display.
It was a lot of work on behalf of the staff and board, Spackman said, but “during and after the event was so positive that our board felt we should do this as one of our main events. People were excited and said it was a great community get-together, and that they enjoyed it.”
The event isn’t a major fundraiser for the organization but is consistent with the mission.
“Ultimately our inspiration is, we’re a historic society; we want to bring things back to get people focusing on history,” Spackman said.
Board President Sabra Jenkins added: “It’s the fact that it’s something to do for the town, and the kids, and adults. It just gives a lot of community spirit especially following the year we had all cooped up.”
The historical society’s collection of photos celebrating the holiday throughout the years helped give organizers “old time” ideas.
Board member John Stein said the Fourth of his teen years in Sitka was celebrated around the All Alaska Logging Championships, concluding with the felling of the spar tree onto a hardhat and smashing it flat.
“I associate it with that,” Stein said. On the Baranof Elementary School playground, it was friendly competition with loggers entering such events as speed climbing, choker setting, ax throwing, power bucking and “ma and pa bucking.” Stein remembers watching the events with logging families, “and the felling of the spar tree ... that was always a thrill.”
Booths were set up on the playground for years after that, until that activity discontinued, and it’s been pretty quiet since then, other than the parade and fireworks. Spackman said the feedback from the 2019 event told him such activities had been missed.
Stein agreed, “The fact that folks came out and it was part of the Fourth, along with the parade and water fight ....”
After the cancellation of most Fourth activities last year, Stein and Spackman said they expect resumption of this activity will be as welcome as it was in 2019, and they’re crossing their fingers for good weather.
“We want to be COVID-conscious,” Stein said. “So wash your hands and follow precautions, and come out.”
Stein noted that a “greased pole” competition should be “thrilling for the audience; scary for participants.”
The schedule of events at Totem Square is:
July 3 - 10 a.m. to midnight: Food and carnival game booths open.
July 3 - 8 p.m. to midnight: Street Dance featuring Slack Tide and DJ Andrew Hames, and other bands.
July 4 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Food and carnival game booths open.
The parade is 1 p.m. on the Fourth; old time kids games will follow the parade.
The poster for the Old Time Fourth notes that the old time games are free but the carnival booth games are not.
Spackman said the schedule is coming together for the performers, but so far, it’s:
July 3: Sitka Strings, 1 p.m.; Ceoltoiri Celtic Musicians, 1:30 p.m.; Fishing for Cats and contradance, 2 p.m.; New Archangel Dancers, 3:30 p.m.; Orbie and the Sun Chasers, 4 p.m.; Summerfall, 5:30 p.m.; Aerotrain, 6:30 p.m. The street dance starts at 8 p.m. with Slack Tide at 9 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.; and DJ Andrew Hames finishing out the night.
July 4: Patriotic singalong after the parade; Sitka Cirque performance, 2 p.m.; and Aerotrain at 3 p.m.
Those wanting to volunteer or perform may contact Spackman at 738-3766.
The Chamber of Commerce is organizing the official schedule and the parade, 1 p.m. Sunday. The Chamber said those wanting to be on the official Fourth schedule should contact them by the end of today: conventions@sitkachamber.com
The grand marshal is former Sitka Fire Chief Dave Miller. The theme is “Red, White & Blue.” The Chamber and Visit Sitka are raising funds for a fireworks display which, if they’re successful, would be on July 3.
A full schedule of events will be published in the Sentinel later this week.
