By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
With fireworks, a parade, a full calendar of events and fair weather in the forecast, Sitkans can look forward to a long weekend of Independence Day festivities.
The celebration will get off to an early start with a professional fireworks show Friday night, and the capstone will be the traditional Fourth of July parade on Monday.
The availability of the Anchorage-based pyrotechnic crew is the reason for the July 1 date for the fireworks, said Mary Hames, adding, “It’s a Friday night, the start of a celebratory weekend, so it’s a good way to start it off.”
Hames Corp. is the primary sponsor of the fireworks, but more than a dozen businesses and individuals have given financial support for the display this year, Hames said.
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce sponsors the parade, which this year has the theme “The Many Faces of Sitka.”
“Sitka really shines in these community gatherings,” said Chamber director Rachel Roy. “Sitkans love parades, and so there’s just this energy that happens around them, the laughter and the waving and the smiles. I think that’s always something that’s a lot of fun. People are really creative.”
Roy hopes to see a wide variety of interpretations of the parade theme.
“How can Sitka floats and groups come up with a fun way to show the many faces of Sitka? I think there is an opportunity to show our historical faces, like the leaders of our community over time – just showing the many ages and diversity in our community.”
She anticipates a strong turnout from groups including the Coast Guard, ATV riders and high school class reunions.
“We have some new groups that are participating… The Sitka All-Terrain Riders is a new group,” she said. “And then it looks like we will have some different class reunions that are happening… The Coast Guard has a really strong representation. And it looks like the university is also participating.”
The traditional Coast Guard helicopter flyover also is scheduled.
Last year, the July 4 parade and celebrations took place in a town largely devoid of summer tourists, but this year thousands of cruise passengers are expected, Roy noted. The Norwegian Bliss, with about 4,000 passengers, arrives at 11 a.m., and three ships with fewer than 700 passengers are to be in town. Even without the parade, it would be a Lincoln Street closure day, Roy noted.
The parade lineup begins at noon Monday, with floats rolling out at 1 p.m. Roy said the timing of the parade takes into account the schedule of the cruise ship departures, fitting the parade into the time passengers will have in town before returning to their ships.
“When we chose the time of the parade, we were thinking about all of that,” she said. “When a visitor is in town for a community celebration like this, they get to really feel what community feels like.”
On another parade issue, Roy said an entry in last year’s that was too loud and won’t be in this year’s lineup.
“We don’t plan on having that float included in the parade. People should not worry about happening again,” she said.
Mary Hames said everything about Independence Day, from the parade and fireworks to food carts and social activities, makes it a prime time to be in Sitka.
“The whole town comes out for the parade and I love being in the parade,” she said. “And just seeing all the crowds line the streets and the kids and it’s just always a really festive, happy mood. After the last couple of years that we’ve had with the pandemic, it’s just going to be nice to see friends and neighbors out and about.”
Hames said that unlike the price of most things, the cost of the pyrotechnic display has not exploded.
“Actually, the cost has not gone up,” she said. “The pyrotechnic guys said we’re going to give you the very best show for the same budget that we’ve done the last two years – which was $20,000. That includes their airfare here, that includes lodging.”
The fireworks are scheduled to start at 11:30 p.m. Friday night.
Below is a schedule of events over the holiday weekend.
Friday, July 1
11 a.m.: Taco boats, corn dogs, burgers and fries, and Mexican corn, until 8 p.m. or when sold out. Sitka Elks Lodge #1662, (907) 747-3511
11:30 a.m.: Alaska Storytellers performance. Harrigan Centennial Hall. Nancy Neal (757) 639-9839
11:30 p.m.: Fireworks display in Sitka Channel (weather permitting) Mary Hames (757) 738-6893
Saturday, July 2
9 a.m.: Gavan Hill to Harbor Mountain guided group hike. Sitka Trail Works, (907) 747-7244
10 a.m.: Sitka Farmers Market, until 1 pm. ANB Founders Hall. (907) 623-7660
10 a.m.: Old Time 4th of July Food & Carnival game booths (for a fee) until 7 p.m.. Totem Square. Sitka Historical Society & Museum, (907) 738-3766
11 a.m.: Taco boats, corn dogs, burgers and fries, and Mexican corn, until 8 p.m. or until sold out. Sitka Elks Lodge #1662, (907) 747-3511
11:30 a.m.: Brave Heart Bowl fundraiser. Harrigan Centennial Hall, until 2 p.m. Handmade ceramic bowls, soup, live music and more. (907) 747-4600
12:30 p.m.: New Archangel Dancers free performance. Harrigan Centennial Hall. Helena van Veen, (907) 738-0961
Sunday, July 3
10 a.m.: Old Time 4th of July Food & Carnival game booths (for a fee) until 7 pm. Totem Square. Sitka Historical Society & Museum, (907) 738-3766
11 a.m. : Taco boats, corn dogs, burgers and fries, and Mexican corn, until 8 p.m. or until sold out. Sitka Elks Lodge #1662, (907) 747-3511
11:30 a.m.: Alaska Storytellers performance. Harrigan Centennial Hall. Nancy Neal (757) 639-9839
12:30 p.m.: Naa Kahídi Dance Performance. Sheet’ka Kwaán Naa Kahídi - Community House. Sitka Tribal Tours, (907) 747-7137
1p.m.: Alaska Storytellers performance. Harrigan Centennial Hall. Nancy Neel, (757) 639-9839
5:30 p.m.: Family-friendly street dance. Totem Square. Sitka Historical Society & Museum, (907) 738-3766
Monday, July 4
10 a.m.: Old Time 4th of July Food & Carnival game booths (for a fee) until 7 p.m. Totem Square. Sitka Historical Society & Museum, (907) 738-3766
10 a.m.: Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich Cedar Bench Dedication. Harrigan Centennial Hall. Cake and ice cream to follow inside Harrigan. Paulette Moreno, (907) 738-6608
11 a.m.: Barn dance. Totem Square end of Lincoln St. No charge. All ages. Dorothy, (907) 747-3412
11 a.m.: Taco boats, corn dogs, burgers and fries, and Mexican corn, until 8 p.m. or until sold out. Sitka Elks Lodge #1662, (907) 747-3511
11 a.m.: An Older and Interesting Car Parade (Whale Park/LakeStreet/Peterson/Edgecumbe/Cascade Creek turns around at Halibut Point Recreation/Peterson/SHS). Jeff Budd, (907)-747-4821
11:30 a.m.: Naa Kahídi Dance Performance. Sheet’ka Kwaán Naa Kahídi - Community House. Sitka Tribal Tours, (907) 747-7137
Noon: Parade Line up on Lake Street. Chamber of Commerce, (907) 747-8604
12:30 pm: Alaska Storytellers performance. Harrigan Centennial Hall. Nancy Neel, (757) 639-9839
12:30 pm: Naa Kahídi Dance Performance. Sheet’ka Kwaán Naa Kahídi - Community House. Sitka Tribal Tours, (907) 747-7137
1 p.m. 4th of July Parade
1:30 pm: Old time kids’ games throughout the afternoon after parade: pie eating contest, sack races, wheelbarrow races, toddler events and more. Hal Spackman, (907) 738-3766
2. p.m.: Alaska Storytellers performance. Harrigan Centennial Hall. Nancy Neel, (757) 639-9839
4 p.m.: Sitka Fire Department vs. US Coast Guard water fight. Near Totem Square. Sitka Fire Department, (907) 747-3233
4 p.m.: 38th Annual Sitka Duck Race at Granite Creek. Ducks released at 4:00 pm. John Weitkamp (818) 207-2993
