After the coronavirus threw a wrench in most of the Alaska Day celebrations last year, in 2021 the festival was back in mostly full-swing. Sitkans gathered from Lake Street to Lincoln Street on Monday (10-19-21) for the annual parade.

Sitkans participated in a variety of events to mark the state holiday, which recognizes the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States.

In recent years, a movement to recognize “Reconciliation Day” in place of Alaska Day has gained support. Read about the weekend’s Reconciliation Day activities here.

A young girl with an umbrella watches the Sitka Fire Department’s annual “Water Fight” during Sitka’s 2016 Fourth of July activities (Photo KCAW/Katherine Rose, July 2016).

The Fourth of July is less than a month away, and communities all over Alaska are grappling with how to celebrate without drawing large crowds. Concerns around social distancing and the spread of COVID-19 mean that many are forgoing their normal events and getting creative.

Sitka won’t host a traditional parade this year. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachel Roy said they sent out a survey to members and local businesses to gauge interest.

“And we had a pretty overwhelming response that they would not be able to participate. We had about 10 percent of the folks that responded said that they would be in the parade,” she said. “So that was one of the factors.”

Roy said the parade usually draws anywhere from two to 4000 people. In a crowd that large, packed mostly on Lincoln Street, it’s hard to socially distance. So, they’re trying  something different. It’s called  “Share Your Spark.”

“We are encouraging residents and businesses to decorate their storefronts in red, white and blue and flags to commemorate independence day,” Roy said.

The Chamber will host a contest, and they’re encouraging participants to buy decorations locally. Also, they’re asking Sitkans to use the day to give something back to the community.

“Even imagine planting a tree or helping your neighbor by mowing their lawn. There’s so many ways that we can get together as a community and support each other,” she said.

Roy said they’ll release more information about other Fourth of July events in the coming weeks. The Chamber of Commerce has resources available for businesses that want to host an event to help them follow CDC guidelines.

“We’ll keep updating the community with all the Fourth of July happenings,” Roy said. “We just really hope everyone has a safe Fourth of July.”

Sitka kicked off Native American Heritage Month with an Indigenous People Parade through downtown on Thursday, November 1st.

The parade was followed by a reception and a dance performance at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.

Sitka celebrated Alaska Day with all the customary pageantry on Friday. At the center of the festivities was the annual parade, featuring marching bands, fire trucks, a Coast Guard helicopter flyover, and much more.

(KCAW photo/ Cameron Clark)

Sitkans came out in droves to see the annual 4th of July Parade, which snaked throughout town, leaving smiles wherever it went. 

KCAW’s Cameron Clark talked with onlookers as they enjoyed the day.

Downloadable audio.

Patriotically dressed Sitkans and visitors alike line the streets eagerly awaiting the start of the annual 4th of July Parade. Children sit atop parents’ shoulders, cameras are at the ready, and everyone has a smile on their face.

Independence Day is a special occasion in Sitka. And Steve Dalquist wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think it makes you really feel like you’re part of the same community because it seems like almost everybody in town is either in the parade or watching the parade,” Dalquist said. “It’s the best parade in the world! It just is, and you have to live here to know that.”

Slideshow: Sitka’s 4th of July 2017

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(All photos/KCAW Cameron Clark)

With the 9th Infantry leading the charge, the parade truly represents Sitka. It included groups like the Veterans Association, local businesses like Sea Mart, the Sitka Fine Arts Camp band and everything in-between.  

Charlene Frederick was born and raised in Sitka, but now lives in New Mexico. She still comes back here every fourth.

“This is the only place that I watch a parade because my emotional roots are still here,” Frederick said. “When we were growing up it was still a territory and then it became a state, so we feel like a part of history.”

As the parade came to an end, onlookers made their way to the Cable House where they satisfied their sugary needs with Root Beer floats, and talked about the day’s highlights.

Kids: “I think it was fun! I think it was nice to see how many people gather together to go and march for the 4th of July.”

KCAW: Favorite part?

Kids: “Umm the little weiner dogs (laughs) they had their own little section just walking downtown. That was amazing! Geavana what was your favorite part?

“Candy!” (laughs)

“My part was all the candy!”

“I like candy when they throw it out!”

“I like candy too!”

With goodie bags and stomachs filled, another 4th of July celebration is in the books. And Veteran Gary Johnson has only one thing left to say.

“God bless America!”

Downloadable audio.

Mt. Edgecumbe Yup'ik Dance Group. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Mt. Edgecumbe Yup'ik Dance Group at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Members of the Elks Lodge at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Members of the Elks Lodge at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Witch belly dancers on their homemade float at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

A young supporter of Sheila Finkenbinder at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Keystone Kops aren't phased by the rain at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

The Sitka Spruce Tips 4-H Club marching in the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

The Sitka Spruce Tips 4-H Club marching in the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Members of the Young Performers Theater at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Employees from Seamart hand out apples and oranges at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Employees from Seamart hand out apples and oranges at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Marchers had to line up an hour before the start of the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Marchers had to line up down Lake Street an hour before the start of the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

The Sitka Studio of Dance staying dry in the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

The Sitka Studio of Dance staying dry in the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Employees from Sitka National Historical Park lining up to march in the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Employees from Sitka National Historical Park lining up to march in the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

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Margaret Stock and her campaign came to Sitka for the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Margaret Stock and her campaign came to Sitka for the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

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Nurses from Sitka had their own float this year at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

Nurses from Sitka had their own float this year at the 2016 Alaska Day parade. (KCAW Photo/Emily Russell)

After receiving the anonymous judges’ report, Alaska Day Festival organizers awarded the following prizes of $150, $100, and $50, respectively, for entries in the 2016 Alaska Day Parade:

Civilian marching unit
1st Place- Blatchley Middle School Band
2nd Place- Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums
3rd Place- Sitka High School Band

Military marching unit
1st Place- USCG Air Station Sitka
2nd Place- USCG Cutter Maple
3rd Place- US Army Color Guard

Symbolic of 1867 Period
1st Place- Sitka Ninth Infantry
2nd Place- American Colony Singers
3rd Place- Festival Greeters and Re-enactors

Organization entry
1st Place- Sitka Studio of Dance
2nd Place- Athabaskan Dancers from Mt. Edgecumbe High School
3rd Place- 4-H Club

Theme award “Celebrating Nursing in the Last Frontier””
1st Place- Sitka Community Hospital – Early Nurses
2nd Place- Sitka Volunteer Fire Dept. Old Truck with Nurse
3rd Place- Sitka Community Hospital Long Term Care

Business Entry
1st Place- Baranof Island Brewing Co.
2nd Place- Wells Fargo
3rd Place- SeaMart

Sitka Tribe of Alaska organized a parade and dinner for World War II veterans on Saturday. (Photo by Michael Jamros)

To mark Veterans Day and Native American Heritage Month, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska honored past and current military members with a parade and dinner on Saturday (11-07-15). The events especially recognized World War II veterans, as this year is the 70th anniversary of the end of that conflict.

Downloadable audio.

From tots to tourists, everyone enjoyed themselves at the Alaska Day festivities and parade on Sunday. Fueled by the Sitka Lutheran Church’s pie sale, locals lined the streets to get good spots for candy-gathering before heading up Castle Hill to the commemoration of Alaska’s 1867 transfer from Russia.

Downloadable audio.

Eddie and Lila Widmyer with the Seamart man

Hunger Games themed float, created by UAS

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L to R - Eric Chevalier, Bryce Smith, Kruz Mitchell, and Matthew Chevalier

L to R - Jetta Rose Kippy, Haley Kibby, Sophia Kibby

Jacob Kisaka giving a clown on stilts a hello

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Jay Sweeney, city administrator, playing the role of General Lovell Rousseau

Steve Dalquist, Alaska Day Committee member

Sweeney and Ron Conklin, playing the role of Captain Pestchouroff

Alaska Day Parade Prizes

After receiving the anonymous judges’ report, Alaska Day Festival organizers made the following awards of $150, $100, and $50, respectively, for entries in the annual parade.

Civilian marching unit
First Place -Blatchley Middle School Band
Second Place – Sitka High School Band
Third Place- Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums

Symbolic of 1867
First Plaace – Sitka Ninth Infantry and Russian Re-enactors

Theme award “Meet Me At Centennial”
First Place – The Salvation Army

Organization Entry
First Place – Sitka Sound Slayers
Second Place – Girl Scouts
Third Place – 4-H Club

Business Entry
First Place – Junk Trunk
Second Place – Alaska Airline
Third Place – SeaMart

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Suzan Hess, Board President of the Sitka Chamber of Commerce, told KCAW’s Emily Kwong on Monday (6-29-15)  that this year’s theme is “American Innovation.”

“We’re commemorating the creativity and ingenuity of Americans. The chamber of course is always supportive of new business, of new commerce, new economy, and that seemed to really fit in well with our mission, and also with the 4th of July parade,” Hess said. “That’s what America is about. Recognizing creativity, ingenuity, innovation. Things that are discovered and developed,” she said.

As in previous years, the Sitka Chamber of Commerce is organizing the event, but this year it’s with the help of the non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Hess says the chamber tapped into the organization because they are in between executive directors and needed a “solid contact point for the parade.”

“We reached out to Big Brothers Big Sisters who also were recognized by the chamber of commerce this year as community heroes,” Hess said. “This is working out to be a great fundraiser for them,” she said.

The parade grand marshals this year will be Trish and Dirk White, of White’s Pharmacy.

“Looking at their involvement in state and national politics, healthcare. They’re longtime practice of providing pharmacy students with internships in Sitka,” Hess said. “Their creative approach to their business. Making up solutions when they have problems. And they’re also just pretty nice people so we’re looking forward to having them, she said.

The parade starts at 2pm on Saturday. It will begin at the roundabout, turn right on Lincoln Street, and end at Totem Square.

The deadline to register to march in the parade is Thursday, July 2nd.