FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Sitka’s Own Holiday to Be Full of Events
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka’s Alaska Day Festival has kicked into overdrive with a full calendar of events, including Alaska Day itself on Wednesday.
This year is the sesquicentennial – 150th anniversary – of the transfer of Alaska claims from Russia to the United States. The transfer ceremony took place atop Castle Hill on Oct. 18, 1867, and will be re-enacted on Wednesday after the parade.
Alaska Day Festival trustee Elaine Strelow said the reception to the events this year has been positive, and the activities have been going well. She was pleased to see the turnout for the annual Variety Show Sunday exceed expectations, with hundreds turning out to watch dance and music performances, and beard and bonnet judging.
“It’s been excellent, with such diversity of activities,” Strelow said.
She noted the Tlingit Tribes and Clans Conference this year coincided with Alaska Day events, bringing Tlingit and Russian scholars to Sitka for a four-day “Sharing Our Knowledge” conference on the SJ Campus. This year’s Alaska Day schedule includes conference events. The clan conference ends Tuesday morning, but discussions continue with a panel discussion featuring Alaska Native leaders and Russian scholars set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. A film “100 Years” set for 7 p.m. today at Odess Theater is also open to the public.
Strelow said she’s enjoyed seeing the range of historical and cultural events around the festival, and the positive response to that has been gratifying as well.
A regular feature of the Alaska Day Festival is the 9th Army Band free concert 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Sitka Performing Arts Center, featuring big band, military and popular tunes. Also on tap for tonight is a fundraising beer pairing dinner for the Sitka History Museum, at Westmark.
Following is a schedule of events for the next few days:
Today
6 p.m. – Beer Pairing Dinner at Westmark Hotel Dining Room with Chef Eric and Brewers.
6:30 p.m. – Band Concert by 9th Army Band presenting varied musical styles. Sitka Performing Arts Center. Free.
Tuesday
1:30 p.m. - Panel Discussion: “The Treaty of Cession: Causes and Consequences” featuring Russian scholars, Alaska Native leaders, a leading American historian on the era, moderated by Alaska historian Stephen Haycox. Mt. Edgecumbe High School Activities Center.
5 p.m. - “Peter Corey, Yup’ik Masks and the Unexpected Legacy of Sheldon Jackson” talk by Tim Troll. Sheldon Jackson Museum.
7 p.m. - Alaska Day Ball seating opens. Dance music by 9th Army Band ensembles. Awards for various 1867 period costume types and Native regalia display. Period costume, regalia or semi-formal. Ages 21 and up. Centennial Hall. $25.
Wednesday, October 18, Alaska Day
11 a.m. - Military Memorial Service by U.S. Army Chaplain at Sitka National Cemetery. Representation by all military services. Bugles and drums by 9th Army Band. Fly-over by U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka.
9 a.m. – noon - Russian Bishop’s House open.
10 a.m. – noon - Open House and Smoked Seafood Contest. Sitka Sound Science Center. Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Alaska Day Book Sale at Sitka Public Library. Purchase by donation.
11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Sitka Fire Hall Open House hosted by SFD volunteers. Seattle Firefighters Pipe Band.
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. - Pie Sale with desserts and community fellowship. Benefit for flood and hurricane victims. Sitka Lutheran Church, 224 Lincoln St.
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. - Chili Cook-off and Feed with hot dogs, St. Gregory Catholic Church on Lincoln Street, benefit for youth travel.
1:30 – 4 p.m. - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick open for public tours, city wall pier.
12:30 p.m. - Due to construction on Lake Street, the line-up for the parade will be on Oja Way, continue on Monastery Street to Lincoln Street. The route from there will be the same as always, down Lincoln to the 100 block.
1:30 p.m. - Parade of bands, military and civilian marching units, decorated vehicles, classic cars, costumed individuals and 1860s re-enactment groups. Line-up on Oja Way, down Monastery to Lincoln Street to Totem Square. Fly-over by U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka.
Immediately following parade - 1867 Transfer Re-enactment Ceremony on Castle Hill. Ceremonial music by 9th Army Band.
Immediately following Transfer Re-enactment Ceremony - Air-sea Rescue Demonstration by U.S. Coast Guard Air Station and Coast Guard Auxiliary. Near O’Connell Bridge visitors facility.
TBA - U.S. Coast Guard and City and Borough of Sitka ceremony with proclamation to celebrate ongoing Coast Guard City status. In front of City Hall on Lincoln Street.
2 – 4 p.m. – Sitka Pioneers Home Open House.
2 – 5 p.m. - Open House at Brave Heart Volunteers.
2:30 – 6:30 p.m. - Alaska Day Sesquicentennial Brewfest by Sitka Historical Society. Beer garden featuring world class craft breweries. Totem Square and parking lot.
6:30 p.m. - Alaska Day Auction of donated services to benefit Sitka Fire Department. Pioneer Bar on Katlian Street.
Thursday
9th Army Band members present school clinics and other performances.
7 p.m. - Voices of Change: Perspectives on the Transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States. Speaker: Tim Troll, artist talk and film, “The Unexpected Legacy of Sheldon Jackson.” Sitka National Historical Park.
Friday
9th Army Band members present school clinics and other performances
6:30 p.m. - Sitka Historical Society Annual Meeting. 7 p.m. Program Guest Presenter: Jana Suchy, Photographic Journey: Old Wooden Boats and Big Kings: Fishing Sitka in the 1980s. Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Friday
10th Annual Alaska “Sacred Harp” Convention.
Saturday
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Open House and Marine Safety Fair at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka. Celebrating 150 years of the Coast Guard in Alaska and 40 years of Air Station Sitka. Barbeque and bake sale.
10 to 11 a.m. - Russian-American History Downtown Walking Tour. From Russian Bishop’s House through downtown historic sites.
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Russian Bishop’s House Open House.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....