Fun in the Midnight Sun

June 21st is one of the most celebrated days of the entire year in my hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska. The tradition of celebrating the longest day of the year is one that has been around longer than we have had the ability to keep record of it, and it is believed to have originated in England. Sadly over the past centuries, this celebration has grown less important in most of the world. But in Alaska, this day turns into an entire week of celebration!

Fairbanks is located at the heart of Alaska - smack dab in the middle of the largest state in the union. Because of its close proximity to the Arctic Circle, and the tilt of the Earth, we have extreme bouts of sunlight, with nearly complete darkness in December and almost 24 hours of sunlight in June. Today, the sun rose a 2:56 a.m. and will not set until 12:47 a.m. - that's 21 hours and 51 minutes of sunlight! Contrary to popular belief, Alaska is not stuck in a constant misery of cold and snow all year long. Although it is not a tropical climate, the summers are beautiful and warm, with the average summer temperature of about 75 degrees. We take complete advantage of the sunlight  and amazing weather, and live life to its' fullest in celebration of our unique circumstances.

This year's celebration started on Saturday, June 16 and will go through this coming weekend, ending on Sunday, June 24. A few of the week's festivities include midnight shopping and 24 hour golf tournaments, and just get more notorious as the week progresses. On Saturday, June 23, Fairbanks will host the Midnight Sun Run, a 10 kilometer race through the heart of the city. It is open to people of all ages, and includes a costume contest. It might sound a little strange, but let me tell you, watching people run through the city dressed as their favorite super heroes or CanCan dancers is a sight that everyone needs to see! The Run is a wonderful family event as well, with families coming together and getting active.

The Midnight Sun Run was made extraordinary on a personal level, when nearly five years ago when my grandfather-in-law, 80 years old at the time, and his daughter, a survivor of an extreme case of meningitis in which she lost her legs and several other appendages, completed the race. It was inspiring to see these two amazing people persevere despite their perceived limitations.

The major sporting event of the summer is the Midnight Sun Baseball Game, played by the Fairbanks Goldpanners. Tonight's game will be the 107th Classic game, and will start at 10:30 p.m. and last throughout the night. Children especially love this game because they not only get to go to a baseball game, but stay up into the wee hours of the morning.

The last major event of the festivities is the Midnight Sun Festival, on Sunday, June 24th. The all-day event will close down every major street in downtown Fairbanks, and house hundreds of booths and activities. Live music, competitions, a variety of food and shopping is free to the thousands of people who will commence in the city's center as we celebrate the sunshiny day. It is a fun-filled day for not only the residents of Fairbanks, but the visiting tourists as well.

Alaska is definitely a place of mixed reviews, but being born and raised here, and living "outside" (meaning in a state other than Alaska) for 5 years, I have to say that I love it here! Alaska is truly unique, and getting the opportunity to celebrate the beautiful earth that God created for us to live in is one that I am happy to be a part of. So this June 21st - get out and enjoy the longest day of the year by doing something unique, safe and fun, even if you can't be a part of the Midnight Sun festivities.

Visit the Midnight Sun Festival for more information on the entertainment and activities.
Information on the Goldpanners and the Midnight Sun Baseball game.
Visit the Fairbanks Visitor's Bureau for more information on my hometown!