Story last updated at 5/11/2011 - 12:38 pm
JUNEAU - The second annual Juneau Maritime Festival will be held Saturday, May 14 at Marine Park Plaza and the surrounding areas. A fun day last year for kids and adults alike, the Festival returns highlights from last year and adds new events as well.
Coast Guard Station Juneau along with Air Station Sitka will bring their helicopter over for the day. Landing around 11 a.m. at the Subport , they will open it for public touring then lift off again later in the afternoon to carry out a rescue demonstration in the channel. Once again, the Marine Exchange of Alaska's Juneau Station has coordinated this event in the spirit of community appreciation.
The Maritime Festival is excited to work with local Tribal Leaders who will assist with presenting an opening ceremony welcoming dignitaries and other participants. The One People Canoe Society promises to bring their Native canoes to the event for public display, leading up to a canoe race exhibition.
Taku Smokeries and Glacier Seafoods will do open-air fillet demonstrations during the early part of the Festival as well, with the products going right onto the huge grill overseen by folks from Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and a group of volunteer grillmasters. Come sample the results, along with a topping or two from Alaskan Brewery's "Cooking With Beer" recipe book.
Mix up a quart of a favorite marinade or topping for salmon that you think might impress Laraine Derr of Chez Alaska Cooking School and her panel of acclaimed judges for the Maritime Marinade Contest. Entry forms are available at the Festival website. Come to the Festival for lunch as well, with a variety of food vendors selling fresh hot or cold items.
Kids will enjoy hands-on activities like dry land flycasting sponsored by the 4H Fishing Club, the touch tank of DIPAC, Lego tables from STEM and more. Don't forget to take them over to the boat tours, storytellers and music as well.
Step onboard a variety of vessels as Goldbelt, Inc opens their dock and a group of generous captains let down their gangplanks for you to come on board. The restored 1927 tugboat Pirates Pride will be down at the IVF dock as well. Here is a chance to see a variety of working boats up close and personal!
Looking for Alaska Airlines tickets, Tracy Arm boat tours, Taku Lodge trips or even chartering an Allen Marine vessel for an office or company celebration? Bid on these items and more at the Silent Auction, taking place only during the Festival between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The day will be a busy one in the downtown area, with Museum Day festivities as well as The Canvas Art Studio's open studio event that day. For more information, visit www.juneaumaritimefestival.org.
- Juneau Economic Development Council
