Chugiak-Eagle River’s Bear Paw Festival kicks off

Food, fun and heroes.

Abundance of all three is set for this year’s Bear Paw Festival slated for July 12 through 16 in downtown Eagle River.

The 32nd annual festival officially kicked off yesterday with the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce’s yearly Bear Paw Festival awards being announced at the organization’s luncheon.

This year’s theme of “SUPER BEAR! Saving one Alaska bear at a time!” is spread throughout the venue with the festival’s mascot “Chugi-Bear” dressed in a blue suit similar to that worn by Super Man with a big red “B” on his chest and a pair of Clark Kent like eyeglasses on his face.

“There is something for everyone,” Dana Patterson, executive director of the chamber, said.

Activity Wednesday night shifted to Chepo’s Mexican Restaurant with the annual buffet, handyman relay and the XtraTuf boot decorating completion. Across the alley at ReMax, the first ever Sourdough Truck Competition featured local versions of the truly “Alaskan” vehicle with trucks decorated in everything from antlers to fishing and hunting gear to mushing sleds and forget-me-not flowers and of course, a canine in tow as part of the new event’s requirements.

Today, the Golden Wheel Carnival opens at the Eagle River Commons. Carnival workers have been setting up the Chugiak-based operation featuring games and rides for all age and skill levels for more than a week. The carnival runs today from 2 to 9 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

A renewed Bear Paw Festival Pageant is slated for tonight at Chugiak High School at 7 p.m. Female and male contestants compete for prizes and local bragging rights – one guy will be chosen as Bear Paw Prince; one girl chosen as Bear Paw Princess. Admission is $5 and available at the door.

Friday’s activities include another new event for 2017: a Lego Competition sponsored by the Chugiak-Eagle River Women in Business as a way for locals to show off their creative spirit by designing their own Lego creations. No kits are being allowed in the competition, according to Wendy Wiltfong, owner of Feather Skin & Body Studio which is sponsoring the event on behalf of the CER WIB. The event is slated to be a fundraiser for the organization’s scholarship fund. Entries can be dropped off between 11 a.m and 1:30 p.m. with judging to occur between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Prizes for each age group are expected. The public can view the Lego creations from 2 to 4 p.m.

Other Friday activities include the annual Teddy Bear Tea in the Chief Alex Park alongside the Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest. The classic car show begins at 6 p.m. on Business Blvd in downtown Eagle River.

Saturday is a huge day for Bear Paw fans with the parade shutting down the bulk of downtown Eagle River by 10 a.m. for an 11 a.m. start. This year’s parade grand marshal is Virginia Laur-McMichael of the Chugiak Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. She is in her 25th year of service with the volunteer department and has 32 years of experience working in emergency services including work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She teaches fire and emergency services classes throughout Alaska and received the 2012 and 2016 EMS Provider award from the state.

The Bear Paw Classic 5K Run begins at the AutoZone in Eagle River at 10:15 a.m. The bicycle safety rodeo, a performance by the Alaska Moving Arts, the human foosball tournament and the Bear Paws Got Talent showcase all occur in the downtown area of Eagle River. The annual Slippery Salmon Olympics with its 40 teams of two members each takes over the mainstage area at 1:15 p.m. The uniquely Alaskan race is a two-member relay race requiring entrants to negotiate an obstacle course while carrying a whole “slipper salmon” in one hand and a server’s tray complete with a full glass of soda and an empty can in the other. The relay is timed and penalties are assessed if the glass of soda loses content below the designated fill line or if the empty can is not on the tray when the finish line is crossed. Local and state politicians often enter in the competition with its two lines of simultaneous action.

Sunday’s events include the Alaska Powerlifting competition at 9 a.m. at the transit center, the VCA Dog/Owner Look-a-Like contest at the Mainstage at 11:30 a.m.., a motorcycle show on Business Blvd, the annual running with the bear, an ice cream eating contest, the Chopped Salmon Throwdown and the Ididaduck race sponsored by the Eagle River Area Rotary.

The food court is open throughout the festival and its vendors offer up all sorts of Alaska yummies such as deep fried halibut, kettle corn , pork rinds, salmon quesadillas and shave ice to name a few.