FUR RONDY!! Wow! The festivities begin in only two days! I am going to be driving the 55 miles (one way) to Anchorage more than once over the next couple of weeks - Fur Rondy in Anchorage is simply NOT to be missed! It is our far-north version of Carnival in Louisiana, but without the silly necklaces.
Instead of necklaces, we have beaver boots, toasty-warm silver fox hat (real or fake, your choice ;), seal-skin gloves ... and snow games like snow-shoe baseball and the "Running of the Reindeer!" <L>
Beer and wine tastings abound, restaurants and stores are crowded with fun-seekers. There are activities for everyone - young and old alike ... and it continues for nearly three WEEKS! Huge ice sculptures are planned, carved, sometimes painted ... and other times melt, but are enjoyed never the less. There is so much more! Pop over to the Alaska Site for the full article on Fur Rondy from it's hopeful rural beginnings to it's now world famous dog sled sprint races!
Food, fun and games! Come for Rondy ... and STAY for the Iditarod! The last Great Race begins just as Fur Rondy is winding down - you could stay for an entire month and not run out of activities to watch or participate in. What a great way to chase winter blues out and reinvigorate yourself to face the last dregs of what is always a loooong, dark winter.
FUR RONDY is a BLAST!! It's a time of silliness, playfulness and letting go of the seriousness of winter. If you can't make it up here this year, plan to come next winter. Alaska is GORGEOUS in winter - photo ops alone make it worth the trip. I have a full article up on the Alaska Site about Fur Rondy, even listing some of the more unique games and fun activities. Check it out!
Any questions? I LOVE finding answers for even the silliest questions. :)
Cheers,
Deb Frost, Alaska Editor (in disguise because my lap-top won't recognise my normal User Name <arrgghh!>. Still, it IS me. :)