Juneau's Fourth of July Festivities

The Fourth of July in Juneau is a BIG DEAL.  There are so many events taking place throughout the community that it's difficult to choose how to maximize your time.  I opted to start my morning with a pancake feed hosted by the downtown fire department, then I strolled over to Egan Drive for my first time watching the Juneau parade. 

In years past, I've only gone to the parade near my home on Douglas Island, so the downtown Juneau parade was a real treat.  I wrapped up the morning with a hot dog fest at my church, Resurrection Lutheran.  After traffic subsided, I mosied back over to the island for the Douglas parade, a real slice of small-town Alaska.

The Fire Department's Pancake Feed was terrific, with 50% of proceeds benefiting the families of the fallen firefighters from Prescott, Arizona.

The sun and blue skies finally peeked through the clouds.  Such a blessing there was no rain on the parade!

The hot dog fest at my church was very well attended.  It was a nice tribute to one of the church's members, Bill Johnson, who passed away recently.   

With Pastor Sue.  She's a gem! 

Fourth of July, Small-Town Alaska Style

There's a whole slew of Fourth of July events in Juneau each year.  But none are as unique and Alaskan as the parade on Douglas Island.  Check out my photos, and don't miss the video below - the kiddo's expression at minute 2:18 is PRICELESS!

To get to the parade on Douglas Island, one must first drive across the Juneau-Douglas bridge.  OR you can run across it, like these fellas. 

With Parade Grand Marshal, Jeff Brown.  He's a legend!

The view toward "downtown" Douglas.

Cozying up to my friend, Kathy, who's wearing the beautiful kuspuk my mother made especially for her.  She looks amazing!

Photo of me strolling after the parade, courtesy of my good friend, Kerry Howard. 

Steaks before the hot grill.  Yummo!

I was craving The South - so I made an apple crumb cobbler.  And by "made," I mean I opened a cardboard box and popped this in the oven.  It was awesome. 

A deliciously sweet ending to a tremendously awesome day, celebrating our nation's independence.  MERICA!

Cruise Ship = Pot of Gold

Single and double rainbows blanketed downtown Juneau skies this afternoon.  For OVER AN HOUR.  On days like these, it reminds me: you can't have the rainbow without the rain. 

Partial view of double rainbow, as seen from Douglas Island. 

It kept getting brighter and brighter.

Gastineau Channel + yacht + rainbow = Alaska's playground

A rainbow and a massive cruise ship, as seen from The Alaska Club, a Juneau fitness center.

View of the double rainbow from my treadmill at The Alaska Club.  I LOVE Alaska!

Fireworks at 11:59PM

Juneauites take the Fourth of July very seriously.  Our traditional fireworks celebration begins on July 3 at 11:59pm instead of July 4th as generally done in the Lower 48.  It's held at midnight because that's usually the only time it is dark enough in Southeast Alaska to see the fireworks in the night sky. It's a unique part of life in Alaska, kinda like playing baseball at midnight.

2013 was my first year viewing the festivities from downtown Juneau; in previous years I've watched the fireworks from Douglas Island, which offers a whole other view, with a panorama of downtown Juneau.  Each year, a barge is floated out to the Gastineau Channel, between downtown Juneau and Douglas Island, and the waterway is popular with fishing boats, skiffs, and cruise ships. 

The Juneau area is notorious for fog and rain, but that didn't stop the party.  The fireworks schedule wasn't deterred by the rainy evening.  Fireworks were fairly visible in the night sky, and the reflection on the water of the boats, massive cruise ships, and colorful fireworks was remarkable and breathtaking.

Hope you enjoy my photos and videos of this spectacular evening.  Be sure to listen to the boats and ships blaring their horns in minute 3:08 of my video below!