Wrangell’s Fourth of July festivities start in four weeks, with a lot of planning — and fundraising — still to come.

Ticket sales to raise money for the Fourth started at a community kickoff event on Sunday, with royalty candidate Kalee Herman planning to go door to door throughout the community to sell the $5 raffle tickets for a chance to win cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000.

The chamber of commerce decided to raise the ticket price from last year’s $1.

The cost of this year’s fireworks is covered by last year’s chamber-sponsored fundraising raffle. The chamber works a year ahead to raise money for the fireworks and its own operating expenses.

Herman said she wants to knock on every door in town over the next four weeks, making a return visit if no one is home.

Rather than run food booths to raise money as royalty contestants have done in past years, Herman will rely on straight ticket sales and partnerships with restaurants and other food sellers in town.

“Each restaurant will do their own thing for me,” she said, such as designating a special day of the week to donate a percentage of proceeds to Fourth fundraising or a similar revenue-sharing plan.

Sweet Tides, Marine Bar, Hungry Beaver, Stikine Cafe, L&L Captain and Crew, Javier’s Mexican Food, Elks, Wolf Shack and Ae’s Thai food have already signed up.

She also plans to hold a couple of bingo nights and conduct raffles for a barbecue grill, a TV and an inflatable kayak to raise funds.

While Herman is selling tickets for the chamber fundraiser, Joan Sargent, of St. Frances Animal Rescue, is pulling together the schedule of events for the holiday celebration. 

As of last week, the crazy craft and Big Wheel races still needed organizers and sponsors, she said.

A sponsor for the kids games was tentative. “They are really important,” Sargent said. “Lots and lots of kids show up.”

After the chamber decided last year to limit its organizing role to only the fireworks and parade, St. Frances took over the coordinating job for all the other events.

Sargent has called organizers of last year’s Fourth events. “My main question was, ‘Are you willing to take it on this year?’”

But some people have moved out of town or taken on other jobs and are not able to volunteer the hours, she said.

The Salvation Army stepped up to manage the egg toss and will help St. Frances with the annual dog show.

There will be no remote-controlled boat races this year but the real boat races are on the schedule for the afternoon of July 3.

Sponsors are responsible for fundraising to cover their expenses, such as any prizes.

“This year, you’re going to be on your own,” Sargent said. “If you sponsored an event last year, step forward.”

Anyone willing to help can call Sargent at 907-874-4593 or email her at jjsargent143@gmail.com.

The holiday displays will start with the Red, White and Blue Fair of homemade items which will go on display at the Nolan Center on Saturday, June 27, and will be up through the Fourth of July, Sargent said. Entries are due at noon June 26 at the center.

Quilts also will be displayed in store windows around town that week.

The Fred Angerman Jr. 3-on-3 basketball tourney is scheduled for July 1 at the Kyle Angerman Playground, with the Freedom Fling disc golf tournament July 2 at Muskeg Meadows Golf Course.

Scarp fish derbies — for youth and adults — are planned for the early evening on July 2, with all of the proceeds going to Wrangell Burial Assistance.

While scheduling a long list of activities for July 2-4, organizers need to ensure the City Dock is clear of events on July 4 so that the technicians can set up the barge for the fireworks show that evening.

The logging show will stick with its usual day of July 4, Sargent said.

She is working with the borough to ensure access to the dock for fireworks setup and to accommodate the cruise ships that will be in port.

“The window is tight this year,” she said.

The schedule includes the Star Seeker on July 1, with 224 berths; the Noordam on July 2, with room for 1,924 passengers; the Viking Orion on July 3, with 930 berths; and the American Constitution for an overnight stay July 3-4, with 170 berths.

The Seaborn Encore is scheduled in town on July 5, with 380 berths.

No Fourth of July events are planned for July 5, a Sunday, Sargent said.

Don’t forget the pies

And for bakers who plan ahead, the community sorority Beta Sigma Phi is asking for donated pies — or donated ingredients for someone else to make a pie — to sell at the group’s annual pie sale fundraiser on July 4.

All proceeds will go to the Teddy Bear Project, which provides the plush animals to children in trauma situations such as emergency hospitalization, house fires or boating accidents.

Call 907-305-0007 to make a donation. Free pie tins are available for bakers.