Wrangell’s Tent City Days Festival kicks off this week. The festival, celebrating the city’s history from the Alaska gold rush, has been a long-running tradition in the community. However, it has seen a decline in public interest in recent years. Jillian Privett, one of the organizers behind the event this year, said she hopes to help revitalize the festival.
“Tent City Days has been going on for over 30 years, since I was a little kid,” she said.
Privett said that Tent City Days usually took place in February or March, but they decided to change dates this year to coincide with Alaska Day. This year’s festival will run from Oct. 15, today, to Oct. 18. The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed the look of the festival this year. Some events will be online-only, she said, and people are encouraged to adhere to safety guidelines when participating in live events.
Tent City Days has a long schedule of events, from today until this Sunday. Privett pointed out a few that she felt the public would be especially interested in.
The Cute Canines Virtual Dog Show is scheduled for today, Oct. 15, Privett said. The dog show has always been a popular part of the Tent City Days celebration. People are encouraged to enter their dogs for this year’s virtual show by today by emailing tentcitydays907@gmail.com.
Privett also pointed out the Food Cache Contest and the Trapper’s Market Best In Show as other events she was excited about. These are both scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17. The events call back to Wrangell’s time as a gold rush town, she said, where people relied heavily on preserved foods and handcrafted items. People are invited to submit their canned or otherwise preserved goods to the cache contest, and their handcrafted items to the Trapper’s Market, and show off their homemade goods.
Another popular event, planned for Oct. 17, is the Shady Lady Outdoor Ball. Privett said this will take place at the downtown pavilion starting at 6 p.m. Music will be provided by The Powers Band. She encouraged everyone to attend in face masks, but also in their “Alaska best.”
“Dress in your Alaska best,” Privett said. “Whatever you like to wear that makes you feel Alaskan.”
Other events in the Tent City Days Festival include the Alaska Day Fun Run, Three Bob’s Cribbage Tourney, and much more.
A full schedule of events, and more information about the festival, can be found on Facebook under “Wrangell Tent City Days Festival.” Privett said people could also find the schedules around town or they could call her at (907) 305-1095.
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