Tent City Days to become celebration of 'all things Wrangell'

Event organizer Jill Privett is looking to make a positive change with Tent City Days.

In the past, the event celebrated the gold rush era, but Privett wants to focus more on “celebrating all things Wrangell, whether that be your love of the land, people, fishing, berry picking, etc.,” she said.

From Oct. 14-17, various in-person and virtual events will be held, such as the Gold Nugget Open Swim, Alaska Day Fun Run, Tent City Steak Night, a food cache contest, Shady Lady Saturday Night, Zoom Story Time, Fisherman’s Crawl and the Wild Woman’s Competition.

Privett organized last year’s Tent City Days in just a few weeks since she wasn’t sure if it would be held due to COVID-19. This year’s challenge has been finding people to help organize the event. Next year, the event will be called “Wrangell Days.”

“We are doing the best we can with as little help as possible,” Privett said. “Each year it seems like less and less people are willing to help out. There used to be a team of folks who put Tent City on, but now it’s basically me and whoever else steps up to volunteer.”

Privett said interest in the event has dwindled over the past few years, but she would like to see that interest renewed.

“Why does the Fourth of July have to be the only big event Wrangellites get excited for? If I had my way, we’d have a party every other month,” she said.

Along with the activities, food will be served. The Elks Lodge will serve burgers on the night of Oct. 15, steaks on the night of Oct. 16 and a brunch on Oct. 17. There will be burgers, cotton candy and Jonah’s famous lemonade with the Family Fun Day games Oct. 16 at Muskeg Meadows. And the high school volleyball team will be selling Russian pelmeni dumplings that night at the downtown pavilion.

To volunteer, or for more information, contact Privett at 907-305-1095, email tentcitydays907@gmail.com, or post on the Tent City Facebook page.