Seldovia, a town of just under 300 people, hosted nearly 800 over the weekend, according to Mary Glover, Seldovia Chamber of Commerce president and Fourth of July chair. "I was told that the airport was over 90 percent full, and that is extraordinary for us."
Despite perfect weather, calm seas and visits by former Governor Jay Hammond and current Lt. Governor Loren Leman, the crowds that swelled the streets of this small town last year could not be matched.
"We had maybe two-thirds the crowd we did last year," said Glover, who was nonetheless pleased with the turnout.
For many people, the day began at the Seldovia Firehouse where volunteers served up a blueberry pancake breakfast to a long line of folks. Proceeds from the breakfast benefited the volunteer fire department and Emergency Medical Services.
Many folks in line for breakfast had good reason for their big appetites, having participated in the "Salmon Shuffle Foot Race" earlier that morning. The 5K race drew a cross-section of pedestrians ranging from sprinters to dog walkers.
Even with the late start, Seldovia's children brightened things up as they paraded through the center of town on ATVs, trikes, bikes and strollers, crepe paper streaming and balloons bouncing.
Most of the town's visitors came from the Homer area. Others, like Margarita Salamanca, came from Bolivia at the suggestion of a friend.
"I am so glad I came," she said. "This is the most lovely place I've seen in Alaska."
Alan Heavirland, of Seward, came to escape what he called "the chaos" of that town's notorious celebrations.
"I was here in August last year, and when I heard about the activities I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to be on the Fourth," Heavirland said.
One of the most recognizable visitors in town was Hammond, on hand as the honorable "Old Crab" of this year's Old Crab of the Year Auction. The auction, which drew a considerable crowd, impressed the former governor.
"There are more people in my eyesight than voted me governor," Hammond said.
Darlene Crawford, a Seldovia resident, topped all bids, shelling out $750 for the opportunity to have lunch with the former governor and his wife, Bella.
"I may not be the most charming lunch guest, but you'll like my wife," Hammond told her. "She's made me what I am today, but don't hold that against her."
Following the auction, Native American and Celtic dancers took the stage. Between performances cakes and pies were raffled off to benefit the Fourth of July fund for the 2004 celebration. Several contests followed, from foot races to raw egg tossing and Spam carving.
As crowds flowed from one contest to the next, many local artists attempted to catch their attention with displays along Main Street. Carver Craig Higgy and potter Dede Higgy have displayed their work during the Fourth of July in Seldovia off and on for more than 26 years.
Another artist buzzed away at a spruce stump with a chainsaw before a crowd of onlookers. Toby Craft, a 25-year Seldovia resident, began carving with chainsaws about two years ago, and according to his wife Elaine, the Fourth of July accounts for a major percentage of his yearly sales.
But, she said, the holiday has another significance for them.
"We came here for the Fourth of July 26 years ago and fell in love with the place," she said. "The next year we bought some property sight unseen and came to live. We just love it here, and the Fourth marks a very special time for us."
In another Main Street booth, Peggy Boscacci, Chamber of Commerce secretary, was selling numbered ducks for $10 apiece. Later in the afternoon the ducks were launched in the harbor on the incoming tide. The first one up the slough and under the bridge won a percentage of the sale proceeds for its owner.
"It's a pretty popular event," said Boscacci. "I sold every ticket I had hours in advance."
The lucky duck, purchased by Jordan Cameron, netted the winner over $1,000.
At the harbor master's office, Maryanne Agli, Ineke Buchman and Susan Carlough directed traffic with a loudspeaker, keeping the steady flow of boaters in order.
"This is pretty much the busiest time of year for us," said Agli.
Agli said the influx of boaters had the craft rafting up as many as three deep in the harbor at times.
The culmination of daytime events took place in the harbor with the log-rolling and canoe-jousting competitions. These events by far drew the largest crowds of the day, including Craig Higgy, who abandoned his art booth to watch.
"I really get a kick out of the canoe jousting," he said. "I fell into that water once when I was fishing. I don't ever need to do that again, but I love watching those suckers make that long cold swim back to shore." All in all, Glover pronounced the day a success.
"We're very pleased with the turnout and the participation by all people who supported this event in both contributions and physical labor," she said. "Once again, Seldovians pulled together to make a wonderful event happen."
By 11 a.m. the parade was gearing up on Main Street. But just before the floats began to roll, sirens were heard and Alaska State Trooper vehicles raced through town, responding to an accident at the Seldovia airport (See related story, page 3).
We encourage you to add your comments. To prevent spam, comments with links are manually approved during the normal business day. Please be respectful of others with your comments, bear in mind anyone in the community may be reading your comments.
