This weekend brings the annual Winter Carnival Parade — let’s hope for more sunshine and less snowflakes! Don’t miss the excitement on Saturday at noon — grab your chairs and blankets and thermoses and line up on Pioneer Avenue for a fun and frosty spectacle. For other happenings this week, check out these Best Bets!

BEST KIDS’ SCIENCE BET: The Homer Public Library and the Pratt Museum will cohost Fossils for Kids on Friday, Feb. 7 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at HPL. Are your kids curious about the early fauna and flora of Homer? Join HPL youth librarian Cinda and Pratt Museum curator Maghan to learn about fossils you can see and touch—plus take part in a fun activity! This event is intended for elementary-aged youth; registration is required. For questions, email cnofziger@ci.homer.ak.us. Register at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library. 500 Hazel Ave.

BEST CURLING BET: The Homer Curling Club invites you to learn to curl on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Kevin Bell Arena. This event is free, but registration is required as space is limited. No experience necessary; this event is intended for adults ages 18 and up. Register at shorturl.at/qgsUb. For questions, email contact@homercurling.com. 3150 Homer Spit Road.

BEST CRANIUM CUP BET: Registration is now open for the sixth annual Cranium Cup hosted by the Homer-Kachemak Bay Rotary Club. This event, part of Homer’s Winter Carnival celebration, will happen Saturday, Feb. 8 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Alice’s Champagne Palace. Teams of up to six members or individuals can register online at homerrotary.org for an evening of trivia, fun, and prizes. Participants also can register at the event. Registration fees are $100 per team or $20 per individual. Money raised from the Cranium Cup helps support Rotary-sponsored improvements to Homer parks and other activities. For more information, call Griffard at 717-319-2653 or email griffbfgak@gmail.com. 195 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST HEALTH AND WELLNESS BET: Join South Peninsula Hospital for Wellness Wednesdays, a free evening of health education, food and yoga held weekly on Wednesdays at Kachemak Bay Campus from 5:30-7:30 p.m. On Feb. 12, Jay Bechtol, CEO of South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services, will present “Talking with Your Children About Mental Health.” Bechtol’s discussion will be followed by an hour of yoga with Kendal Chandler. For more information, visit the SPH Facebook page or contact wellness@sphosp.org or 907-235-0285. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST SMALL TOWN NOMINATIONS BET: Homer has been nominated a second time for Best Small Town Arts Scene in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards! Homer ranked #4 last year with the help of everyone who went out and voted—now the Homer Chamber of Commerce asks for your votes again to help Homer take the No. 1 spot this time! Community members can vote once daily through Monday, Feb. 17. Let’s keep Homer on the map as an arts destination, and show the world what makes this town so special! Find more information on the HCOC Facebook page. Cast your vote for Homer every day at tinyurl.com/2t8b79sr.

BEST LIFELONG LEARNING NOMINATIONS BET: The Friends of the Homer Public Library are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Lifelong Learners. Each year, FHL honors one adult community member and one youth who has shown endless commitment to acquiring an exceptional skill or knowledge. Nomination forms are available at HPL or online at the FHL website. Nominations must be received by Friday, Feb. 21. The FHL Lifelong Learning Celebration will take place on Saturday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. 500 Hazel Ave.