Homer blooms on the 4th of July
Published 9:30 pm Monday, July 7, 2025
Homer bloomed on a hot, sunny Fourth of July Friday as community members and visitors alike packed in together on Pioneer Avenue for the annual parade and festivities. This year’s event theme, “Bloom Homer Bloom,” honored the city’s sixth annual Peony Celebration, which began on July 1 and will run through Aug. 17, and parade participants turned up in their best floral style.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the Homer Chamber of Commerce, who organizes the parade, called it a “true celebration of Homer’s creativity, color and community spirit.”
Rita Jo Schoultz, founder and owner of Alaska Perfect Peony, served as the parade grand marshal. Chris and Zoe Story returned as emcees at the Bay Realty judging station; Bernie Giffard served as emcee at the judging station located at the Art Shop Gallery.
Parade winners were chosen from among this year’s participants in a number of categories. Best Performing Arts went to “Bee the Change,” a group pulled together by Burning Basket organizer Mavis Muller, who buzzed down Pioneer Avenue in bright costumes and carrying positive messages for the crowd.
“Best Cars” and “Best Use of Theme” went to the Pratt Museum, who put together a display of the museum’s perennial poppies and historic Harrington Cabin.
“Best Animal Entry” went to the Alaska Stars Drill Team and the Homer Little League Team won in the kids’ category. “Best in Show” went to recent Homer transplant, Rump’s BBQ from Palestine, Texas.
Also given out this year were the Sentimental Favorite and Red Lantern awards. In an email to Homer News on Monday, chamber executive director Brad Anderson explained that the chamber has used these categories in the past as a way to recognize parade entries that “don’t easily fit the different categories.”
Homer’s American Legion Post 16 was chosen as this year’s Sentimental Favorite. In addition to members of the Legion that formed a color guard to march in the parade, lifetime Legion member Bill Sheldon drove a refurbished WWII jeep and was accompanied by youth, whose parents are American Legion members, dressed in WWII-style uniforms.
The Pratt Museum was also awarded the Red Lantern for their “Poppies of the Pratt” float.
“The Sentimental Favorite is chosen by the judges at the Bay Realty location, and this year, it is to acknowledge the veterans in the group and the historical nature involved with their entry,” Anderson wrote. “The Red Lantern is an award selected by the second judging stand at the Art Shop Gallery and those judges were very impressed with the work that went into creating the Pratt Museum float and how it fit the theme. The Red Lantern name comes from an award that the Iditarod started years ago.”
For a full list of parade participants and additional photos, find the Homer Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.
Anchor Point also hosted their annual Fourth of July parade on Friday at noon, organized by the Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221. More than 30 participants joined in this year’s parade, from local organizations and businesses like the Chapman Eagles or Anchor Point Food Pantry to individual residents walking or driving classic cars. A community cookout at the VFW followed the parade; the VFW also hosted a number of other community events during the holiday weekend.
