The 75th Annual Fur Rendezvous will begin on Friday in Anchorage.The Rondy, as it's known, has been a fixture since 1936. It began as a celebration of the trappers and miners who came to Anchorage each winter for supplies. The "Trappers and Miners Ball" is still a featured event.
As the fur trade tapered off, the winter celebration continued. It features sled dog races (sprints, actually), a carnival, live entertainment, street vendors with everything from souvenirs to Rondy pins to food - some of the finest reindeer sausage available is served, and you can find those vendors by looking for the largest crowds. There will be craft fairs, Native artists, sales, fireworks, and something that was added only a couple of years ago: the Running of the Reindeer. Somewhat smaller than the bulls at Pamplona, it's still fun to see - and to participate.
Large portions of down
town will become a pedestrian mall, and the sled dog races always draw a crowd. My vantage point for watching won't be as good as in years past, when I managed property at the starting line - no rooftop viewing for me, but that's okay. Half the fun is mixing with the crowd.Let's see, some of the favorite events: the Frostbite Footrace, dogsled rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, the Miner's and Trapper's Charity Ball (and costume competition - one year it was all duct tape), snowshoe races, outhouse races, beer drinking championship, snow sculpture contest, and I mentioned the reindeer.
A few years ago, the Rondy had grown out of proportion - forgetting its roots - and was spread out all over Anchorage. Events were taking place miles apart, attendance dropped off, and the organizing committee was in the red.
But with a change of leadership, and a new director (Hi, Susan!), the Rondy has come roaring back & is showing a profit again.
It's a good, clean family-friendly event, and runs from Feb. 26 through March 7. For many, the highlight of the Rondy is the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. This year, it's Saturday, March 6.
Be there or be ... well, you know.
Photos downloaded from www.furrondy.net, via their offer of photographic galleries.
1 comment:
"It's a good, clean family-friendly event..."
My, my! How things have changed since the original rondevoues of the 1830s.
Sounds like a good way to get out of the cabin and blow off some steam after three months of winter. (Even if you haven't had much of a winter...yet.)
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