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| Furs ready for auction. |
Rondy began as a way to build a community out of the very small town of Anchorage and the surrounding areas. Deciding to host a 3 day sports tournament while the miners and trappers were in town to sell off their haul, the Father of Fur Rondy - Vern Johnson - created an event that spans over 80 years. It has grown to include so much more than skiing, hockey, youth sled dog race, and bonfire. For 10 days in late February and Early March Alaskans and tourists alike gather to celebrate in a festival like no other.
Today the festival hosts carnival rides, Native art and sport, World Championship Sled Dog Sprint Races, Fur Rondy on Ice, Snow Sculptures, fireworks, Running of the Reindeer, and SO much more! They still hold the fur auction, the Miners and Trappers Ball, there's a Melodrama. Options are endless and the days are packed. Most events are free to watch, and those that do require a fee for admittance the cost is not big. Some allow any and all to participate (like the Running of the Reindeer) and it's the most fun.
Iditarod's Ceremonial Start is normally held the final weekend of Rondy, but is not the final event. Some mushers even stick around to participate in the Running of the Reindeer (Seaveys have done it a few times, weirdos). If you're in Anchorage the weekend before Iditarod weekend (perhaps for the Jr. Iditarod?) you can catch the World Championship Sprint Dog Races. When the Iditarod was still in its early years, many Rondy race teams also ran the Iditarod.
So what events are must do's at Rondy?
The first weekend is the celebratory weekend. Beginning on Friday, there are event long exhibits like the photography contest, the snow sculpture championship. The Rondy Melodrama - which is a highlight for many Rondy fans - also begins and runs through the end of the 10 day event.
Rondy on Ice takes place on the weekends. This is put on by the local figure skating club, but once in a while they have guest stars. This is not Stars on Ice or Ice Follies level skating, but it's still cute and once in a while there's a surprisingly well done performance. Olympian Keegan Messing used to be the star of the show, but now that he's an international competitor Rondy takes place during his competition schedule.
The Alaska State Championship Snow Sculptures begin sculpting the first friday of Rondy, with judging typically on Sunday. These are works of art that only last so long. With our Rondy's becoming warmer, the sooner you view them the better. Visit Sunday around noon during the judging, when sculptures will look their finest.
The Frostbite Footrace is fun, and you can participate or cheer the runners on. Many dress up. It's in the snow, so if you're into something like that(I'm judging you). Typically the run happens on Saturday morning.
Following the Footrace is the Parade. This is another fun way to celebrate our past and our present. You will get to see all of the Fur Rondy royalty and they're dressed in, well, fur. Gorgeous furs. A lot of the crowd will be in furs as well. It is FUR Rondy, after all.
The Open World Championship Sled Dog Race is a 3 day event where the best sprint mushers compete in three 25-mile heats over three days. This may be bias showing, but this is probably the most exciting part of Fur Rondy. Unlike Iditarod, which is slow going to start off with and averaging 8mph, the sprint races are... well... more about speed. You can watch from downtown where all the events are happening, or you can go out onto the trail (like by the Native Health Campus, or Tozier Track where they turn around and head back into downtown).
And don't forget the FIREWORKS. These happen on the first Saturday of Rondy. You can see them from just about anywhere downtown. If you're looking for photo ops, shooting from the carnival with the lights of the rides in the foreground is fun, or go down to ship creek and shoot them with the snow sculptures. Locals also like "sunset park" on Government Hill, and if you want to get further out there's Earthquake Park/Point Woronzof for some awesome cityscape with fireworks photos.
During that weekend there are also the Outhouse Races, the Fur Auction, and the Snowshoe Softball Tournament.
If you're coming for the Iditarod start, and following the schedule I suggested in an earlier blog in this series, you'll most likely come in too late to catch the Rondy races. But! There's still SO MUCH to see and do at Rondy!
The second weekend has the Running with the Reindeer. This takes place on Saturday following the Iditarod Start (well, okay, not directly following, but...) This is a fun, safe event that is a parody of the Running of the Bulls over in Spain. There's no death involved for the reindeer at the end, and honestly it's more a "race the reindeer to the finish line" than it is a "run for your life you're about to be trampled." I think your fellow runners are more dangerous than Rudolph.
Saturday also hosts the Beard and Mustache championship. The men are serious about their facial hair, and some of the beards are legendary.
Whenever you come, there are events that happen continually.
The Melodrama is a local favorite. It is hilarious and is different every year, but it's always a good time. I hear they thrive on audience participation, and that there have been food fights in the past. This is a ticketed event, and tickets go fast.
The Native Arts Market is a must do. Even if you don't plan on buying anything chatting with the artists and looking at the artwork can be just as rewarding. Ask before you take photos as some artists frown on their art "going so cheap". Make sure to carve out enough time to really look at the craftsmanship of the beading, painting, and sculpting.
For a schedule of all the events, you can visit the official website or pick up a Rondy Guide. Most hotels will have them in their lobby free to their guests.
BEWARE - there are Keystone cops ALL OVER Anchorage during Fur Rondy checking to make sure that you are proudly wearing your Rondy button. If you are caught without the official button (which must be current year) then you will be taken to Rondy Jail where someone has to bail you out. You can also pay your own bail. This is one of the big fundraisers of Rondy. The buttons are collectible, and some are now worth some pretty nice dough. It's a small souvenir for your visit to Alaska.
Rondy is not an event you want to miss. Even if you just wander and take it in for a few minutes, spend time and learn a little bit about Alaska's idea of "fun".
Iditarod's Ceremonial Start is normally held the final weekend of Rondy, but is not the final event. Some mushers even stick around to participate in the Running of the Reindeer (Seaveys have done it a few times, weirdos). If you're in Anchorage the weekend before Iditarod weekend (perhaps for the Jr. Iditarod?) you can catch the World Championship Sprint Dog Races. When the Iditarod was still in its early years, many Rondy race teams also ran the Iditarod.
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| A team races into the finish of the 2010 Fur Rondy Sled Dog race. |
The first weekend is the celebratory weekend. Beginning on Friday, there are event long exhibits like the photography contest, the snow sculpture championship. The Rondy Melodrama - which is a highlight for many Rondy fans - also begins and runs through the end of the 10 day event.
Rondy on Ice takes place on the weekends. This is put on by the local figure skating club, but once in a while they have guest stars. This is not Stars on Ice or Ice Follies level skating, but it's still cute and once in a while there's a surprisingly well done performance. Olympian Keegan Messing used to be the star of the show, but now that he's an international competitor Rondy takes place during his competition schedule.
The Alaska State Championship Snow Sculptures begin sculpting the first friday of Rondy, with judging typically on Sunday. These are works of art that only last so long. With our Rondy's becoming warmer, the sooner you view them the better. Visit Sunday around noon during the judging, when sculptures will look their finest.
The Frostbite Footrace is fun, and you can participate or cheer the runners on. Many dress up. It's in the snow, so if you're into something like that
Following the Footrace is the Parade. This is another fun way to celebrate our past and our present. You will get to see all of the Fur Rondy royalty and they're dressed in, well, fur. Gorgeous furs. A lot of the crowd will be in furs as well. It is FUR Rondy, after all.
The Open World Championship Sled Dog Race is a 3 day event where the best sprint mushers compete in three 25-mile heats over three days. This may be bias showing, but this is probably the most exciting part of Fur Rondy. Unlike Iditarod, which is slow going to start off with and averaging 8mph, the sprint races are... well... more about speed. You can watch from downtown where all the events are happening, or you can go out onto the trail (like by the Native Health Campus, or Tozier Track where they turn around and head back into downtown).
And don't forget the FIREWORKS. These happen on the first Saturday of Rondy. You can see them from just about anywhere downtown. If you're looking for photo ops, shooting from the carnival with the lights of the rides in the foreground is fun, or go down to ship creek and shoot them with the snow sculptures. Locals also like "sunset park" on Government Hill, and if you want to get further out there's Earthquake Park/Point Woronzof for some awesome cityscape with fireworks photos.
During that weekend there are also the Outhouse Races, the Fur Auction, and the Snowshoe Softball Tournament.
If you're coming for the Iditarod start, and following the schedule I suggested in an earlier blog in this series, you'll most likely come in too late to catch the Rondy races. But! There's still SO MUCH to see and do at Rondy!
The second weekend has the Running with the Reindeer. This takes place on Saturday following the Iditarod Start (well, okay, not directly following, but...) This is a fun, safe event that is a parody of the Running of the Bulls over in Spain. There's no death involved for the reindeer at the end, and honestly it's more a "race the reindeer to the finish line" than it is a "run for your life you're about to be trampled." I think your fellow runners are more dangerous than Rudolph.
Saturday also hosts the Beard and Mustache championship. The men are serious about their facial hair, and some of the beards are legendary.
Whenever you come, there are events that happen continually.
The Melodrama is a local favorite. It is hilarious and is different every year, but it's always a good time. I hear they thrive on audience participation, and that there have been food fights in the past. This is a ticketed event, and tickets go fast.
The Native Arts Market is a must do. Even if you don't plan on buying anything chatting with the artists and looking at the artwork can be just as rewarding. Ask before you take photos as some artists frown on their art "going so cheap". Make sure to carve out enough time to really look at the craftsmanship of the beading, painting, and sculpting.
For a schedule of all the events, you can visit the official website or pick up a Rondy Guide. Most hotels will have them in their lobby free to their guests.
BEWARE - there are Keystone cops ALL OVER Anchorage during Fur Rondy checking to make sure that you are proudly wearing your Rondy button. If you are caught without the official button (which must be current year) then you will be taken to Rondy Jail where someone has to bail you out. You can also pay your own bail. This is one of the big fundraisers of Rondy. The buttons are collectible, and some are now worth some pretty nice dough. It's a small souvenir for your visit to Alaska.
Rondy is not an event you want to miss. Even if you just wander and take it in for a few minutes, spend time and learn a little bit about Alaska's idea of "fun".
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