2021 Seward July 4th Festival Guide

Seward’s 2021

JULY 4 FESTIVAL th

July 4th Festival Schedule

2 | F E S T I VA L S C H E D U L E

2021 JULY 4TH FESTIVAL GUIDE

Every year on July 4th weekend, Seward is flooded with thousands of fun-loving people.

Whether you come to watch the fireworks, experience the parade, or eat and shop your way through all the vendor booths, you are sure to have a great time!

It’s Time to Celebrate!

WELCOME TO SEWARD, ALASKA FOR THE 2021 JULY 4TH FESTIVAL! Seward is celebrating the 4th of July in 2021 and invites visitors to join us for a one-of-a-kind 4th of July celebration.

This July 4th will be a different celebration than in preCOVID years, but we are anticipating just as much fun across the long holiday weekend, with the annual Seward July 4th Festival running from Thursday, July 1 to Monday, July 5.

The Mount Marathon Race, traditionally run on July 4th, will take place on July 7th this year to mitigate COVID-19 concerns and ensure an exciting race for all participants.

To celebrate this year, join us in historic downtown Seward and enjoy your favorite Alaska food carts, makers and vendors throughout the weekend. From downtown to the harbor, be sure to take in all of the weekend’s special events, activities, live music, and of course, people watching!

Spend a day strolling historic downtown streets where merchants and vendors sell Alaska-made wares, and your favorite food carts offer everything from corn fritters to gyros, deep-fried onions to traditional cotton candy.

Saturday night, pick a good spot along the waterfront and settle in. Wave at the boat parade, as vessels of all sizes 2021 JULY 4TH FESTIVAL GUIDE

travel from the Seward Boat Harbor south to the Alaska SeaLife Center and back, followed by the stunning Fourth of July Fireworks Display presented by the Seward Chamber of Commerce. The show starts at midnight, the only time it gets dark enough to light up the sky!

On Sunday at 1:00 p.m. join us for a community favorite— the annual 4th of July Parade. The streets are cleared, so be sure to stake your claim to a piece of sidewalk along the route and enjoy the different floats from floats from the many groups, associations, clubs and non-profits that make Seward an amazing place to live!

While you’re in town, take a walk along Resurrection Bay, hike some of our less insane trails and enjoy what Seward is all about—getting outside, exploring and having fun with friends and family! The Seward Community Health Center encourages everyone to Play Hard and Stay Safe, this summer.

In a small town like ours, you’re certain to run into a familiar or friendly face. Whether it’s your first time in Seward or your 50th!—we’re happy you’re here. This iconic Alaska tradition is made possible by the generous support of all our partners and volunteers. Please thank them and support our partners’ businesses!

H A PPY J U LY 4T H | 3

Alaska Girls Kick Ass Alaska Soft Serve Co. Alpine Fit Army National Guard Construction Machinery Industrial The Corn Crepes de Paris Deb’s Upcycled Designs Dippin’ Dots Fishing for Art Hot Dogs à la Carte Kona Ice La Joya Laser Art Alaska Megatron Off-Road Adventure Original Doodle Body Art The Original Gourmet Ice Cream Bars Peninsula Axe Throwing SEWARD AIRPORT Resting Birch Face Rippin’ Wristlets SeaView Sipping Streams Tea Company Wisconsin Cheese Store A IR P O R Yukon Concessions T RD

SEWARD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CVB & VISITOR CENTER 2001 SEWARD HIGHWAY VISITSEWARD@SEWARD.COM 907. 224.8051 Follow us @visitseward and share your #sewardstories

CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL RAILROAD DOCK

Red White & Blue Goes Green

RAILROAD DEPOT

I

J H

Q E

F

K L G

P D C O NM B A S

HARBOR MASTER STATION

G

C ST

D ST

TWO LAKES TRAIL

N 0’

500’

1000’

1500’

2021 JULY 4TH FESTIVAL GUIDE

A ST

S HARBO R

B ST

N HARBO R

LAGOON

VAN BUREN

4 | F E S T I VA L M A P

T

G

Reusable water bottles and recyclable aluminum water bottles are highly recommended. Fill-up stations are available at several locations around town.

We appreciate your help keeping Seward clean and green during our Four th of July festivities!

X

PHEONIX R D

SpecialSEWARD recycling containers VISITOR from Sustainable Seward will CENTER be available downtown for festival goers to responsibly dispose of aluminum, plastic and cardboard.

SEWARD BOAT HARBOR

Z

E T AV

ON AVE SEA LI

...and more!

POR

WARD TARY ORT

festival vendors

FLOAT PARADE ROUTE

BOAT PARADE ROUTE

WALKING & BIKING PATH

FREE PUBLIC WIFI

HIKING TRAIL

PUBLIC RESTROOMS

JULY 4TH FESTIVAL AREA

RECYCLING STATIONS

RAILROAD

WATER REFILL STATIONS

boat parade This year, on the eventing of Saturday, July 3, specators along the Seward water front will be treated to a fun new addition to the July 4th Festival line-up - a boat parade!

Wave at the vessels as they pass on their journey from the Seward Boat Harbor to the Alaska SeaLife Center and back, and cheer on the captains, crew and passengers as they put on a show.

The boat parade will begin at 10:00 p.m. and will take approximately an hour for the full line-up of watercraf t to make the route.

resurrection bay

fireworks display

WATERFRONT PARK & PLAYGROUND

The midnight f ireworks display begins at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, July 4th.

SEWARD COMMUNITY LIBRARY & MUSEUM

RV & CAMPING

SEWARD JULY 4th FESTIVAL

BALLA INE BLVD

SIXTH AVE

ADAMS ST

FIFTH AVE

JEFFERSON ST

MADISON ST

MONROE ST

POST OFFICE

THIRD AVE SECOND AVE

SOUTH TO LOWELL POINT & TONSINA TRAILHEAD LOWELL PT

FIRST AVE

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL

For a shor t period, the streets are cleared as the parade makes its way through Seward’s historic downtown.

ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER

WASHI NGTON

FOURTH AVE

JULY 4TH parade

. RO

AD

KAWABE PARK

MOUNT MARATHON HIKER’S TRAIL

2021 JULY 4TH FESTIVAL GUIDE

Almost ever y organization in town contributes a f loat, including Bear Ceek Volunteer Fire Depar tment, Seward Fire Depar tment, and the American Legion.

This year, the parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 4th.

See the parade route here in orange.

F E S T I VA L M A P | 5

PC: RHONDA BOHART PHOTOGRAPHY

Mini Mount Marathon Race Created in 1989 by Kim and Skip Reierson as a way to involve their 2-year-old daughter in Seward’s Fourth of July festivities, the annual Mini Mount Marathon plants the seeds for new generations of young Mount Marathon racers.

Open to children ages 2 to 6—over the past 30 years, thousands of children have participated, and many have gone on to race in the junior and senior divisions.

Today, the mini race is a beloved Fourth of July tradition and one of the most anticipated events of the day. Skip and Kim send nearly 200 kids across the start line each year, a feat that is possible thanks to a dedicated group of partners.

Petro Marine has been a sponsor for the Mini Mount Marathon Race since the beginning, each year supporting the race and providing small toys for the racers.

A core group of longtime volunteers makes sure the mini race goes off without a hitch.

Getting Around Town Visitors are encouraged to carpool or enjoy a scenic train ride from Anchorage to reduce the amount of traffic in town around the Fourth of July. Once here, hop on our free shuttle—maps are available at the Visitor Center—call a taxi, or rent a bike to get around. If you do have a car, park legally and avoid blocking private driveways.

For summer 2021, the City of Seward Free Shuttle will operate from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the first and last stops being at the Seward Railroad Depot. The 5-mile route takes about 30 minutes for the shuttle to complete. Be sure to look for the Seward City Tours bus with FREE SHUTTLE printed in red, and to use the designated shuttle stops.

Use this QR code to view the FREE SHUTTLE route map on seward.com.

Seward is compact and easy to navigate. The majority of activities and attractions are found within one mile of the boat harbor, so walking and biking—especially along the waterfront path— are quite feasible. Many hotels, lodges, and tour operators offer complimentary shuttles.

To scan hover over the code with your smart phone camera and then click on the link.

6 | M I N I M O U N T M A R AT H O N

2021 JULY 4TH FESTIVAL GUIDE

July 4th Fireworks Display 2021 Partners GOLD

SILVER

FIREWORKS The 2019 Fourth of July Fireworks Display is presented by the Seward Chamber of Commerce.

The fireworks will launch at midnight from the Harbor Uplands, near the Mariners Memorial. You can spot them from all over town, but some favorite viewing spots include the Waterfront Park, Seward Boat Harbor or on a boat in the bay.

BRONZE

2021 JULY 4TH FESTIVAL GUIDE

F I R E WO R K S D I S PL AY PA R T N E R S | 7

8 | BL AHBL AHBL AH

2021 MOUNT MARATHON RACE GUIDE