The Homer Hostel will open for the 2008 season at the end of April

On-going Events

Year Round -

First Friday Art Gallery Openings, 5-7pm the first Friday each month with featured artists at area-wide galleries

Feed the Fish, Tuesday’s & Friday’s, 4pm at the Pratt Museum, 235-8635

June thru August –

Farmers Market w/ local crafts too and sometimes live music - Sat 10-2(mid June through September) and Wed 4-6(mid July-Mid September)  The market starts in June with mostly stuff like potatoes,  then peaks in July and August with all kinds of greens, veggies, and salad stuff,  then in September there's apples too.  However,  throughout the season the farmers market is a fun place to visit with a great vibe!

Pratt Pods Art & Science programs, Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:00 pm at the Pratt Museum, 235-8635

The Object at Hand Mondays and Fridays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Pratt Museum. Meet with a Museum docent and take an even closer look at some of the unique objects in collections storage, 235-8635

Creatures of the Dock Tours Tuesday through Saturday. Center for Alaska Coastal Studies yurt on the Homer Spit, 235-6667

Weekly Children's Programs at Wynn Nature Center 235-6667 Pre-schoolers, Bio-kids (ages 5-10), Wynners Wilderness Survival (ages 7-10), and Wynners Passport Program (ages 8-12)

Alaska Wildlife Ranger-Led Talks & Walks Wednesdays and Fridays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961

Wildlife & Birding Hotspots Sundays & Mondays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961

Beachwalks Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961

Estuary Hikes Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961

Discovery Labs Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961

Historical Harbor Walking Tours - Days and times TBD

APRIL

All month Lower Gallery Pratt Museum: Jubilee! Student Art Show

Upper Gallery Pratt Museum: Concerning Climate Change: An Art and Science

Collaboration

18-26 Earth Week The following is a tentative schedule of events. Watch this calendar for days, locations and times:

• Arts Council art by students

• City Clean-up Day

• Bike/walk/carpool to work

• Green Home Tour

• Bioneers Movie Nights at Islands & Ocean Visitor Center

• Bird Walk

• Glacial Retreat Exhibit

• Earth Day concert

• Kids and Nature Workshop

• Carbon Footprint Analysis

• Forest walk

18 Third Annual Women of Distinction Awards Sponsored by South Peninsula Haven House. Call Peg Coleman at 235-7712 for additional information.

18 Opening: Kachemak Bay Campus Student Art Show 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Ptarmigan Arts.

26 Jubilee, Youth Spring Variety Show 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm at Mariner Theatre. Call Homer Council on the Arts for additional information, 235-4288.

TBA Annual Paul Banks Puppet Show Sponsored by Birth 2 Three. Call 235-6022 for additional information.

MAY

All month Lower Gallery Pratt Museum: Stewardship: How Humans Interact with the Environment

All month Upper Gallery Pratt Museum: Concerning Climate Change: An Art and Science Collaboration

All month Marine Gallery Pratt Museum: Live Aquaria, Gull Cam

1 Annual Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby begins Summer long fishing derby sponsored by the Homer Chamber of Commerce. Monthly cash prizes.

7 Kachemak Bay Campus Commencement Exercises 7:00 pm at the Mariner Theatre.

8-11 Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Theme: Shorebirds as International Ambassadors: Connecting Birds, Habitats and People. Keynote Speaker: Richard Crossley, co-author of The Shorebird Guide. This fun-filled weekend celebrates the annual return of hundreds and thousands of shorebirds as well as seabirds and woodland birds to Kachemak Bay. The Festival is geared towards birders of all ages and skills, with workshops and presentations, field events and entertainment for the entire family. Contact festival coordinator Christina Whiting 235-7740, fax 235-8766.

9-10 Anchor Point Auction and Salt Water King Tournament Sponsored by the South Peninsula Sportsman's Association. Time and place to be determined. Contact

9-11 Annual Kachemak Bay Quilters Show Homer Elks Lodge Call 235-2127 for more information.

11 Birder's Coffee at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961

11 Mother's Day Brunch at Land's End Resort. Contact Darrel Oliver at 235-0406 for more information.

22-26 Annual Kachemak Bay Sea Fest Combining the Kayak Festival, Wooden Boat Show and Seafair Safety rodeo into one great event! Featuring kayaking, boat exhibits and races, guided adventures, seminars, kid boat building, rescue demonstrations and workshops. Fun for all ages and skill levels. Call the Homer Chamber of Commerce for more information 235-7740.

23-26 Anchor Point Memorial Weekend Family Fun Festival Events include free cookouts, pancake breakfast, games for kids of all ages, teen and adult softball and home run derby, music and lots of fun. VFW and American Legion Memorial Day services at local cemeteries. Contact the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce at 235-2600 for more information.

24 Peterson Bay Day Tours Begin Guided tours across Kachemak Bay with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. Contact 235-667 for additional information.

29-June 1 Craft Invitational Chainsaw Carving Contest and Awards Call the Seldovia Chamber at 234-7525 for more details on this anticipated event.

31 Homer Yacht Club Memorial Day Race All races preceded by a Skipper's meeting at 11:00 am at "P" Dock 1:00 pm race start. Call 235-8503 for additional information.

JUNE

All month Lower Gallery Pratt Museum: Bear Cam! Live from McNeil River.

All month Upper Gallery Pratt Museum: Pratt Juried Art Exhibition

All month Marine Gallery Pratt Museum: Live Aquaria, Gull Cam

6-10 Kenai Peninsula Writer's Conference Lectures, workshops, panel presentations and readings with nationally recognized writers. Sponsored by the Kachemak Bay Campus, UAA. For more information call 235-7743.

7 Kids' Fishing Derby Big fish contest on Anchor River in the morning with casting contests, hot dog cookout and presentation of trophies in the afternoon. Open to all kids under the age of 16 free of charge. Contact Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce at 235-2600 for more information.

13 Wynn Nature Center Opening Potluck Kick-off event for season of guided and self-guided tours and weekly children's programs. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 235-5266

14 Homer Animal Friends 6th Annual "Strut Your Mutt" Dog Walk at the Homer High School. Contests, agility demonstrations, games and prizes. Call Pat at 235-3779 for additional information.

20-21 Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival Weekend of music across the Bay! Contact the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce for additional information, 234-7612.

20-22 Marine Vertebrate of Kachemak Bay Contact Kachemak Bay Campus, UAA, 235-7743 for additional information.

27 Garden to Gourmet Potluck at Wynn Nature Center Call Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies at 235-6667 for additional information.

27-29 Land's End Regatta / Homer Yacht Club Call Land's End Resort at 235-0400 or Bob Brant at 235-8503 for additional information.

28 Homer 10K Spit Run Sponsored by the Homer News, 235-7767

30-July 3 Junior Naturalist Science & Adventure Camp Session 1 for ages 9 to 12. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 235-6667.

JULY

All month Lower Gallery Pratt Museum: Bear Cam! Live from McNeil River

All month Upper Gallery Pratt Museum: Pratt Juried Art Exhibition

All month Marine Gallery Pratt Museum: Live Aquaria, Gull Cam

4 Fourth of July Parade & Community Celebration Contact the Homer Chamber of Commerce at 235-7740.

4 American Legion Auxiliary Carnival Games, food and fun for all ages! Call 235-8864 for additional information.

4 Anchor Point Community Independence Day Celebration A one day event to celebrate our nation's independence. Activities include duck race, parade, kids' coin hunt, cook-offs and a community picnic. Call the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce at 235-2600 for additional information.

4 Seldovia Community Fourth of July Celebration Contact the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce at 234-7612 for additional information.

5 Annual Independence Day Halibut Fishing Tournament One-day high stakes fishing tournament, sponsored by the Homer Chamber of Commerce, 235-7740.

5 Homer Yacht Club Independence Day Race Contact Bob Brandt at 235-8503 for information.

5-6 Beaches & Blossoms Weekend Discounted rate for the minus tide tours (-4.7 feet) across the Bay on Saturday. Special programs and free admission at the Carl Wynn Nature Center on Sunday. Contact the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies at 235-6667.

8-12 Bug Me Week! 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at the Pratt Museum. An Hour of exciting and very active bug collecting. Designed for kids of all ages.

11-13 Alaska State Square and Round Dance Festival In Ninilchik. Contact Lenora Regeon at 252-6420 or email to lenora_regeon@yahoo.com

24-26 Whale Camp! Whale ecology and whale-watching for families with children ages 9-12. Contact the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 235-6667.

25 Garden to Gourmet Potluck at Carl Wynn Nature Center Contact Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 235-5266.

26-27 KBBI Concert on the Lawn Weekend music extravaganza at Karen Hornaday Park, overlooking beautiful Kachemak Bay. Sponsored by KBBI Public Radio. Visit www.kbbi.org, or call 235-7721 for details.

28-Aug 10 Kenai Peninsula Orchestra's Summer String Festival Live classical music throughout Homer. Call 235-4899 for additional information.

TBA Homer Artists Studio Tour Sponsored by the Bunnell Street Gallery, 235-2662

TBA Homer Street Fair Arts & Crafts fair at the Homer High School grounds. Sponsored by the Homer Council on the Arts, 235-4288.

TBA Homer Yacht Club's Annual Clam Bake Contact Bob Brandt at 235-8503 for information.

AUGUST

All month Lower Gallery Pratt Museum: Bear Cam! Live from McNeil River.

All month Upper Gallery Pratt Museum: Thin Ice: Inuit Traditions Within A Changing Environment

All month Marine Gallery Pratt Museum: Live Aquaria, Gull Cam

Artrageous August! A month long celebration of the arts

2 Homer Yacht Club's Converse Cup Race All races preceded by a Skipper's meeting at 11:00 am at "P" Dock 1:00 pm race start. Call 235-8503 for additional information.

3-7 Junior Naturalists Science & Adventure Camp Session 2 for ages 9-12. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 235-6667.

9-17 3rd Annual Silver Salmon “Spitacular” Tournament Contact the Homer Chamber of Commerce, 235-7740 for information

13-16 Junior Naturalists Program Session 2. Contact Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies at 235-6667 for details.

15-17 Kenai Peninsula State Fair Ninilchik Fairgrounds. Contact 567-3670 for information.

29 Garden to Gourmet Potluck at Carl Wynn Nature Center Contact Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 235-5266.

29-31 Tamamta Katuriluta ~ A Gathering of Tradition and Friendship Pratt Museum, events to be determined, 235-8635.

30 Homer Yacht Club's Labor Day Race All races preceded by a Skipper's meeting at 11:00 am at "P" Dock 1:00 pm race start. Call 235-8503 for additional information.

TBA Homer Yacht Club's "Cooney Cup" Race Two day event, Homer to Seldovia Saturday, overnight in Seldovia, return to Homer Sunday, 235-8503.

SEPTEMBER

All month Upper Gallery Pratt Museum: Thin Ice: Inuit Traditions Within A Changing Environment

All month Marine Gallery Pratt Museum: Live Aquaria, Gull Cam

6 Homer Mariner Ironman Triathlon Swim-bike-run community event for all ages.

11-30 Kachemak Bay CoastWalk Kick-off Event Beach clean-up and monitoring event sponsored by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. Call 235-6667 for additional information.

19-25 Homer Documentary Film Festival at the Homer Theater. Watch for playlist!

25-28 Sea Otter Awareness Week At Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center. Call 235-6961 for additional information.

27 National Estuaries Day Contact Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center for more information 235-6961.

30 Annual Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby Ends 9:00 pm is the cut-off time for entries. Call Homer Chamber of Commerce at 235-7740 for more information.