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Parks+Trails Recreation Fair
September 21 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
September 21, 2024 | Kincaid Bunker | 10a to 2p | Free | Schedule+Map (PDF)
Discover how to stay active in our winter city at this free Parks+Trails Recreation Fair. Outdoor and community organizations will host booths, workshops, and demonstrations to show off the fantastic low-cost ways to enjoy parks and trails around Anchorage.
The Kincaid Bunker is located in the main parking lot near the Kincaid Chalet.
The fair has more than tables! Check out all the activities!
Guided Tours
Register for these guided walks at the Rec Fair.
Hike with Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs
11a Meet at the Picnic Shelter
Meet the furry friends of Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs while taking a gentle ramble through the woods. Dogs and trainers will demonstrate their skills and answer questions along the trail.
Explore the ski trails of Kincaid with a Naturalist Presented by Alaska Trails
Noon and again at 1:30p Meet at the Picnic Shelter
Let’s check out the cross-country ski trails of Kincaid while we can still walk them! We will hike for under one hour on gentle terrain to explore the year-round trails of the park and get excited for the winter. Along the way, we will identify the many plants and trees that make this part of Alaska special, talk about what to do and not to do in case of large animal encounters, and discuss packing and gear for a winter ski outing. We will start from the Kincaid Chalet.
About the hike leader:
Mariyam Medovaya is the Alaska Long Trail Project Coordinator at Alaska Trails. Prior to joining the organization in 2019, Mariyam spent several years as a summer naturalist guide for a Girdwood ecotourism business as well as two years as a US Forest Service interpretive ranger in the Prince William Sound. She is an avid hiker and classic cross-country skier who loves recreating in the Anchorage area.
Military History Tour of Kincaid Presented by Friends of Nike Site Summit
1p Meet at the Picnic Shelter
Friends of Nike Site Summit board member, Ivan Hodes, will lead a military history tour around the abandoned military locations that dot the Kincaid Park landscape. This tour is popular and bound to fill up, arrive early to get your name on the list.
Presentations:
Dog Sledding Presented by Alaska Sled Dog Association
10:30a Chalet EAST Room
Alaska Sled Dog Association will present on the joys and hard work of dog sledding. Find out how to get started and how to share the trails around Anchorage.
Community Theatre presented by Midnight Sun Theatre
11a Meet in the WEST Chalet Room
and 11:30a Meet in the EAST Chalet Room
Take to the stage or learn how to be a behind-the-scenes magic maker with the Midnight Sun Theatre. David Block will present on how to get your foot in the door followed by a rousing improv session that everyone is welcome to join in.
Get Started with Skijor Presented by Alaska Sled Dog Association
11a Meet in the EAST Chalet Room
Get the info to hit the trails with your furry friend. Skijoring combines skiing and dog towing power for a delightful way to get out and explore with your canine family member.
Outdoor Adventure Circle for ages 1-7 and their families Presented by Nature Song
11:30a Meet at the Picnic Shelter
Join Amy Rupp of Nature Song Collective as she leads an outdoor adventure circle for families with children ages one to seven. This whole-family movement journey will include songs and gestures suitable for both outdoor and indoor settings. She will also share five elements that help caregivers develop a rhythm for meeting outside in nature with other families, using nature as the glue that brings people together. This circle meets outside the Kincaid Chalet near the sledding hill. The circle and presentation will last twenty minutes.
Ski Jumping Presented by the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage
11:30a Meet in the WEST Chalet Room
Skiing down a 65-meter ramp and launching into the air must be one of the most dramatic sensations in sport. Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage will present on how to get started with this thrilling activity (that has a surprisingly safe track record)
Discover Hidden Treasures with Geocache Alaska
Noon Meet in the EAST Chalet Room
We’re surrounded by hidden treasures, puzzles, and unknown adventures. Geocache Alaska will share how to get started, what to look for, and some tips for finding caches close to the Kincaid Chalet. Turn your muggle family into treasure hunters.
Cross-Country Skiing – First Strides presented by Skiku
12:30p Meet in the WEST Chalet Room
Are you looking for a new winter activity? Have you always been curious about those skinny skis but felt a little nervous about technical terms? Come join Skiku for a breakdown of the basics for cross-country skiing! We’ll touch on clothing, basic techniques, and gear & equipment. This presentation is open to all who are interested in getting started with cross-country skiing, whether young or young at heart! Time will be provided at the end for Q & A.
Mock Resolution Passing Presented by the Federation of Community Councils
1p Meet in the EAST Chalet Room
Experience the process of creating and passing a resolution through community councils. The Federation of Community Councils is offering the chance to try your hand at a mock resolution to support funding a project in Kincaid park. The experience includes a “chair” and letting people edit and comment on the resolution just as in real life. Can you get your mock resolution passed?
Volunteering with Parks & Recreation
10:15a Meet in the WEST Chalet Room
Find out all the ways to get active and involved with the Municipality of Anchorage’s Parks and Recreation Department and help make your neighborhood a better place for everyone.
1:30p Meet in the WEST Chalet Room
Teens! Get excited about the best work opportunity we know of. Get paid next summer to improve our local parks and trails while also going on education adventures.
Beginner Orienteering Course Presented by Arctic Orienteering Club
10a to 2p By the Picnic Shelter
Orienteering is a sport in which participants use a detailed map to find markers hidden in the landscape. It can be enjoyed as a walk in the woods or as a competitive sport.
Earthquake Simulator Presented by SOA Dept of Emergency Management
10a to 2p By Bunker 4
Alaska has more earthquakes than any other state. Experience this safe yet realistic experience of the intense shaking that can occur during an earthquake hosted by the State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Booths:
Alaska Dept of Health: Physical Activity and Nutrition
Healing Hearts (veterans)
Artist: Ted Kincaid
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Anchorage Park & Recreation
Youth Employment in Parks (YEP)
Federation of Community Councils
National Park Service, Public Lands Info Center
Moose Loop Trail Challenge
Kick off your Moose Loop Challenge at the Parks+Trails Recreation Fair. The Moose Loop Trail Challenge, is a family-friendly way to stay active outdoors all summer by running, walking, or biking on the Moose Loop trails in Anchorage. This fun un-timed event is an annual fundraiser for the Anchorage Park Foundation and opportunity to hit the trails all summer long to prepare for the challenge.
When: September 21 – 28, 2024
Where: Anywhere along the 32-mile Moose Loop trail system
Challenges: Bike, walk, or run a 5K, 10K, Mini Moose (25.75K), or Mighty Moose (51.5K)
Registration: $35 for adults; kids under 18 are free
Register Sponsorship Event Merch
