The Larson8rs: Fur Rondy

Blanket Toss. Made of of seal skin. Photo by Crystal Grant

The Fur Rondy is a festival that happens annually at the end of February to the first weekend of March. It's a festival to welcome spring and celebrate the start of our historic Iditarod races. There are many events that partake like the outhouse races, running of the reindeer, carnival, blanket toss, snow sculptures, snowball fight, snowshoe softball, art shows, etc etc. So many Alaskan activities available. Unfortunately the start of the Fur Rondy was super windy and chilly. We didn't dare to check out downtown then, but this last weekend, the weather rose and we decided to stroll downtown to check out the Running of the Reindeer. Hence, I totally ate a reindeer sausage for lunch before the races.

Running of the reindeer is basically like running of the bulls, but less chaotic and bloody. There are three heats, mens, womens, and groups. People gear up in costumes, or lack of a costume (ie barely any clothing), and run about 100 meters to safety. The run is done on 4th avenue and the spectators take up the sidewalks like no other. We spent our Saturday walking about downtown, grabbing some reindeer sausages to go and coffee, checked out melting ice sculptures, witness teens on trick bikes doing grinds on municipal property, and lastly about froze our bottoms watching Running of the reindeer. Cory let me sit on his shoulders for a little bit so I can see the races, but then I found a little opening to get front row action, while Cory stayed behind. I was so excited to use my camera all day. My friend Crystal, who is taking a photography course at UAA, joined us as well. Both of us armed with our Canon cameras, we were stoked to capture the Fur Rondy action. We got a bunch of photos and after being in downtown, we decided to drive to Sears Mall, where the photo contest was held. Photos were placed and already judged in one of the hall ways at the Mall. We had our own opinions on the photos and next year, I definitely need to enter the photo contest.