Page 134 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

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Winter Olympics as a cultural competition. Sculptors gold panning, classic cars and gaming.
work single blocks for 60 hours in teams of two, or on Each July the Chamber of Commerce sponsors
twelve blocks for 100 hours in teams of eight. the World Eskimo Olympics. This is a fun event
At the close of the competition, the sculptures are for the family to watch as the participants compete
lit with colored theatrical lights. In most years the ice at Eskimo Stick Pull, Four Man Carry, Indian Stick
holds up well for three to four weeks in the specially Pull, Kneel Jump Knuckle Hop or Seal Hop, Blanket
designed Ice Park. If you miss the event in March, Toss, One Foot High Kick, One Hand Reach, Scissor
some sculptures are retained in cold storage year Broad Jump, Seal Skinning Contest, Toe Kick, Two
round at the Fairbanks Ice Museum, located in the Foot High Kick, and the exciting White Men vs.
former Lacey Street Theater building. The Museum Native Women Tug of War. The contests are held
also shows a large screen multi image presentation at the Big Dipper Arena at 19 and Lathrop Streets
th
tracking the process of creating ice art. The Ice in Fairbanks.
Showcase is an 8000 square foot walk-in display area The Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival is a unique
with over 40,000 pounds of sculptures. study and performance intensive training program.
The summer solstice “Midnight Sun” celebration The Festival provides an opportunity for registrants
is Fairbanks’ largest single day event, attended by to study with more than 80 master teachers who
45,000 people. Held in the heart of downtown from come from all over the world. As its mission states,
noon til midnight on the longest day of the year, “The Festival provides highly qualified guest artists
the festival presents three stages of live music, a offering informative and inspirational instruction for
wondrous array of arts and crafts, great food, dancing, registrants at many levels of experience.”

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