Fur Rondy

For the past 76 years, Anchorage has celebrated the Fur Rondy, short for the Fur Rendezvous. It started as a three day event, coinciding with the time the trappers and miners were in town to ply their winter wares. It has become much bigger.

Opening Night Fireworks. We were lucky because we hadn't realized it was opening night of the Rondy, so we arranged to meet up with friends for drinks. Only all the bars were packed to the gills. On a whim (and mostly because it was close and Lithus was cold), we headed over to one of the hotels. The hotel saloon was empty except for the four of us and, surprise!, looked right out over the opening night show.

There's also a carnival (weather permitting, of course). Mind you, we were there when it was 12 degrees F and very windy, so the wind chill was even colder, so weather permitting is relative.

Ooo! But I do love a carnival.

There are still fur traders, too.

Very interesting people...

And the best event, in my not-so-humble opinion, is the Running of the Reindeer. Think Pamplona and the bulls. On snow. With reindeer. Only...a lot fewer of them.

 And more irony.

Okay, so it's really nothing like Pamplona. It was still hysterical. And yes, these videos are the whole thing.

First, the local reserve unit had just come back from the Middle East (every single one of them alive and safe, TTG) and made their march into town...

... And celebrated by running for dear life from reindeer.

Then there was the walk back to the starting line.

 In case you are wondering, yes, those are indeed reindeer on leashes.

And the full Running of the Reindeer:

And the second part...

It's the Fur Rondy and it's Anchorage. Gotta love it.