Big Lake, Alaska
Loon Capital of the Universe

Big Lake has been selected as the site of the Alaska Loon Festival for 1998. This will be the first time that this festival has been held outside of Anchorage. The event is being sponsored by the Anchorage Audubon Society, The Alaska Center for the Environment, and the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the return of the loon, to increase education, conservation and awareness of loons, to raise money for loon conservation, and to have a good time in a festival atmosphere.

The Big Lake area lakes are home to not one but three species of loons: the common, the Pacific and the red-throated loon.  Plus, there have been documented sightings of a fourth species, the yellow-billed loon. 

The event will kick off with the loon mating dance on Friday night, May 29th (the weekend after Memorial Day). During those festivities, which are numerous, there will be a loon calling contest for all ages. Celebrity judges will award valuable prizes to the winners. There will be a silent loon auction of quality products and services with a loon theme and a sample preview of fine loon art which will be judged by experts located at the Gallery of the Lakes on Saturday.

Special VIP loon tours will be given as door prizes, auctioned and sold throughout the two day event. Residents on surrounding lakes have offered to take interested parties on private tours to see the loons on their lake. These tours, some of which feature champagne and homemade bread, will be scheduled at mutually convenient times and they might coincide with visiting relatives or when loon chicks arrive. This is a great way to show how recreational use of our lakes can be compatible with the loon habitat.

On Saturday, Big Lake Elementary School will be transformed into "the loon center". There will be interactive projects for the children, from making balloon loons, constructing loon crafts, face painting and much more.

Also appearing at the "loon central" will be a world famous story teller, Susan Strauss, from Bend, Oregon who will fascinate and entertain young and old alike. Loon facts of our region will be explained by Alaskan biologist, Jeff Fair, and loon sounds will be analyzed and interpreted. Photography seminars, binocular classes and panel discussions will add to the excitement. There will be vendors of loon crafts and loon foods.

The Eastlake Mall will be teeming with other loon happenings and they will be the staging area for a guided walking loon adventure (expected to depart every half hour). While waiting for their guides, attendees will view the loon art show and competition at the Gallery, visit with merchants and perhaps enjoy a loon special at Mahoney's.

For more information you can contact Jim Faiks at (907)892-8482 or e-mail him at: alaskalpaca@akcache.com

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