Fur Rendezvous Festival
fur rendezvous festival usually called fur rendezvous fur rondy simply rondy annual winter festival held anchorage alaska late february selfstyled largest winter festival north america fur rendezvous highly anticipated many anchoragearea resident marking beginning end long winter approach spring fur rendezvous selected number one winter carnival world national geographic traveler name fur rendezvous derives swap meet fur trapper would gather sell winter harvest early anchorage usually took place midfebruary anchorage population isolated bring community together lift spirit resident vern johnson organized threeday sport tournament called winter sport carnival timed coincide rendezvous brought increased activity fur trade secondlargest industry alaska folding event seemed natural renamed winter sport tournament fur rendezvous later fur rendezvous common miner trapper beard early day law even made men grow beard event suffer fine considered part fun men participated fur rendezvous canceled war year resumed festival began draw visitor outside held every year since since event run nonprofit greater anchorage inc traditionally fur rendezvous lasted ten day since extended early march order lead iditarod trail sled dog race draw visitor see modified festival open world championship sled dog race hiatus original winter sport carnival included skiing hockey basketball boxing sled dog race child well bonfire torchlight parade modern rondy well event significant include rondy grand prix – oldest street race u official fur rondy fur auction – descendant original fur trade rendezvous present since earliest day miner trapper charity ball mr fur face beard contest since beard grown long possible dyed decorated shaped contest world championship sled dog race since womens race since threeday mile sled dog race brings musher across alaska world however sometimes canceled recent year due warm weather recent cancellation world championship dog weight pull since sled dog attempt pull greatest weight miss fur rendezvous pageant least late mid also called miss fur rondy snow sculpture competition fur rondy carnival frostbite footrace – costumed competitor run downtown anchorage rondy grand parade running reindeer – whimsical annual event started sends herd people running fourblock downtown street group reindeer released behind charging runner spoof pamplonas running bull rondy ice – figure skating show world ice bowling championship many event tend toward whimsical outhouse race team build outhouse pull ski rider inside ice bowling even snowshoe softball match others focus alaska native culture multitribal gathering charlotte jensen native art market since promotional pin created sold year raise money event pin become popular collectible older rare pin sell well excess kiwanis club anchorage nee university kiwanis club sell pin booster button dressed keystone cop duration festival parade keystone cop rondy kops playfully detain attendee mobile jail pin button purchased exchange release official website history fur rondy archived wayback machine picture rondy pin design kiwanis club anchorage picture fur rendezvous event archived wayback machine