State Guide

Cordova Ice Worm Festival (Cordova): The truth is, ice worms do exist. Really. This winter carnival celebrates them in February. The highlight is the traditional annual march of the ice worm (a costume with dozens of feet sticking out) down the main street.

Midnight Sun Baseball Game (Fairbanks): 2006 will mark the centennial playing of a baseball game without lights that doesn't begin until 10:30pm, on the longest day of the year.

Bering Sea Ice Golf Classic (Nome): The greens are AstroTurf, as the sea ice won't support a decent lawn in mid-March. Hook a drive and you could end up spending hours wandering among the pressure ridges, but you must play the ball as it lies.

Polar Bear Swim (Nome): This swim in the frigid Bering Sea takes place in late June, but only if the sea ice has opened up sufficiently to provide enough liquid water.

Pillar Mountain Golf Classic (Kodiak): The course is 1 hole, par is 70, and elevation gain is 1,400 feet. Having a spotter in the deep snow of late March is helpful, but use of two-way radios, dogs, and chain saws is prohibited. Also, there's no cutting down of power poles, and cursing tournament officials carries a $25 fine.

Tea-Making Contest (Barrow): Part of the April Piuraagiaqt festival, the contest sets couples against each other in a race to set up a camp stove, gather a piece of ice, and brew a good cup of tea. Or the community may have come up with some other silly contest this year.

Mountain Mother Contest (Talkeetna): In this event in the July Moose Dropping Festival, mothers compete in a test of Bush skills, including splitting wood, carrying water, and diapering a baby.

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