Community Events

The Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby          

From May to September every year thousands of anglers come to Homer, "The Halibut Fishing Capitol of the World" to take part in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby.

With monthly prizes for released fish over 50 lbs, (in hopes of encouraging conservation of the species) literally thousands of tagged fish worth up to The GCI $50,000.00 tagged fish or the Stanley Ford of Kenai Ford F-150 Tagged Fish there are thousands of ways lucky anglers can win prizes!

Tickets are sold all over town so don't go fishing without one! Every year someone catches a tagged fish but had not purchased a Derby ticket...Don't let that be you!!!

The Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament

On the second to the last Saturday in March as many as 1,000 anglers - mostly Alaskans - descend on Homer to take part in the Homer Winter King Tournament.

This fun filled event is the harbinger of spring and as you can see in the picture gives fishermen the opportunity to break out their boats and coats and rods and reels for the chance to win BIG money!

Click here to learn all about this year's Tournament.

Homer Winter Carnival, Clean Up Day, Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, 4thof July Parade

The Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center sponsors and coordinates all of the above events to add to the wonderful community spirit that naturally abounds here in Homer. The good news is that there are way too many wonderful events that happen throughout the year for each of them to have a place on this page. Please feel free to peruse our events calendar which we do our very best to keep up to date. You'll see that the hardest thing to find here in the Cosmic Hamlet is a weekend where there is NOT something going on that you feel as though you'd really like to attend!

Year-round events

First Friday Art Gallery Openings  5-7 pm the First Friday of each month with featured artists at area-wide galleries.
Lions Club Meetings 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 6 pm at the Homer Senior Center-Friendship Center 235-2295
Downtown Rotary   Wednesday 6 pm at the Best Western Bidarka  235-2295
Kachemak Bay Rotary  Thursday Noon at the Best Western Bidarka 235-8148
Kate Kuhns Aquatic Center Homer High School 235-7416
City of Homer Community Recreation Homer High School 235-6090
Homer Theatre 235-6728 

On-going Events

May thru September -
Pier One Theatre – Live Theatre, 235-7333

Summer Programs –
SeeBird Cams – View live footage from Gull Island all summer long at the Pratt Museum, 235-8635 starts mid-May
Historic Harrington Homestead Cabin – daily at the Pratt Museum, 235-8635 starts mid-May
Botanical Garden – daily. Tour the Garden at the Pratt Museum, 235-8635 starts mid-June
Historical Harbor Walking Tours - Fridays & Saturdays 3 pm Pratt Wheelhouse in front of the Salty Dawg on the Homer Spit June - August
Peterson BayGuided Eco-Tours & Adventures – Tours offered for every age, ability and interest at Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Peterson Bay Field Station. Day Tours, Tour & Kayak Combo, Midnight Sun Tour & Overnight Stay! Reservations required 235-6667 May – Labor Day
S.P.I.T Kids – Wednesday-Friday 10 am-1 pm Kids ages 6-1 will get a Sneak Peek Into Things happening in our Kachemak Bay.  Center for Alaska Coastal Studies yurt on the Homer Spit 235-6667 June-August
Creatures of the Dock Tours – Daily 1pm and 4pm. Center for Alaska Coastal Studies yurt on the Homer Spit
235-6667 June-August
Weekly Children's Programs – For ages pre-school through 12 Knee High Naturalists, Trackers, Art & Nature and Gardeners. Wynn Nature Center, 235-6667 June - August 
Fantastic Fridays – Fridays 6-8 pm at Wynn Nature Center 1.5 mile East Skyline Drive A special FREE family friendly activity or presentation 235-6667 June - August
Wynn Nature Center Hiking & Tours – Daily 10 am & 2 pm Trails include handicap accessible boardwalk. Wynn Nature Center 1.5 mile East Skyline Drive 235-5266 June - August
Friday Beachwalks - Fridays, 11-Noon at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Free 226-4659
June 21 – August 9
Estuary Walks - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11 am - Noon at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Free  226-4659 June 18 – August 8
Discovery Labs – Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 1-3 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Free
226-4659 July 3 – August 10
Annual Summer Reading Program – Summer@HPL - Homer's free summer reading program for kids, teens and adults is sponsored by the Homer Public Library. Contact the library for an updated schedule of events and to register. 907-235-3180 or at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library.
Youth Summer Art Classes – Homer Council on the Arts, 235-4288
Homer Chamber of Commerce – Annual Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby 235-7740 May 15 – Sept 15
Homer Chamber of Commerce – Homer Shopping Derby 235-7740 May 1 – Labor Day
Homer Farmers' Market – Saturday and Wednesday markets. For more information, visit their website at www.homerfarmersmarket.org
Kachemak Heritage Land Trust's Summer Events – 235-5263 or visit www.kachemaklandtrust.org 

September thru May –
Kachemak Bay Campus - A wide variety of classes and workshops at KPC/UAA. Call 235-7743 or visit www.homer.alaska.edu
Homer Community Recreation – A wide variety of recreational classes offered at area schools. Call 235-6090 or visit www.homercommunityrecreation.com
Artists in the Schools Program – Sponsored by Bunnell Street Gallery, 235-2662.

List Your Event!

To list your local event on the HCOC Calendar, please call the Nyla at the Chamber at 235-7740 or email at info@homeralaska.org or fax the information to 235-8766. Activities are updated as new events come in. Please call the Homer Chamber of Commerce for updates at 235-7740 or email us at info@homeralaska.org.