Fairbanks and Anchorage are preparing for a 'Week of Dreams' in 2026 to celebrate the U.S.'s 250th anniversary, featuring baseball games, historical events, and community festivities. The America250 campaign highlights Alaska’s deep baseball history, including MLB visits and a game at Growden Memorial Field on July 4th. Other events include a Declaration of Independence reading and the Midnight Sun Run.
Fairbanks, Alaska - A glimpse of celebrations to come was seen at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center in Fairbanks Thursday night, as the Department of Natural Resources and Explore Fairbanks teamed up to discuss events related to the nation’s 250th anniversary .
As 2026 marks the big anniversary for the United States of America, the America250 campaign is working with states and other entities to get people thinking about how they can celebrate this year.
“What the state of Alaska is working on is a ‘Week of Dreams,’” said Katherine Ringsmuth, the state historian and a commissioner for the America250 Alaska Commission. “We intend to start our festivities off in Anchorage on June 27 with, of course, baseball games, a big opening ceremony at Mulcahy . ” This comes with other celebrations such as the 50th anniversary of the Glacier Pilots and Miners baseball teams, she said.
Baseball will be a big part of the celebrations in Alaska, which will include MLB players visiting the state, she said.
“Most people have no idea that baseball started in Alaska on the Pribilof Islands in 1868,” Ringsmuth said. “That makes us as old as New York or Boston when it comes to our baseball story, right? Most people have no idea that the railroad was used early on to move baseball fans between teams or that Fairbanks has been playing with the Midnight Sun for over a century, almost moving into the second century.
” She said there will be baseball clinics in Fairbanks, as well as a baseball game at the historic Growden Memorial Field on the 4th of July.
“We’re finding out across the community there’s lots of other entities that are planning events throughout the summer,” said Scott McCrea, the president and CEO of Explore Fairbanks. Those events include a reading of the Declaration of Independence at Pioneer Park and the Midnight Sun Run, he said.
“We’re trying to gather all the information, what’s happening, push that information out to visitors, to the public, so everyone has a chance to enjoy what truly is a monumental moment in our America’s history,” he said. “A lot of it’s going to be starting off in June, certainly around the solstice time frame, again with the Midnight Sun Run, and then even going into probably, mid-late August,” McCrea said. “Our motto is ‘History for tomorrow,’” Ringsmuth said.
“I stole that idea entirely from the constitutional conventioneers who wrote the Alaska statehood constitution, of which they bequeathed it to the next generation and they said, ‘Take tomorrow and dream. ’” She sees the celebration as way to make good on that concept and apply it to future generations of Alaskans as the nation celebrates 250 years. Five people shot, two hospitalized in East Anchorage
America250 Alaska Celebrations Baseball History 250Th Anniversary Fairbanks Events
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alaska legislative audit casts doubt on $75M investment by former Alaska revenue commissionerThe Legislative Budget and Audit Committee said it’s questionable whether Adam Crum met his “statutory obligation” and fiduciary duties.
Read more »
Trump urged to declare 'American' the official US language ahead of 250th anniversaryFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
'We Need the Ballroom': Trump Uses Shooting Outside White House Correspondents' Dinner to Boost Corrupt ProjectJake Johnson is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.
Read more »
Latest line: A good week for Tom Steyer, a bad week for Betty YeeBillionaire Democrat benefits from status quo debate as another candidate calls it quits
Read more »
This Arby's dupe is the roast beef sandwich of your dreamsPeople tend to shame those who love Arby's; I don't understand the hate. What's not to love? The literal catchphrase of Arby's is 'We Have the Meats,' and how can you not love a place like that? I wouldn't necessarily say it's in my top five fast foods, but on a long drive to Vegas, if I see one while driving on the 10 Freeway, I'm stopping.
Read more »
Scientists identify mysterious ‘golden orb’ found in Gulf of Alaska in 2023Scientists found the orb in deep water west of Prince of Wales Island during an ongoing research program called Seascape Alaska.
Read more »