Even if the rain might suggest otherwise, summer is in full swing folks, evidenced all around us by the fields of lupine, traffic and tents on the Spit and lines at the grocery stores. With Summer Solstice and Fourth of July behind us, we’re losing daylight and we all know what that means, so get out and soak up all the Homer happenings in and around town, like these Best Bets.

BEST HONORING LANCE PETERSEN BET: Join Pier One Theatre for their Celebration of Life for Lance Petersen, theater co-founder who passed away this past January. Petersen left behind an inspiring legacy of community theater on the Kenai Peninsula that continues to influence aspiring artists to this day. The Petersen family and Pier One invites everyone to a celebration of his life and works, which will be held at the Pier One Theatre on the Homer Spit on Friday, July 14 starting at 6 p.m. For more information, call 907-226-2287, jennifer@pieronetheatre.org. 3858 Homer Spit Road.

BEST NEW NATURE CENTER BET: The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies will celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Carl Wynn Nature Center on Saturday, July 15, from 1-6 p.m. Stop by for finger foods, drinks, music, guided hourly walks, kids activities and learn all about new ways to explore the Wynn Nature Center and Inspiration Ridge Preserve trails. For more information, call 907-235-6667. The Wynn Visitor Center is located at Mile 1.4 East Skyline Drive.

BEST ANNIVERSARY REUNION PARTY BET: Pier One Theatre presents its 50th Anniversary Reunion Party at the Bear Creek Winery Garden on Saturday, July 15, 7- 9 p.m. There will be food, drinks, sharing of stories and live entertainment including an excerpt from Pier One Theatre’s first ever production, “The Drunkard.” For more information, 907-226-2287, jennifer@pieronetheatre.org. 60203 Bear Creek Drive.

BEST GARDEN TOUR BET: The Homer Garden Club will hold its annual tour of six local gardens in the Homer area that have been selected to illustrate the community’s various flower zones, creative ideas and spatial use of garden areas. One garden is modeled on a traditional Japanese garden, another one is a gorgeous rock garden and another is growing spectacular plants at a high elevation. The tour is Sunday, July 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at the Homer Bookstore. For more information, visit homergardenclub.org.

BEST ARTS BY AIR BET: Bunnell Street Arts Center and KBBI present Bunnell Arts by Air, an on-air broadcast and live concert with Arlo Hannigan on Friday, July 21. In-person audience must be seated by 6:45 p.m.; otherwise, tune in to AM 890 KBBI or 88.1FM in Seward when the show goes live at 7 p.m. Arlo Hannigan is a singer/songwriter from Nome whose sound has been compared to artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Drake. His album, Death By Daydream (2017) features artists such as Jon Rauhouse (Neko Case) and Bo Koester (My Morning Jacket), as well as Jacob Valenzuela (Calexico) is among the more notable of Hannigan’s releases. More recently, Harder To Return (2020), recorded during the pandemic, features fiddler and troubadour Jackie Rae Daniels. Hannigan’s grant-awarded project, Fresh Water (2015), continues to air nationwide on Native Voice One. Hannigan is currently working on a new album. This program expands audiences across Alaska and beyond for musicians, especially physically isolated and geographically remote audiences. Tickets are sliding scale $15 discount, $20 regular, $30 pay-it-forward and can be purchased at bunnellarts.org. For more information, call 907-235-2662. 106 W Bunnell Avenue.

BEST YOUTH MUSIC CAMP BET: Registration is open for the Mary Epperson Summer Music Camp for ages 8 to 17, July 17 to 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Students will explore piano, string instruments and song. Learn to jam with a group and pick up new skills while having fun. Whether studying privately, learning from friends or YouTube, or completely new to music, this is an opportunity to play with people to make music come to life. Learn more and register at Homer Council on the Arts at homerart.org, 907-235-4288 or hcoa@homerart.org. 355 W Pioneer Avenue.

BEST CONCERT ON THE GREEN BET: Save the date for Saturday, July 22 when the Lisa Halverson Foundation and Coastal Realty present the Third Annual Concert on the Green at Fireweed Meadows Golf Course in Anchor Point, with music, food and fun for all ages. Donation at the door with all proceeds benefiting the Chapman School music program. For more information, 907-235-0599. 72749 Milo Fritz Avenue.

Colorful tents are pitched in the foreground of a boardwalk on the Homer Spit during Fourth of July weekend on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting

Lupine are in full bloom along the Homer Spit Road on Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting