August is National Wellness Month. How do you promote your own good health? Whether it’s time with friends, time in nature or time alone, you can never go wrong drinking more water, taking time from your screens, eating lots of fruits and veggies and enjoying all the events and activities going on in and around Homer. Just check out these Best Bets. Be well out there!

BEST MUSHROOM ID & SKETCHING BET: Pratt Museum & Park hosts Mushroom ID and Sketching for kids and adults with artist Kim McNett. Kids classes are Aug. 10, 24 or Sept. 7, 4-6 p.m., $10 per child. Adult classes are Aug. 11, 25 or Sept. 8, 4-6 p.m., $25 per adult. For more information and to register, prattmuseum.org, call 907-235-8635 or stop by 3779 Bartlett Street.

BEST CIVIL AIR PATROL BBQ FUNDRAISER BET: The Homer Branch of the Civil Air Patrol U.S. Air Force Auxiliary are hosting a Chicken Luncheon on Saturday, Aug. 12, 11 a.m. at Glacier D on the Homer Spit. Enjoy barbecue chicken, beans, corn, dessert and drinks, meet cadets, learn about the program and support the year-round cadet program that teaches kids about leadership, physical fitness, character and aviation and aerospace.

BEST VETERAN’S APPRECIATION PICNIC BET: American Legion Post 16 hosts a Free Veterans Appreciation Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 12, noon to 3 p.m. All veterans, active duty and their family are invited, and do not have to be a member of a veteran organization. Enjoy a barbecue, door prizes and live music, with veterans organizations on hand to answer questions about educational opportunities, veterans issues and benefits. American Legion Post 16 is located 2.5 miles out East End Road.

BEST HERBAL FIRST AID CLASS BET: Woba Botanicals presents Herbal First Aid for home, travel and emergencies on Saturday, Aug. 12, 1-4 p.m. Join 7song, a herbalist, teacher and naturalist from New York State and director of the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, for a discussion on western herbalism, wildcrafting and medicinal preparation. Hosted outdoors on a small farm 15 minutes east of Homer, RSVP for location and fee information at madra.choromanska@gmail.com.

BEST KIDS MARKET VENDING BET: Know a youth aged 18 and under who loves to bake, make art or garden? The final Kids Vending Day at the Homer Farmers Market is Wednesday, Aug. 16, 1:30-5 p.m. Providing an opportunity for youth to engage in agricultural and entrepreneurial activities and education while developing social and math skills, all produce/eggs/crafts sold must be produced/cared for/harvested by kid(s) selling it, with minimal adult assistance. Space is first come first served — check in at the information booth at 1:30 p.m. to be assigned a space and be set up no later than 2 p.m.

BEST CHINESE BRUSH PAINTING BET: Homer Council on the Arts hosts artist and art teacher Sharlene Cline teaching how to paint fireweed in the traditional style of Chinese brush painting, Friday, Aug. 18, 5:30-8:30 p.m. For more information and to register, homerart.org, call 907-235-4288 or stop by 355 W Pioneer Avenue.

BEST ARTS BY AIR BET: Bunnell Street Arts Center and KBBI present Bunnell Arts by Air, an on-air broadcast and live concert with Michael Walsh on Friday, Aug. 18. Homer-based blues guitarist Michael Walsh will play originals, covers and a few spirituals on his 6-string resonator. He will invite a few special guests from Homer to accompany him. Walsh plays his slide-guitar in the spirit of Fred McDowell, Buffalo Nichols and Ry Cooder. He is a founding member of the Goat Family, a San Francisco-based jug band since 2003. 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. 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 or stop by 106 W Bunnell Avenue.

BEST GARDENING WITH ORCHIDS BET: Pratt Museum & Park Gardeners Yarrow and Shawn are hosting a Gardening with Wild Orchids class on Saturday, Aug. 26, 1-3 p.m., $30/person. For more information and to register, prattmuseum.org, call 907-235-8635 or stop by 3779 Bartlett Street.

BEST KIDS SUMMER LUNCHBAG BET: The Anchor Point Food Pantry is providing a Kid’s Summer Lunchbag Program Wednesdays, noon to 2 p.m. through August, available to all children 18 years old and younger. 34361 Old Sterling Highway.

BEST CITY OF PEONIES BET: The peonies are in bloom and Homer’s fourth annual Peony Celebrations continue through Aug. 13 with farm tours and the self-guided walking tour along Pioneer Avenue. For more information on tours and the walking map, visit homeralaska.org or stop by 201 Sterling Highway.

BEST WORLD ARTS FESTIVAL BET: Mark your calendars for the Alaska World Arts Festival coming Sept. 7-21. Enjoy free and ticketed music, dance, theater, film, visual arts, storytelling, literature and comedy events and activities by local, national and international artists. Opening Gala at the Homer Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Sept. 7. For more information, tickets and the full Festival schedule, visit alaskaworldarts.org.

A young woman takes pictures on seastars on the Homer Spit during the recent -5 tide on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting

Rocks, kelp and clouds are reflected in low tide pools along Diamond Creek Beach on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting