Gather ‘round for the latest on fun and free community events! Kachemak Bay Campus has a full calendar of offerings, from another Know Your Land talk to the weekly Wellness Wednesday sessions. Don’t miss a free showing of “Our Souls at Night” at the Homer Theatre, in partnership with Hospice of Homer and sponsored by Homer Real Estate! This Betster hopes y’all are on track with putting together your parade floats and walking/biking/whatnot entries, too, for the fast-approaching Winter Carnival Parade! Lastly, get out and vote! — for Homer as the “Best Small Town Arts Scene,” that is, as part of a contest by USA Today! For details on these and more, take a gander at this week’s Best Bets!

BEST KNOW YOUR LAND BET: The Homer Soil & Water Conservation District partners with Kachemak Bay Campus for the 2024 Know Your Land talks on alternating Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. On Feb. 1, this free event will spotlight local grower Ryan Lee, who will share insights he’s gained over the years in pursuit of his goal to provide as much food as he can, as locally as possible, for his family. Join in person at KBC or virtually via Zoom. The KNOW YOUR LAND series of talks is brought to you by Homer SWCD, the USDA-NRCS Homer, AK field office, and the KPC Kachemak Bay Campus. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/homerswcd. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST WEEKLY SPEAKERS BET: The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies continues their winter weeknight program, Tuesday Night Lights, through February! This free rotating event series at CACS headquarters will feature a new special guest giving a talk or hosting an activity every week. On Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m., join local fisherman Jim Herbert and Two Sisters Bakery co-owner Sharon Rouda for “Fisherman to Plate,” a presentation that explores Homer’s seafood bounty from harvest to dinner. Make sure to check out the full schedule for other amazing speakers at www.facebook.com/ConnectingUwiththeNatureofAlaskasince1982/. 708 Smoky Bay Way.

BEST WEEKLY WELLNESS BET: SPH Health & Wellness invites you to a free weekly gathering every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Kachemak Bay Campus! Participants can enjoy warm soup, bread and a dose of health education from a rotating presenter, all followed by an hour of Five Elements Yoga with Joolee Aurant. On Feb. 7, Vicki Jackson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Serene Waters Mental Health Clinic will lead a discussion on stress management. Learn about different types of stress, the body’s response to stress, tools for coping with stress, and more. Community members of all ages and abilities are welcome. Come for part of it or all of it! For more information, check SPH’s calendar of events at www.sphosp.org/whats-new/calendar_of_events/. 533 E. Pioneer Ave.

BEST MOVIE NIGHT BET: Hospice of Homer partners with the Homer Theatre for a free film series, showcasing quality movies about life and living. On Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m., watch “Our Souls at Night” starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. The film sponsor for the month of February is Homer Real Estate. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/386098150568733. 106 W Pioneer Ave.

BEST WINTER PARADE BET: The 70th annual Winter Carnival Parade is happening on Saturday, Feb. 10 at noon on Pioneer Avenue! This year’s theme is “What’s Old Is New.” Organizers are looking for volunteer photographers, as well as volunteers to help with traffic, including Homer High School students. If you would like to participate in the parade itself, fill out the entry form for your float! Participants can also register a walking entry, cars or bikes. For more information and to access the form, visit www.homeralaska.org/events/winter-carnival-celebration/.

BEST SMALL TOWN AWARD BET: Homer has been nominated by USA Today as a candidate for “Best Small Town Arts Scene”! Part of USA Today’s 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, nominees are submitted by a panel of experts and 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. The poll is open until Feb. 19 — every vote is crucial! For more information and to cast your daily vote, visit the Homer Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HomerChamberofCommerce/.

BEST WRITERS CONTEST BET: The 26th Kenai Peninsula Writer’s Contest is here! Running through March 2, submissions are open to all Kenai Peninsula residents for three writing categories and five age groups ranging from K-3rd grade to Adult/Open. Participants may submit unlimited entries in poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Submissions to the Adult/Open age group are $10 each. Submissions to age groups within K-12th grade are $3 each. For more information, call Homer Council on the Arts at 907-235-4288. 355 W Pioneer Ave.