Best Bets

It might be cold, but Homer is hopping! This Betster hope you all are ready for another year of cool Winter Carnival fun — better stake out your spots on Pioneer Avenue ahead of the parade this Saturday at noon to enjoy fun floats and grab for candy! Also this week is a performance and fundraiser by Homer High School’s own DDF team, a free movie night at Homer Theatre, a chance to win prizes at CACS’ Trivia night, and more! For details, check out these Best Bets!

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 HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE BET: Homer High School’s Drama, Debate and Forensics (DDF) team will perform at “Random Acts of DDF” on Friday, Feb. 9 at HHS! Come see a showcase of a wide variety of talents that will entertain and inspire you. Be prepared for acts that are funny, heart-wrenching, uplifting, and thought-provoking. Admittance for this event is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and youth, and free for kids under five years old. The performance is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. in the Mariner Theater, with a silent auction beginning in the commons at 5:30 p.m. and continuing during intermission. All funds raised during this event will support student travel to the state DDF tournament. 600 E Fairview 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.” Turn out for this fun and free annual winter celebration! Enjoy various floats from local businesses, civic, and non-profit organizations, associations, and individuals of all ages. For more information, visit www.homeralaska.org/events/winter-carnival-celebration/.

BEST WEEKLY SPEAKERS BET: The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies continues their winter weeknight program, Tuesday Night Lights, through February! This free, family-friendly rotating event series at CACS headquarters will feature a new special guest giving a talk or hosting an activity every week. On Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m., join CACS staff as the host Trivia Night! Come test your knowledge of Homer, Kachemak Bay, and local ecology to win prizes! 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. 14, Dr. Linda Chamberlain will share a blend of science and simple tools that demonstrate why mind-body-heart practices are so effective and how science is catching up with cultural wisdom and people’s way of knowing. There is also an opportunity to win a door prize of a children’s book written by Dr. Chamberlain! 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 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. 18 — 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.