The Winter Carnival Parade, hosted by the Homer Chamber of Commerce, enjoyed the sunshine this past weekend on Pioneer Avenue. With the community coming out in force to cheer on the parade participants, the annual experience was the highlight of Homer’s 71st Winter Carnival Celebration.

“Certainly the weather was a gigantic improvement over previous years, much more comfortable for both spectators and participants,” Brad Anderson, chamber executive director, said Tuesday. “We had really good attendance at the parade and have heard very positive responses from that.”

The parade showed about 25 entries, Anderson said, after some last minute changes and additions. Chris Story of Story Realty and Michael Dukes of the recently formed Peninsula Radio Group collaborated as emcees at the judging station at Bay Realty.

John Mink, Realtor with Bay Realty, was this year’s Mr. Homer.

Anderson also noted the parade procession included Spurr, the 1.5-year-old Appaloosa colt that went missing in January and was safely recovered Feb. 1, as this year’s “grand marshal,” walking with the Alaska Stars Drill Team.

“That was a fun and unique thing to have him in there, as our little local mascot,” he said.

While the chamber focused on the parade, the full Winter Carnival celebration also boasted a plethora of other events and activities for the community over the weekend that the chamber helped to promote, including a basketball tourney, a masquerade gala, a brew festival, a 2K run, art workshops and more.

“We love celebrating everything that’s involved with the Winter Carnival,” Anderson said. “It was a good, community-wide celebration, and we strongly encourage people to continue that tradition.”

The Homer Chamber of Commerce announced the winning parade entrants on Facebook on Monday.

Best Car/Truck/Machinery: Coop’s Coffee

Best Performing Arts: Krewe of Gambrinus

Best Use of Theme: Krewe of Gambrinus

Best Animal Group: Alaska Stars Drill Team

Best of Show: Alaska Japanese Club

Best Children’s Group: Mariner Cheer

Kachemak Bay Recovery carries inspirational signs as they march in the annual Winter Carnival Parade on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Christopher Kincaid)

Harmony the humpback whale, mascot for the Kachemak Bay Campus Student Association, proceeds down Pioneer Avenue in the annual Winter Carnival Parade on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Christopher Kincaid)