Saturday August 20 in Kenai is the date this year’s Industry Appreciation Day will be held at the Kenai Park Strip. It’s a day to honor individuals and businesses from commercial fishing, health care, oil and gas, medical, and the tourism industries. The event honors and recognizes businesses and individuals that contribute to the local economies. It’s a free, family-friendly event with kid’s activities, info booths, and prize giveaways. Additionally, since it’s an election year, expect prospective politicians to be there lobbying for your support.
Tim Navarre speaks with KSRM on this year’s event:
“It’s going to be August 20th. We always start serving the food at noon and we’re all done by 4 o’clock, but there will be free food, hot dogs, salmon, pork and there’ll be frozen t-shirt contests and a fish pole contest where you can win a bike. We used to throw fish, actually, we used to have a fish toss, but now we do the frozen t-shirt and the fish pole and they’re a fun attraction and it gives kids something fun to do and an opportunity to win a bike. There’ll also be other bikes and prizes that we’re just raffling off right at the end. It’s a fun time for everybody. What we like to say is leave your wallet at home, all the booths that are at the park grounds…they can’t sell anything, they have to give something free away.”
Navarre speaks on the importance of Industry Appreciation Day:
“You know, this year, just getting back, we have three special awards we’re going to do. You’ll have to come and find out what it’s about. Next year we’ll be back having all the different groups, but we wanted to single out one, but as you know, this thing started as an oil and gas industry and then shortly after on about the second/third year, we brought in commercial fishing and the fishing industry. After that, we brought in tourism and started recognizing different groups and like you said, this has been thirty years that we’ve been doing this. Then we, about five/seven years ago, we brought in the hospital as an industry. So we brought them in and started giving them awards and next year another big industry that’s out there and that we’re going to bring them in is the nonprofits.”
Navarre said that fundraising activities are not permitted at this event. There is no charge for your booth space, but in return, you are encouraged to provide a gift for guests at the event. Political candidates, groups and support staff, must remain within their booth space when soliciting guests of Industry Appreciation Day. Lastly, no alcohol is permitted at the event.
This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, August 20 from 12:00 p.m. noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Kenai Park Strip.
