Hello Fairbanks! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Starry fire evacuation, record-setting midnight sun run, and printmaking for beginners + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Community on alert: An evacuation order remained in effect Tuesday for Anderson as crews battled 95-acre Starry Fire, displacing nearly 125 residents while most stayed and 11 sheltered at Tri-Valley School in Healy -- see the latest fire response.
Record-setting community turnout: Fairbanks' Midnight Sun Run set a new record, drawing over 4,000 near UAF. Registration closed after bibs ran out, edging past the previous 3,980 mark at a 10 p.m. finish -- see the race record.
Preserving UAF’s legacy: At UAF’s Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, the Archives preserves campus history and individual perspectives, pursuing two core goals, preservation and accessibility, a mission rooted in its 1965 founding -- explore the archives story.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Beat the midnight sun: Need a break from the 24-hour glow? Arctic Sun VR has group-friendly free-roam battles, VR escape rooms, racing rigs, and comfy setups that even your non-gamer buddy can enjoy. Locally owned, easy to book, and perfect for birthdays, date nights, or just dodging mosquitoes for an hour.
Local time travel, sorta: Pioneer Park packs a little of everything into 44 acres of Fairbanks nostalgia, from a narrow-gauge train and 1930s carousel to mini-golf, galleries, and legit museums. Stroll the old cabins, geek out over the SS Nenana, then call it your easiest win this week.
Make your yard thrive: Family-run for over 65 years, Risse Greenhouse is where Fairbanks gardeners find plants, seeds, and soil that actually work here, plus friendly know-how when moose or frost laugh at your plans. Stock up, then watch your backyard bragging rights grow as fast as the daylight.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🖨 Printmaking for Beginners @ Noel Wien Public Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 1:00 PM – Let your pint-sized Picassos loose on beginner printmaking at Noel Wien’s Active Learning Lab, easy to repeat at home and destined for the fridge. There's a food-printing table too, because potatoes deserve a second act, and kids love a glorious mess. Ages 4 to 11.
🌍 Geophysical Institute Free Summer Tours 2026 @ Elvey Building | Wednesday (6/24) at 1:00 PM – Free Wednesday tours at UAF’s Geophysical Institute let you finally find out what that big blue antenna is up to, and no, it’s not Netflix. Ninety breezy minutes. Poke around the Earthquake Center, the Satellite Facility, and a model rocket, then quiz UAF grad students.
🛝 Park Play Day @ Ester Community Park | Thursday (6/25) at 11:00 AM – Pack the snacks and head to Ester Community Park for a free Park Play Day with the Fairbanks Children's Museum and Parks & Rec. Expect hands-on activities, games, and kid energy to burn, while you trade weather talk, sip coffee, and supervise.
🎶 Music in the Garden: South Cushman Social Club and more @ Georgeson Botanical Garden | Thursday (6/25) at 6:00 PM – Pack a blanket, rally the family, and head to the garden for live sets from South Cushman Social Club and The Glam Faction. It is lawn chair casual, kid-approved, and a free shuttle runs from the Nenana lot, so your knees can skip the trek.
🏳 Bethel Community Pride Celebration @ Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center | Friday (6/26) at 4:00 PM – Bethel is putting on its most colorful sweater for a family-friendly Pride celebration at the Cultural Center, courtesy of the Violence Prevention Coalition. Expect kid-friendly activities, neighbors you actually like, a safe, welcoming vibe, and a community dance if you still have some sparkle.
🧒 Tanana Valley Children's Market @ Tanana Valley Farmer's Market | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Kids are running the show at the Tanana Valley Children’s Market, with handmade crafts, homegrown goodies, and pint-sized entrepreneurs who negotiate like seasoned mushers. On select Saturdays, it’s a browse-and-brag showcase for the next wave of Interior makers, free, charming, and light on screens.
🐶 24th Annual Mutt March @ Fairbanks North Star Borough Pioneer Park | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – Leash up, it’s the 24th Annual Mutt March, where the dogs network and the humans pretend we’re just along for the walk. Stroll Pioneer Park, meet adoptable good boys and girls, try the dog-friendly fun, visit local vendors, and support the rescue community.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Fairbanks report Weather forecastToday — High: 69°F — Low: 48°F — Precip: 36%
Scattered rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Isolated rain showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 74°F — Low: 51°F — Precip: 32%
Scattered rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Scattered rain showers before 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. This house is wildThis Alaskan log home along Chena Hot Springs Road blends rustic character with modern updates, including granite countertops, new appliances, and a bright open living area. With 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a main-level primary suite, cozy lofts, and a private lower-level mother-in-law suite, it offers space, flexibility, and true lodge-style charm.
Take a peek inside → |
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