Petersburg [1]’s Little Norway Festival, held each year on the weekend nearest Norwegian Independence Day (May 17), is the town’s biggest event. The three-day festivities include a parade, traditional Scandinavian costumes, crafts, music, a pageant, and a big seafood feast on the beach.
American Independence Day (July 4) is another time for fun, with a parade, blindfolded rowboat races, and fireworks. The annual king salmon derby in late May is always popular with locals.
The Petersburg Canned Salmon Classic is a contest to guess the number of cans of salmon packed by local canneries each year; $2,000 goes to the person who comes closest. It’s awarded in early August.
Live music, booze, cigarette smoke, and a clientele of local toughs make for good fights in Kito’s Kave (Sing Lee Alley, 907/772-3207). The nautically themed Harbor Bar (Nordic Dr., 907/772-4526) is a good place to meet local fishers over a beer.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alaska/southeast-alaska/petersburg