Welcome to the boardwalk fishing village of Pelican, Alaska, one of the smallest 1st class cities in the U.S. With a year-round population of less than 100, Pelicanites live along a 1/2 mile of boardwalk.
Though not stressed by the traffic and pollution of most cities, Pelican has seen an upsurge in golf carts and 3- and 4-wheel ATVs in recent years. Traditional transportation (bicycles and feet) remain the most popular way to get around.
At one end of town we have Pelican Seafoods, our one and only local grocery store and the post office. This area bustles with locals, commercial fishermen, and the cold storage workers. Stay alert and watch for forklifts.
On your way down the boardwalk, you may be able to visit the museum or our very nice (& small) state library.
Be sure to turn in at the breakwater to visit the Pelican Memorial, an interesting and lovely tribute to residents and friends of Pelican who have passed.
Next, stop in at the Wheelwatch to wet your whistle, indulge in one of our famous Big Mick burgers, or come for dinner and try one of our 1- pound premium steaks and see what the fishing fleet raves about.
At the far end of Pelican are the Flats. This is a serene and gorgeous place to take a walk and soak in your surroundings, a natural remedy for stress and exhaustion.
You may want to time your trip to coincide with one of Pelican's summer highlights.
The season generally kicks off in May with the annual Boardwalk Boogie. 2008 will mark the 10th year of this annual music festival which gains in popularity each year as musicians from around and outside the state perform at both scheduled and impromptu events. The population doubles as small cruise ships bring in friends and fans to revel in this multi-day extravaganza.
The Pelican Salmon Derby arrives usually around the first week of June. All kinds of prizes are awarded, including the grand cash prize (around $2500) for this week-long event.
Though small, the citizens of Pelican go all-out for the 4th of
July, with festivities starting on July 3 with all-day socializing and
night time fireworks. The day of the 4th starts with the parade (anyone
is welcome to join in and the more ridiculous and/or outrageous
your get-up, the better). Following the parade, which ends at the
Flats, are children's games and a softball game (people of all ages
play). In the afternoon the water events take place in the harbor. The
most popular event is the Greased Pole contest and a race known as
Anything That Floats But A Boat. There are cash prizes for the winners
and most years people have so much fun they spontaneously donate more
money on the spot to either make it more interesting or because they
just don't want the fun to stop.
By early afternoon, The Wheelwatch's Annual July 4th BBQ is starting and people are drooling as they wait for their order to come up. The barbeque is not to be missed and some people stop by for both lunch and dinner.
For some, July 5 is a day for rest and recovery, but at the Wheelwatch, it's time to go fishing!