Midnight Sun Run

More than just a running race, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Midnight Sun Run is a uniquely Alaskan event that attracts participants from all over the country. This years race will be held on June 23rd at 10p.m. Despite its late evening start, there's no need to bring flashlights, as the summer solstice sun shines brightly in the skies above, from start to finish and beyond. In recent years the race has attracted over 3,000 participants, from the elite runners who are aiming to break the finish line ribbon to back of the pack strollers simply out to have a good time.

Even those who don't enter the race have opportunities to enjoy the event. The race course, which starts at the UAF Patty Center and ends at Pioneer Park, meanders though a number of Fairbanks neighborhoods, where spectators are often times lined up elbow to elbow to cheer the runners on. Each year a Couch Potato Award is given to the best cheering section.

While most participants prefer to wear shorts and a t-shirt, others choose rather unconventional clothing, such as a cow costume. The costumed division is perhaps one of the most anticipated aspects of the race, and given the fact that folks in Fairbanks have plenty of hours of daylight to work on costumes, the final products are unique, to say the least.