Alaska Life

The Bear Paw Festival parade circles downtown Eagle River

The streets were lined with spectators for the annual Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River. Floats representing anywhere from beauty salons to garbage trucks made the circuit in downtown Eagle River. Sports teams, dancers, horses and riders from the rodeo, a marching band, and people to numerous to count handing out candy walked the streets. Politicians worked the crowds shaking hands while their aides handed out candy, buttons and fliers. The U.S. flag was represented in the parade in many forms, with karate students carrying a huge flag, people wearing various flag-themed clothing and groups passing out individual flags.

Related: For younger cowpokes: Alaska Rodeo's Bear Paw Junior Rodeo

Bob Hallinen

Bob Hallinen has been a photojournalist in Alaska since the 1980s and has traveled extensively all over the state. He retired from the ADN in November 2018 after 33 years at the newspaper.

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