Photos: Seward celebrates Independence Day with fireworks and fish tossing

Updated: July 4, 2022 Published: July 4, 2022

Anna Baylis holds a salmon before she participates in a fish toss, hosted by the Seward Chamber of Commerce, during the Fourth of July festival in downtown Seward on Sunday. The fish was donated by OBI Seafoods. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

SEWARD — This town was flush with fun and enthusiasm Sunday as residents and visitors prepared for an Independence Day celebration that has traditionally been among the biggest and most vibrant in Alaska.

Thousands of people strolled through downtown for a street fair with plenty of stands and vendors.

The fish toss was among the most popular downtown events, with dozens of 2-person teams tossing salmon back and forth as they moved farther apart with each succeeding catch.

Another popular event with the kids was arm wrestling. Youngsters took on Goliath the Bear and predictably came out on top over the bruin in every instance.

Over at Seward High School on Sunday night, competitors in Monday’s Mount Marathon race gathered for the traditional bib auction and to receive final instructions. The last few spots for the 94th running of the race went for as much as $600 in a live-bid auction.

The celebration closed with a late-night boat parade and a fireworks display over Resurrection Bay.

Daisy Timmins arm wrestles “Goliath the Bear”. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Shaun Ankstitus catches a salmon from his partner in the fish toss event hosted by the Seward Chamber of Commerce. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

People walk along Adams Street where vendors lined the road in downtown Seward. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Children watch as a young boy attempts the high striker game during the Fourth of July festival. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

A girl reacts as she catches a salmon during the fish toss event. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Abi Ramsey arm wrestles “Goliath the Bear”. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Downtown Seward photographed on Sunday, July 3, 2022. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Levi Reilly, right, and Brian Baker celebrate after they won the fish toss event. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Finn Ewald makes a face after touching a salmon during the fish toss event. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

People cheer after a man won an auction at the Seward High School on for a spot in the Mount Marathon race. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

An Independence Day firework show is visible over Resurrection Bay in Seward on Monday, July 4, 2022. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

Chris Bieri

Chris Bieri is the sports and entertainment editor at the Anchorage Daily News.

Emily Mesner

Emily Mesner is a multimedia journalist for the Anchorage Daily News. She previously worked for the National Park Service at Denali National Park and Preserve and the Western Arctic National Parklands in Kotzebue, at the Cordova Times and at the Jackson Citizen Patriot in Jackson, Michigan.