Gov. Bill Walker is carrying on the annual community picnic tradition in Juneau on Friday.
Gov. Walker, first lady Donna Walker, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, second lady Toni Mallott and members of the administration will be mingling and serving up salmon and hot dogs at Friday’s free picnic, which runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for people to get to know our state leadership and for them to get to know Juneau better,” says Bruce Botelho, who’s part of the volunteer team organizing Juneau’s picnic.
Unlike in years past, the picnic will be held on the campus of the University of Alaska Southeast. Botelho says the venue change from Sandy Beach is to showcase the university and put more emphasis on education and children.
“It’ll be primarily outside, though there will be booths located inside in the Egan Library,” he says. “There’ll be some children’s activities, various state departments will also have booths, as they have in the past. Outside, we’ll have an opportunity for gold panning.”
Besides the food, which is all donated by local businesses and organizations, he says costumed mascots like Smokey Bear will be there.
Alaska’s governors have held annual summer picnics for at least 20 years, usually only in Anchorage. Walker’s predecessor, Gov. Sean Parnell, was the first to make it annual in Juneau when he took office in 2009.
Picnics in Fairbanks and Anchorage have already been held this summer.
Photos from the Fairbanks Governor’s Picnic on June 6.
