We arrived in Fairbanks with a couple of days to spare before the famous Midnight Sun baseball game, so we spent time hanging out with other RVing friends and exploring our surroundings.
Pioneer Park
Our home for several nights was the parking lot of Pioneer Park, a Fairbanks city park that was established for the centennial of the Alaska Purchase.
Parking is paid with no hookups, although potable water is available on-site. The best thing about the park is its central location with easy access to all of Fairbanks’ attractions.
We were excited to be at the middle of an epic meetup of other blogging RVers.
We took some time to explore Pioneer Park, too, which is free to the public and open day and night. Only there wasn’t really a night to speak of.
Play Ball! Midnight Sun Baseball Game
On the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, Fairbanks celebrated the 110th Midnight Sun baseball game, and we were there to cheer on the Fairbanks Goldpanners.
The name is a bit of a misnomer, as the game starts a couple of hours before midnight.
Our tickets were for left field, where we sat in the grass and watched the players from the baseline. The stands were sparse, but they were packed.
Our group of RVers staged a peaceful takeover of left field.
If you’re not following these fine blogs and checking out their own Alaska adventures, hop to it!
From left to right: Josh and me, Clark and Lynn of Tales from the Mutiny, Beth (and Taylor, not pictured) of The Learning Banks, Nikki and Jason of Gone With The Wynns, Eric (and Jeanette at the far right) of JenEric Ramblings, and Cherie and Chris of Technomadia. Not pictured are Kristin and Jason of The Snowmads.
We had to document the brightness of the sky as the midnight pitch was struck…
As we left the Goldpanners’ stadium (they totally beat the Seattle Studs, by the way), the sun finally dipped below the horizon, and it got as dark as it would ever get that evening.
After the game ended, wildfire smoke moved in, obscuring the sun and limiting our ability to use solar power, so it was time to move on down the road.
Have you visited Alaska during the Summer Solstice and cheered on the Goldpanners at the Midnight Sun Baseball Game?
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