NOTN- Santa Claus will come to Juneau this weekend aboard a Capital City Fire/Rescue engine.
According to Capital City Fire/Rescue the Santa Run will take place tonight from 5:30 to 7:45 pm and tomorrow from 4:00 to 7:55 pm.
There has been adjustments due to the weather, instead of walking the routes, CCFR is inviting residents to join Santa at one of the designated stops throughout Juneau.
On Saturday, Santa will stop at Gruening Park, the Tram parking lot and will conclude his visit at Gastineau Elementary schools.
Firefighters say Santa will be accompanied by the Grinch, and candy canes will be handed out to children throughout the evening.
Event details and stop information are available on the Capital City Fire and Rescue Facebook page.
T.J. Duffy Organist and musician at the Alaska State Office Building, photo courtesy of T.J. Duffy
This story has been corrected, the Organ was stationed at the Gross Alaska Theater, not Goldtown.
Longtime Juneau organist and State employee T.J. Duffy will perform his final noon organ concert tomorrow, closing a chapter that has spanned nearly 16 years of weekly performances in downtown Juneau.
Duffy, who has been a fixture of Juneau’s music scene since arriving in 2009, said the concerts have been one of the great joys of his career.
While he is retiring from the series, he emphasized that he is not stepping away from music entirely.
“I have loved giving these concerts.” Duffy said, “But since I’m retiring, I’ve got my sights set on some other things.”
The noon organ concerts trace their roots back decades. The instrument is housed in an office building but it has lived in other locations across the capital city including at Gross Alaska Theater.
The organ was donated to the city on the condition that it remain in Juneau.
Early performances sometimes coincided with visits from dignitaries.
Over the years, Duffy’s concerts have drawn a wide range of listeners, Duffy is a classically trained musician and has played across genres in his career, with his noon concerts showcasing classic rock anthems from Metallica to Twisted Sister.
One memory stands out for him involved a concertgoer who was both deaf and blind.
“He comes to the concerts. And when he does, he likes to press his body up against the instrument and feel the vibrations.” Duffy said.
As he prepares for his final performance, Duffy expressed hope that the tradition of noon organ concerts will continue with a new generation of musicians.
“Organists, we’re a dying breed, what I hope is any promising music student who’s in music school right now, might come up for a visit and consider staying.” Duffy said.
Duffy said his final concert will be a celebration. He plans to invite the audience to sing along and will provide lyric sheets featuring familiar Christmas music.
“I’m really hoping for a big crowd,” said Duffy, “If you love to sing, come out tomorrow.”
The concert will mark the end of an era for a longtime Juneau musical tradition, one that Duffy helped sustain and shape for nearly two decades.
NOTN- Free Thanksgiving Dinners are being offered across Southeast on Thursday, offering warm meals and a place to gather for those who need it.
In Juneau, the Salvation Army will serve a Community Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Juneau Yacht Club.
Resurrection Lutheran Church will hold its annual Thanksgiving Dinner from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the church’s community cafeteria and dining room.
The Eagle River United Methodist Camp will open its lodge at 10 a.m., with dinner service beginning around 1:30 p.m. The camp is located at Mile 28 of Glacier Highway, just before Eagle Beach State Park.
The Haines Ministerial Association will host a free holiday meal at the Haines School from noon to 2 p.m. at 604 Main Street.
In Gustavus, the community is invited to a Thanksgiving gathering at the Gustavus Chapel, otherwise known as the Red Church. Dinner will be served from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Organizers say all are welcome, and no reservations are required.
“Happy Thanksgiving.” Said Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon, “We can be thankful for family and friends, but most important, we can be thankful for a great community we live in, even though we disagree at times, we still have each other’s backs. we’ll get through everything this year together.”
