American Festivals Project

The AFP has arrived in Anchorage, Alaska for the World Beard and Mustache competition.  It was a long trip out to this beautiful state, but well worth the ride.  Unfortunately, Mr. Owen has to stay in Virginia and serve out his duties to another great festival–the Festival of the Photograph.  He’ll be sorely missed.
Alaska is a state full of its eccentricities, but now that there are 300 more men with big beards and mustaches, it proves to be even stranger.  I’m just going to show you a little teaser for now, but I promise there is some great content on the way.  The atmosphere at the event is contagiously friendly.  I’ve never met so many cheerful old men that look like the dwarves in Lord of the Rings.  And talk about other media!  I’ve never seen so many photographers and documentary video crews.  Here I thought I was going the farthest away in the U.S., only to be met with a crowd of other folks with the exact same idea.  Nothing remains to be photographed….

Today’s weather was sixty degrees and sunny.  I walked home from the beard party at 11: 30 pm and it was still perfectly light.  I actually passed two people playing tennis and another woman working in her yard.  It’s certainly bizarre.  And now it’s 4am my time, but I can’t fall asleep because the sky is still glowing a deep blue.  I’ve managed to eat quite locally, or so it seems.  Today I had a reindeer hot dog and a salmon sub.  But me-oh-my is food expensive.  I don’t think it’s possible to eat for under $10 a meal.

Beards rule Anchorage this weekend, and I’ll be there to see all the action!  Be sure to check back for more updates and some real purty nature shots later next week.