July events calendar.

• Position: Calendar

STATEWIDE

7/4 Statewide independence Day Celebrations

Music, food, activities and entertainment will dominate the day as Alaskans celebrate Independence Day with festivals, parades, picnics, races and other events. Check locally for your planned events in your community.

7/9 Women Rock! Adventure Challenge

Four hours of biking, navigating and trekking begins at 9 a.m. at Kincaid Park. Course designed to introduce new racers to the sport and challenge the veterans. There will be prizes, T-shirts and post-race food at Alaska's only women-specific multi-sport adventure challenge. Visit www.alaskaadventureracing.com of contact: Darren Hull, 529-8985.

7/21-7/24 Alaska Salsa Festival

An amazing event with dance classes, professional shows and huge parties will be held at the Hotel Captain Cook and hosted by Alaska Dance Promotions. Join the hundreds of dance enthusiasts, people who are excited for a new challenge, and those of us who just like to have a great time. Contact: 907-276-6000 of 800-843-1950 of info@alaskasalsafestival.com.

7/14-7/17 Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Healthy Heroes

Enjoy Elmo's adventures along with your kids at the Sullivan Arena, shows begin at 7 p.m. Tickets at TicketMaster, $16.50 to $56.50.

7/25-7/30 Alaska Challenge Wheel Chair & Handcycle Race

Sadler's 26th annual Alaska Challenge welcomes world-class athletes to Alaska. The world's longest and toughest wheelchair and handcycle race in the world will continue its traditional course from Fairbanks to Anchorage with a distance of more than 260 miles in six stages. Competitors will arrive in Anchorage July 23 and move to Fairbanks on July 24 for the start of the race the next morning, July 25. First stage of the race is Fairbanks to Nenana (in daily stages), then south to Healy, Denali Park and Talkeetna, through Hatcher's Pass and on to Anchorage in the final day of the competition, July 30. For details on profiles, race information, or opportunities to volunteer, visit www.challengealaska.org or contact Elizabeth Edmands: 907-344-7222.

CORDOVA

7/11-7/16 4H Music Camps

These summer specialty camps feature a Hawaiian camp for kids ages 6-8 and a full-featured music camp for kids from g through 18. Both camps culminate with public performances by the campers. Guest artists will be announced at a tater date.

The camps ate fully staffed by talented musicians from throughout the U.S. and Canada, including several camp counselors from the Cordova area. Contact: cordovabluegrass@hotmail.com.

7/27-7/30 Wild! Copper River Salmon...