Those hoping to strike it rich will have an opportunity this July 4.
At Tlingit Park, casual prospectors will be able to try their hand at panning for gold in soil from Porcupine Creek, contributed by Mark Sebens from his gold mine.
The event will be open to people of all ages. “We’ll teach ‘em if they don’t know how to pan,” Sebens said.
The event will feature a celebrity guest as well: Fred “Dakota Fred” Hurt, from the Discovery Channel show “Gold Rush,” will make an appearance.
The event dovetails with the overall 4th of July Theme, “Back to Our Roots with an Olde Fashioned Fourth.”
“Our history includes a big gold rush to the porcupine,” said Annette Smith, secretary of the Lynn Canal Community Players. Members of the Players will attend the festivities in old-fashioned costumes, ready to pose for photos with guests.
“We raided the costume department,” said Annette Smith, the secretary of the Lynn Canal Community players. Smith also encourages visitors to wear old-fashioned clothes, “anything kicking around in closets,” she said.
Gold panning starts at 11:30 a.m., and the Olde Time Photo Booth will be open at 12:00 p.m. at Tlingit Park.