2025 Alaska Midnight Sun Game & Pacific Northwest Baseball Tour Recap and Photo Log
Next PNW / Alaska Midnight Sun Game Tour:
Days One & Two — June 17 & 18, 2025
We started off with some sightseeing in Seattle: the first ever Starbucks at Pike Place Market, Jimi Hendrix’s Walk of Fame, the Piroshky Piroshky Russian bakery, and more!
We had some drinks at the Mariners-themed Sluggers Sports Bar before making our way to T-Mobile Park to see the M’s host the Boston Red Sox. Seattle was victorious, 8-0, behind 7 innings of one-hit ball by Bryan Woo and a grand slam by the Big Dumper Cal Raleigh!
Our seats were amazing and the weather was lovely. One of the big highlights of the night was three people from Germany and one from England in our group who were all attending their first baseball game.
Days Three, Four & Five — June 19, 20, & 21
On Wednesday, we visited the Sig Brewing Company in Tacoma and enjoyed some pregame food and drinks. Then, we took in a Pacific International League matchup between the roving Gumberoos and the Seattle Cheney Studs at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Park. The PIL is one of the premier Summer Collegiate Baseball Leagues in the Northwest. Many of the players are NCAA eligible, and the league even allows former professionals and college graduates to participate.
Thursday was a travel day for us as we left Washington and flew out to Fairbanks, Alaska. In the evening, we had a great hosted welcome dinner at Big Daddy’s BBQ & Banquet. Friday was a packed schedule as we started with an afternoon riverboat cruise featuring a walking tour of an Athabascan village, a bush pilot demonstration, and a dog mushing demonstration!
Afterwards, we walked over a mile along the beautiful Chena River to Growden Park, the site of the storied Midnight Sun Game between the Anchorage Glacier Pilots and the Alaska Goldpanners. The first pitch was at 10:00 pm! The Goldpanners are known for attracting top collegiate players from around the country. The visiting Glacier Pilots play in the Alaska Baseball League.
At midnight, we all joined in with the crowd to sing the state anthem? “Alaska’s Flag.” We also sang and kazooed to “Happy Boy” by the Beat Farmers during the 7th inning stretch (Happy Boy is the name of the Goldpanners’ mascot). What a unique experience!
Days Six & Seven — June 22 & 23
On Saturday, our group split up, with a few of us traveling from Fairbanks to Denali National Park via the Alaska Railroad to witness stunning Mount McKinley. Meanwhile, others stayed behind to visit the University of Alaska Museum of the North and the Midnight Sun Solstice Festival. Over 30,000 people joined the downtown festivities, which featured shopping booths, locally made products, and delicious food from noon to midnight.
The following day, more of us headed to Denali to take in the breathtaking views, bringing this unforgettable Pacific Northwest and Alaska tour to a close! Thank you all for joining!