Midnight Sun Hangout (Sold Out/Waiting List)
June 20 - June 27
Fairbanks/Chena River KOA • North Pole, AK
This Hangout is currently sold out, but join the waiting list and we’ll let you know if a spot opens up!
This Hangout is currently sold out, but join the waiting list and we’ll let you know if a spot opens up!
Revel in the "midnight sun"
Fairbanks, Alaska, located at 65 degrees north latitude, is home to the famed “midnight sun” with twilight illuminating the very brief summer night. During the seven-day Midnight Sun Hangout, hosted by Lisa and Jason Reich, SKP# 118627 and co-hosted by Joann and Charlie Kavanagh SKP# 132374, you’ll get to experience the summer solstice–the longest day of the year, when the sun dips barely below the horizon for just over an hour–in Alaska’s northernmost major city.
Your Hangout experience will begin with a visit to the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North. Here, you’ll discover fascinating stories about Alaska’s people, places, cultural traditions, and wildlife in the museum’s award-winning exhibit galleries – your best introduction to this vast and diverse state.
Your three-hour cruise on the Chena River aboard the Riverboat Discovery will take you into the heart of the Last Frontier. During this tour, you’ll learn the vital role of bush pilots and planes in Alaskan transportation, see the champion sled dogs of four-time Iditarod winner Susan Butcher in action, be immersed in the Athabascan Indian culture as a Native Alaskan guide takes you through a Chena Indian Village, and more.
You’ll spend a relaxing day at the Chena Hot Springs Resort, where an indoor pool and outdoor wading lake are fed by hot mineral spring water. In addition to the hot springs, your package includes a guided tour of the Aurora Ice Museum–an indoor museum fashioned from 1,000 tons of ice–and a Geothermal Renewable Energy Tour. Other activities like massages, ATV tours, horseback riding, and dog sled mushing are available at an additional cost.
Interior Alaskans regard the 23+ hours of daylight during the summer solstice as their reward for living through another long, dark winter. You’ll join in the celebration at the Midnight Sun Festival, a 12-hour block party/street fair packed with live music, performances, and hundreds of booths selling food, crafts, and handmade souvenirs.
You’ll also get to attend the world-famous Midnight Sun Baseball Game, a 118-year-old tradition–played entirely without artificial light–with the first pitch at 10:00 pm. On another night, you’ll have the chance to run or walk in the Midnight Sun Run 10K, also starting at 10:00 pm.
On your last night of the Hangout, you’ll enjoy a longstanding Fairbanks tradition, the Alaska Salmon Bake in Pioneer Park. And after dinner, you’ll be entertained by the Palace Theatre’s Golden Heart Review, a hilarious musical comedy that will give you the historical highlights of Fairbanks through songs and stories.
All of these activities, plus a naturalist-led hike on the Creamer’s Field Trail, a visit to North Pole’s Santa Claus House, a stroll on the Chena Riverwalk, potluck meals in camp, and much more await you at the Midnight Sun Hangout!
Hangout location
Camping for the Midnight Sun Hangout will be at the Fairbanks/Chena River KOA. All of our sites are big rig-friendly, easy-access pull-throughs with full hookups. Our sites will have a combination of 30 amp and 50 amp service (be sure to indicate your preference when you register, and we’ll do our best to accommodate that). The park has a bathhouse and is pet-friendly.
Please contact the park directly if you wish to arrive before the start of the Hangout and/or stay after it ends. Early arrivals and late departures are subject to site availability at the time you make your reservation. You’ll pay the park directly for any extra days at the Park’s then-current daily rate less a 10% discount.
This Hangout is limited to only 29 RVs and tickets will go quickly—so don’t wait to register!
Is this event right for me?
Every member is welcome at all Escapees RV Club events. With that said, the Midnight Sun Hangout is best suited for members who:
- enjoy hiking and walking
- can participate in activities during weekdays (traditional working/business hours)
For events designed specifically for working-age RVers, with most activities in the evenings and on weekends, try an Xscapers Convergence. Or for more of an all-inclusive, guided-tour experience, you may prefer one of our Head-Out Programs (HOPs).
Please note that we are not organizing a traveling caravan either to or from Alaska or between the three Alaska Hangouts. Participants will be responsible for transporting their own RVs.
Schedule
Activities and schedule are subject to change. Activities marked with an *asterisk are not included in your Hangout fee.
Tuesday 6/20
Arrive at Fairbanks/Chena River KOA
Welcome gathering & introductions
Wednesday 6/21
Potluck breakfast
Museum of the North
Georgeson Botanical Gardens ($7 suggested donation)*
Midnight Sun Baseball Game (10 pm)
Thursday 6/22
Riverboat Discovery tour
Happy hour & dinner at a local brewery*
Game night
Friday 6/23
Day trip to Chena Hot Springs
Saturday 6/24
Midnight Sun Festival
Midnight Sun Run (10 pm)
Sunday 6/25
Santa Claus House
Potluck dinner
“Christmas in June” gift game
Discussion about further travel in Alaska
Monday 6/26
Alaska Pipeline Exhibit
Creamer’s Field Trail hike and birdwatching
Shopping in Fairbanks*, Chena Riverwalk, and/or Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
Group photo at Antler Arch
Alaska Salmon Bake
Palace Theater Golden Heart Revue
Tuesday 6/27
GTHO breakfast
Departure
Optional on-your-own trip to BLM Arctic Circle monument sign
Price & registration
Important note: The club is offering three Alaska Hangouts–in Fairbanks, Seward and Valdez–in 2023. Because we anticipate that many members who are planning to spend the summer in Alaska will want to attend all three Hangouts, we will initially sell them ONLY as a three-event Alaska Hangouts Bundle, beginning Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:00 am CST.
If any spots remain unsold as part of the bundle, the spots for this Hangout will be sold individually beginning on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 10:00 am CST.
Registration includes:
- 7 nights RV camping in a FHU site
- Museum of the North admission
- Riverboat Discovery cruise
- Midnight Sun Baseball Game admission
- Salmon Bake dinner
- Palace Theater Golden Heart Review
- Chena Hot Springs admission
- Aurora Ice Museum tour
- Hiking & social activities
- GTHO departure day breakfast
- Hangout hosts
Additional costs to consider: meals out, $7 suggested donation at Botanical Gardens, optional activities at Chena Hot Springs
All activities listed for this event are subject to change.
Hangout price
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RV site, 2 people $1,099
All sites are pull-throughs with full hookups and either 30 amp or 50 amp electrical service. Be sure to indicate your preference when you register, and we will do our best to accommodate it.
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Deduct for only 1 person -$215
-
Each additional person $269
For more than 2 people (including children) in same rig
You must be an Escapees RV Club member to attend this event. If you are not currently a member, you will be able to add a new membership during the registration process.
By registering for this event, you are representing and agreeing to the following (click to expand):
- You are physically capable of participating in the event.
- Your recreational vehicle, other vehicles, and any other equipment you may use to participate in the event will be in working condition.
- You will observe all applicable laws (including obtaining relevant licenses) and event rules, and will conduct yourself in a safe and prudent manner while participating in the event.
- That although volunteers may be directing and assisting you to your parking area, it is the driver of the vehicle who is ultimately responsible for avoiding obstacles or dangerous situations and is solely responsible for any damage to your property or the property of others.
- You accept and assume all risks arising from participation in the event, and waive and release all claims against Escapees or its affiliates relating to such participation.
- You consent to receive medical treatment deemed necessary if you are injured or require medical attention during your participation in the event, and agree that you are solely responsible for all related costs.
- You grant your permission to be filmed, videotaped, audio taped or photographed, and grant to Escapees full use thereof without compensation.
- You will receive occasional email notifications of future Escapees events; however, you can opt-out of these notifications at any time.
The above is only a summary. Please carefully read the full the terms and conditions, assumption of risk, and waiver of claims agreement that will be provided to you during the registration process.
How to register
Please note: special cancellation policies apply to bundle registrations!
You may be required to cancel the entire bundle, and significant cancellation
fees may apply. Please register for the bundle ONLY if you
actually plan to attend all three Hangouts.
Please be sure to read the “Cancellations and travel insurance“
section of the 2023 Alaska Hangouts Bundle page before registering.
To register, click the button below and follow the instructions on your screen. If you need assistance with your registration, please call Escapees Event Registration at (936) 329-6499.
Registration opens Friday, January 27, 2023
at 10:00 a.m. Central Time.
After bundle sales end, any remaining spots for this Hangout will be sold
individually beginning on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 10:00 am CST.
We’re sorry, but this Hangout is currently sold out. If you’d still like to attend, please join the waiting list below. We’ll notify you if a spot opens up.
After you register
Watch for an email from registration@escapees.com for a confirmation of your registration. If you don’t receive it, call Escapees Event Registration at (936) 329-6499 to be sure that your registration was processed correctly.
After you register, please join the private 2023 Alaska Hangouts group on Facebook (a link to this group will be in your confirmation email). We will use this group to communicate with Hangout attendees before and during the event. You will also receive one or more emails before the Hangout with more information as needed.
Cancellations & travel insurance
Should you need to cancel your registration, call Escapees Event Registration at (936) 329-6499 between 8 am and 4 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday, or email registration@escapees.com.
If you purchase this Hangout as part of the 2023 Alaska Hangouts Bundle, please refer to the bundle cancellation policy.
If you purchase this Hangout individually, you may be entitled to a partial refund of your registration fees, depending on when we receive your cancellation:
- On or before Friday, April 21, 2023: $50 cancellation fee, remainder of payment refunded
- Saturday, April 22, 2023 through Friday, May 19, 2023: 50% refund of full event cost
- After Friday, May 19, 2023: no refund
We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance after registering to protect your investment in the Hangout if you must cancel due to unexpected illness, death, or certain other contingencies. Travel insurance can also help to cover medical and trip interruption expenses for emergencies that occur during the Hangout. Pre-existing medical conditions are waived as long as you purchased your insurance within 15 days after your Hangout registration fee payment. Get a personalized online travel insurance quote now.
Waiting list
If this Hangout is sold out when you try to register, please join the waiting list by completing the form below. There are usually several cancellations before a Hangout…so if a spot opens up and you’re the next one on the waiting list, you’ll get another shot at registration! (Note: please don’t join the waiting list unless and until the Hangout sells out. Entries received before that time will be ignored.)
