2008 Fairbanks Summer Solstice

The longest day of the year is cause for celebration in Fairbanks -- the sun rises at 4:21 a.m. and doesn't set until 12:48 a.m. the next day. It is above the horizon 21 hours, 49 minutes, but it's effectually light all night. Here are some photos of what Fairbanksans and guests did with all that daylight. Send your solstice photos to ourtown@newsminer.com and we'll add them to this gallery.

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The view from the Arctic Cam just before midnight on June 21, 2008.

9th Army rock band vocalist Sgt. Dan Puls, left, guitarist Staff Sgt. Tom Lindsey, center, and bassist Sgt. Kris Hitchman, right, perform during the annual Midnight Sun Festival downtown Saturday afternoon, June 21, 2008.

Breakdancers stay loose between rounds by entertaining the crowd at the annual Midnight Sun Festival in downtown Fairbanks on Saturday afternoon, June 21, 2008.

The sun lights up balloons at the start of the Midnight Sun Run on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

The crew of Rampart Rampage heads out onto the Chena River at the start of the Yukon 800 riverboat race Saturday morning, June 21, 2008 at Pike's Landing.

Midnight Sun racers relax in the slanting rays of the sun in front of the Patty Center before the race start on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

Don Ross, wearing a George Bush mask and pushing an oil drum, stands next to Bob Ritchie, aka Al Gore, pushing a 'hybrid' stroller during the costume contest of the 2008 Midnight Sun Run.

Alaska Goldpanners second baseman Jake Dunning grabs a throw to force out Brandon Pesante of the Southern California Running Birds in the103rd Annual Midnight Sun Baseball Classic Saturday evening, June 21, 2008, at Growden Memorial Park. The one-of-a-kind game starts at 10:30 p.m. on summer solstice and is played entirely with out artificial lighting.

A packed house at Growden Memorial Park watches the progression of the 103rd Annual Midnight Sun Baseball Classic Saturday evening, June 21, 2008. The one-of-a-kind game starts at 10:30 p.m. on summer solstice and is played entirely with out artificial lighting.

Jeremy Gillian waits on a pitch as the Alaska Goldpanners faced the Southern California Running Birds in the 103rd Annual Midnight Sun Baseball Classic Saturday evening, June 21, 2008, at Growden Memorial Park. The one-of-a-kind game starts at 10:30 p.m. on summer solstice and is played entirely with out artificial lighting.

Players and fans stand at attention for the playing of the national anthem at the beginning of the 103rd Annual Midnight Sun Baseball Classic Saturday evening, June 21, 2008, at Growden Memorial Park. The one-of-a-kind game starts at 10:30 p.m. on summer solstice and is played entirely with out artificial lighting.

Participants in the 26th Annual Midnight Sun Run parade down Tanana Loop Saturday evening, June 21, 2008, in this 135-foot view from the top of a University Fire Department fire truck ladder.

Participants in the 26th Annual Midnight Sun Run parade down Tanana Loop Saturday evening, June 21, 2008.

Participants in the 26th annual Midnight Sun Run parade down Tanana Loop on Saturday evening, June 21, 2008, in this 135-foot view from the top of a University Fire Department fire truck ladder.

Friends from left, Brittany Karns, Kim Green, Angene Johnson and Allie Babcock show off their cross country skiing-themed costumes in the costume contest of the Midnight Sun Run on Saturday evening, June 21, 2008, outside the University of Alaska Fairbanks Patty Center.

Anders Gaustad, left, and Kim Harris wait in line to sign up for the costume contest of the Midnight Sun Run on Saturday evening, June 21, 2008, in their lobster-themed costume titled “Catch of the Day.”

Harriet McCotter of Tanana waves the green starting flag for one of the boats at the start of the Yukon 800 riverboat race Saturday morning, June 21, 2008 at Pike's Landing.

The crew of Rampart Rampage heads out onto the Chena River at the start of the Yukon 800 riverboat race Saturday morning, June 21, 2008 at Pike's Landing.

North Pole Cyclones U14 #12 in second half action against Kenai during the Midnight Sun Youth Soccer Tournament on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

Eclipse 93's #10, left, and Arctic Knights 94's #1 in first half action of their game during the Midnight Sun Youth Soccer Tournament on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

Stephan Jenkins, lead singer for the San Francisco quartet Third Eye Blind, takes a seat on stage during the solstice concert at The Blue Loon in Ester on June 21, 2008.

A concert-goer surfs on the crowd at the Third Eye Blind solstice concert at The Blue Loon on June 20.

Third Eye Blind performs at The Blue Loon's solstice celebration on June 20.

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