This year's Fourth of July fundraising efforts by royalty contestant Sophia Martinsen will start with the annual kickoff at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the downtown pavilion, rain or shine - which is the only way to stick to a schedule in Wrangell.

The free event is a community potluck; utensils and plates will be provided.

Martinsen will be a junior when the new school year starts in August and is the sole contestant in the royalty contest that will end with the coronation on July 3, though she will not be alone in selling the raffle tickets that raise money for the town's biggest celebration of the year.

"My sister (Emma) ran in 2021, and I've always wanted to run," she said. But it's not a grudge match. In fact, her sister will serve as her financial manager.

And Martinsen's aunt, Sue Callbreath, will help with cooking, particularly full breakfasts served at the pavilion. No waffles or pancakes, she said, but come hungry for eggs and bacon or sausages and hash browns.

It's a lot of work to cook for the town. "We did it four years ago, and I just recovered," Callbreath said of her time helping Emma Martinsen,

Sophia Martinsen said cooking is not her specialty; she is more of a baker.

In addition to food booths with raffle ticket sales to raise money, Sophia Martinsen said she is planning a carnival sometime in June, along with other events.

The schedule for the Fourth of July "is getting more firmed up," said Tracey Martin, executive director of the chamber of commerce, which organizes the festivities.

The raffle tickets are the chamber's biggest fundraising event of the year. The nonprofit organization receives no funds from the borough, though it does get free rent for its new office at the Nolan Center.

The games and contests and fun will be packed into July 3 and 4, with some events spilling into July 2, Martin said.

The Alaska Airlines tournament at the Muskeg Meadows Golf Course will tee off the weekend before the Fourth.

"We still need sponsorships for lots of events," Martin said last week. Sponsor donations help pay for the prizes.

In one case, the chamber already has the money to pay for the annual egg toss competition but needs someone to organize and run the event.

They also need judges for the arts and crafts and baked goods entries in the Red, White and Blue Fair, a prelude to the Southeast Alaska State Fair later in the summer in Haines.

Anyone interested in helping, donating or volunteering in any way for anything over the Fourth should call Martin at 907-874-3901.

Meanwhile, the chamber is still hoping that the Wrangell Fire Department member who is studying for the state license to launch fireworks passes the test and is ready to set the fuses for the July 3 show.

The theme for this year's celebration is "Small Town, Big Heart." Liubov Lofftus designed the logo.