Alaska counts down to the Big 5-0

— -- "WE'RE IN," exulted the 6-inch-high front-page headline of the Anchorage Daily Times June 30, 1958.

The headline meant that the Alaska Statehood Act, already approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, had passed the Senate. When President Eisenhower signed the legislation a week later, Alaska was approved to become the USA's 49th state.

Fifty years later, the summer tourist magnet is planning months of celebration, featuring some of the state's biggest bashes.

"It's momentous. … Kids in high school and college — and a lot of our newer residents — have no idea that we're pretty darn young" for a state, says Fairbanks resident Melissa Stepovich. She is the co-chair of the Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission and daughter of former Alaska territory governor Mike Stepovich, who is 89.

On May 28 in Fairbanks, the state kicks off two years of festivities to celebrate its history and culture and mark its statehood status, which officially was granted Jan. 3, 1959. Fairbanks activities during the last week in May include concerts, a barbecue and appearances by officials.

For more information, visit explorefairbanks.com.

Music, air show, cabbages

•The state's capital, Juneau, will host a June 14 performance of The Alaska Symphony (traveljuneau.com).

•A "We're In Weekend" in Anchorage June 28-29 celebrating the congressional passage of the statehood bill will include concerts by Alaska bands, an Arctic Thunder air show at Elmendorf Air Force Base and theater productions (anchorage.net/50).

•Cities will add patriotic pyrotechnics to July 4 celebrations. For example, Haines (haines.ak.us) will host Fort Seward Days: Journey to Statehood on July 5-6, looking back at the history of Fort William H. Seward, the influential Army post in the Alaska territory.

•In addition to displaying giant cabbages and prize livestock, the Alaska State Fair, about 40 miles north of Anchorage, will showcase the state's anniversary from Aug. 21-Sept. 1 (alaskastatefair.org).