ALASKA EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Explore Travel Tidings Alaska's page of events and festivals, and find an event or festival to suit your Alaska vacation, from sports events to music festivals, from a cultural event to a festival celebrating wildlife ... there is something for everyone in Alaska. |
Photo: © Alaska Division of Tourism |
JANUARY EVENTS IN ALASKA
Russian Christmas and Starring – Kodiak
Many Alaskan communities throughout Alaska’s Southwest recognize the Russian Orthodox Christmas in the second week of January and celebrate with Starring – parishioners following a twirling star from home to home singing sacred music of the season.Russian New Year and Masquerade Ball – Kodiak
Russian New Years celebrations on January 14 include a masquerade ball in which guests go home after the meal and return minutes later fully masked until unmasking at midnight.Anchorage Folk Festival – Anchorage
For two full weeks in mid-January, more than 120 singers, dancers, storytellers, and groups from throughout Alaska and around the world meet to perform traditional and original material in styles ranging from folk to Celtic, bluegrass, jazz, klezmer and more. The concerts and workshops are open to the public and are free.FEBRUARY EVENTS IN ALASKA
The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race – Fairbanks to Whitehorse
Called the "toughest race on earth" because of the rugged terrain and long distances between checkpoints, this over 1,000-mile race generally alternates directions each year between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Canada.Tesoro Iron Dog – Wasilla to Nome to Fairbanks
Formerly known, as the Iron Dog Gold Rush Classic, the Tesoro Iron Dog, held in February, is still the world's longest snowmobile race and covers 1,971 miles from Wasilla to Nome to Fairbanks.Fur Rendezvous Festival - Anchorage
Alaskans know how to make the most of the short winter days and in the week leading up to the start of the Iditarod sled dog race, the Fur Rondy festival is one opportunity to get out and enjoy the snow. The celebration dates back to the early 1900s when trappers and miners emerged from Alaska’s wilderness to trade, socialize and compete in survival-type games. Nowadays the week-long event contains a weight pull, sled dog races, snowshoe softball games, outhouse races, snow and ice sculpture competitions and more, as well as the popular Miners and Trappers costume ball.MARCH EVENTS IN ALASKA
World Ice Art Championships – Fairbanks
This international ice sculpture competition with ice sculptors from more than thirty countries produces more than more than 100 larger-than life sculptures. The creation of the works of art can be observed during the first two weeks of March, and the finished pieces can be viewed during the final two weeks of the month.Camai Dance Festival – Bethel
Traditional dancers from all over Alaska and the world gather in Bethel in Soutwest Alaska for the Camai Dance Festival, a celebration of Alaska Native dance held in the last weekend of March.Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race - Anchorage to Nome
From Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, the world famous 10 -17 days long Iditarod features teams of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher following the over 1150-mile route that was originally a mail and supply route by dogsled.APRIL EVENTS IN ALASKA
Native Youth Olympics – Anchorage
Several hundred youth gather in Anchorage at the end of April each year to demonstrate their skills in traditional Native games – games based on the games their ancestors played as a way to test their hunting and survival skills, and to increase strength, endurance, agility, and the balance of mind and body.Stikine River Migratory Bird and Garnet Festival – Wrangell
Held towards the end of April, the Stikine River Migratory Bird and Garnet Festival heralds the start of Spring in Alaska and celebrates the arrival of the largest springtime concentration of Bald Eagles in North America to the Stikine River Delta. Up to 2000 American Bald Eagles feed on the hooligan swimming up the middle and north arms of the Stikine River. The delta is a major stopover on the Pacific Fly Way for approximately 200,000 shorebirds and up to 15,000 Snow Geese and over 10,000 Sand Hill Cranes. The world famous garnets of Garnet Ledge are celebrated too, Mined for over a century, the garnets ridge ledge was deeded to the boy scouts of Southeastern Alaska, who now collect the garnets to sell to tourists.Alyeska Spring Carnival and Slush Cup - Alyeska, Alaska
Alaskans make it a tradition to welcome spring with open arms. Some do so by racing down a mountain on skis wearing zany costumes into an ice-cold pond.The Alyeska Spring Carnival and Slush Cup is a springtime tradition for getting in one last dose of winter skiing and snowboarding and enjoying an old-fashioned Alaska party. The event includes live music, fashion show, downhill snow bike race, film screenings, barbeque and more.
MAY EVENTS IN ALASKA
Syttende Mai – Petersburg
Petersburg, a town founded by Norwegian fishermen, celebrates Norwegian Independence Day with The Little Norway Festival.Juneau Jazz & Classics – Juneau
A nine-day celebration of classical, jazz and blues with world-renowned artists in venues across the city during the third week in May.JUNE EVENTS IN ALASKA
Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow – Fairbanks
At the beginning of June at the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds in Fairbanks, Native Americans, Alaska Natives and First Nations people of Canada gather to share dance, song, stories, and traditions to understand and honor their heritage.Sitka Summer Music Festival – Sitka
Every summer in June the Sitka Summer Music Festival attracts classical musicians to Sitka from Asia, Europe, Canada and the United States for three weeks of concerts and musical events.JULY EVENTS IN ALASKA
Girdwood Forest Faire – Girdwood
Held annually during the first weekend in July, the free, family oriented event in the resort town of Girdwood features Alaskan artists, hand-crafted items, exotic foods and entertainers form all over Alaska.Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival
A unique study-performance arts festival held annually at the end of July on the beautiful University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival draws residents and visitors from all over the world for two weeks of instruction and performance in dance, music, visual arts and ice skating.Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival - Talkeetna
Talkeetna hosts several unique events throughout the year, but the annual Moose Dropping Festival has been dubbed the most unusual. Held in mid-July, the main event at this festival involves dropping numbered moose droppings from the air onto a giant bulls eye painted on the ground. The numbers correspond to raffle tickets held by event-goers.AUGUST EVENTS IN ALASKA
Athabascan Old-Time Fiddlers Festival – Fairbanks
This four-day celebration held in August each year in Fairbanks pays homage to the music that evolved from the time when the fiddle was introduced to the Athabascan Indians of Interior Alaska by the French and Arcadian fur trappers over 100 hundred years ago.Blueberry Festival – Ketchikan
For one day each August, the Southeast Alaska town of Ketchikan celebrates the Panhandle’s favorite fruit – the blueberry. Tourists and locals alike turn out for blueberry pie, slug races, and a long list of activities that take place on Main Street.Alaska State Fair - Palmer
The Alaska State Fair is home of record-setting giant vegetables, beautiful flower gardens, crafts, carnival rides, live music and endless fun (and food) for the entire family.
OCTOBER EVENTS IN ALASKA
Earth, Fire & Fibre – Kenai
This world famous, annual, juried exhibition at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center displaying artwork in craft media from across Alaska runs from the end of September to the end of October.Alaska Day Festival – Sitka
Celebrating the the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States on October 18, 1867, Alaska Day festivities begin two weeks in advance of the October 18 anniversary and include a parade, a period costume ball, food, and live entertainment.NOVEMBER EVENTS IN ALASKA
Sitka Whalefest – Sitka
Celebrating the diverse and abundant marine mammal population of Sitka, the Sitka Whalefest held each year in early November includes planned whale and marine mammal viewing trips, workshops, whale-watching tours, discussions, a concert and other community events.Alaska Bald Eagle Festival - Haines
The annual festival celebrates the world's largest concentration gathering of bald eagles in mid-November with educational presentations, guided eagle viewing, featured entertainers, special family events. and the release of wild rehabilitated bald eagles.DECEMBER EVENTS IN ALASKA
Julebukking – Petersburg
Following the town’s Norwegian heritage and traditions, Petersburg streets fill with local merchants on Christmas Eve offering food and spirits in thanks for their custom over the year.Kivgiq, The Messenger Feast - Barrow
In midwinter, Kivgiq, The Messenger Feast, attracts participants from around the Arctic Circle including Russia, Canada and Greenland. The three-day, midwinter festival features dancing, trading, storytelling, gift-giving, Eskimo games, a traditional foot race and feasting.