JANUARY 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. Kodiak hotels
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. Kodiak hotels
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. Anchorage hotels
FEBRUARY 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. Fairbanks hotels
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. Fairbanks hotels
MARCH 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. Fairbanks hotels
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. Bethel hotels
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. Anchorage hotels
APRIL 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. Anchorage hotels
MAY 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. Juneau hotels
JUNE 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. Fairbanks hotels
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. Sitka hotels
JULY 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. Girdwood hotels
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. Fairbanks hotels
AUGUST 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. Fairbanks hotels
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. Ketchikan hotels
OCTOBER 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. Kenai hotels
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. Sitka hotels
NOVEMBER 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. Sitka hotels
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. Haines hotels
DECEMBER 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.
ABOUT US: Travel Tidings Alaska features vacation travel, hotel and cruise information for the cities and regions of Alaska (AK) such as Anchorage, Bethel, Denali National Park, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Girdwood, Gustavus, Haines, Homer, Juneau, Kenai. Ketchikan, Kodiak, Mccarthy, Moose Pass, Palmer, Seward, Sitka, Soldotna, Trapper Creek, Valdez, and Wasilla. For more information about this site, please contact us at info@traveltidingsalaska.com
