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Festival of Native Arts in Fairbanks
Photo Credit: Travel Alaska, 'Wáats'asdiyei Joe Yates
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Alaska Native Festivals & Events

Alaska Native festivals and events are an important time to gather, share knowledge, celebrate culture, and preserve traditions. Festivals featuring song and dance performances, art shows and craft fairs, sporting events, and traditional celebrations bring together Alaska Native Peoples from around the state to honor their heritage and celebrate community. View events by month and click the event name for additional details. 

FEBRUARY­­­

Séet Ká Festival | Petersburg
An Indigenous festival dedicated to cultural awareness, cultural revitalization, and uplifting the Indigenous people of Séet Ká Kwáan. 

Fur Rendezvous | Anchorage
The Fur Rendezvous winter festival – known locally as “Fur Rondy” – is a multi-week affair featuring local artisans, furs, carnival games and rides, sports tournaments, and even a snow sculpture contest. 

Festival of Native Arts | Fairbanks
The Festival of Native Arts provides cultural education and sharing through traditional Alaska Native dance, music, and arts.

Festival of Native Arts in Fairbanks
Festival of Native Arts in Fairbanks. Photo Credit: 'Wáats'asdiyei Joe Yates (Haida)

 

Kivgiq—Messenger Feast | Anchorage
Every two years, residents across the region gather for the Kivgiq, or Messenger Feast. This multiple-day celebration, usually in early February, includes traditional dancing and is an important part of the culture.

Elizabeth Peratrovich Day 
Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit) was an American civil rights activist who worked for equality on behalf of Alaska Natives and other marginalized groups in Alaska.

A woman views the Elizabeth Peratrovich mural in Anchorage
Elizabeth Peratrovich mural in Juneau

MARCH

Fur Rondy Charlette Jensen Artist Market | Anchorage
This is a rare opportunity to meet and greet Alaska Native artisans selling and demonstrating their traditional art forms. 

Iditarod Sled Dog Race & Art Show | Anchorage
The annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a long-distance sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. Catch the Iditarod Art Show the same week! 

Iditarod sled dog race
Iditarod Sled Dog Race

ASAA March Madness Alaska | Anchorage
The statewide high school basketball tournament.Cama-i Dance Festival | Bethel
The Yukon Delta is the region’s premier culture and arts performance event. 

Cama'i Dance Festival in Bethel
Cama-i Dance Festival, Photo Credit: Lexi Qass’uq Trainer (Cup’ik/Yup’ik) 

APRIL

Northern Regional Traditional Games | Juneau
Middle school and high school student athletes compete in in traditional games such as kneel jump, wrist carry, and Alaskan high kick.

Native Youth Olympics (NYO) | Anchorage
Starting in 1972, the NYO Games includes ten events based on games past generations of Alaska Native people played to test their survival skills. 

World Heritage Day
The day focuses on recognizing the value of cultural heritage in our lives and raises awareness about the diversity and vulnerability of cultural heritage.

Alaska Native mukluks
Photo Credit: Lexi Qass’uq Trainer (Cup’ik/Yup’ik) 

JUNE

Urban Unangax̂ Culture Camp | Anchorage
People­­­ of all ages learn about the Unangax̂ culture through hands-on cultural activities and fellowship with the Unangax̂ community. Traditional Unangax̂ practices are integrated to fit into our urban lifestyle, culturally enriching the lives of those who participate. 

Celebration | Juneau
Every other year, the streets of Juneau fill with Alaska Native people from throughout Southeast Alaska and beyond. There is traditional song and dance, arts and crafts, food, and people speaking local Native languages. 

Celebration in Juneau
Photo Credit: Wáats'asdiyei Joe Yates (Haida)

Qatnut Arctic Trade Fair | Kotzebue
The biennial celebration consists of several traditional events including dancing, cloth & fur sewing competition, games, arts & crafts competition, traditional foods competition, and other exciting traditional activities.

Nalukataq—Spring Whaling Celebration | Utqiaġvik
The Iñupiat celebration, Nalukataq, is held after the spring whale-hunting season. There are traditional songs and dances, including a blanket toss. 

Spring whaling festival in Utqiagvik
Nalukataq Spring Whaling Celebration, Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Lexi Qass’uq Trainer (Cup’ik/Yup’ik) 

JULY

Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow | Fairbanks
Alaska Native artists gather together to celebrate community and give thanks through traditional drums, song, and dance. 

July Culture Camps | Statewide
Hughes Tribal Council Culture Camp | Hughes
BBNC Culture Camp | Lake Iliamna
Camp Qungaayux | Humpy Cove
Qagan Tayagungin Tribe Culture Camp | Sand Point
Nucciq Spirit Camp | Nuchek Village Site
Dig Afognak Cultural Camp | Afognak

World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) | Fairbanks
The WEIO games display the preparedness one needed for survival. They require skill as well as strength, agility, and endurance. In this manner, the people of northeast Alaska teach their children that they had to be tough to make it on their own, not just in one area, but in all. The games left no part of the body untested. 

World Eskimo Indian Olympics
World Eskimo Indian Olympics

AUGUST

Founder’s Day | Metlakatla
Nearly 130 years ago, a group of 826 Tsimshian people from British Columbia crossed the Canadian border to Annette Island. Now Annette Islands Reserve is Alaska’s only Indian reservation, and, since that day in 1887, the Metlakatla Indian Community has celebrated its unique founding story. 

The Gathering Place at the State Fair | Palmer
The fair dedicates a 3-acre area to Alaska Natives, featuring eight small buildings for vendors, a stage, and picnic tables. Entertainment in past years has included musicians, traditional dancers, athletes, and storytellers as well as a blanket toss. 

Alaska State Fair
Alaska State Fair

OCTOBER

Elders & Youth Convention | Anchorage and Fairbanks
Today, more than 1,000 participants from rural and urban Alaska gather each year to develop leadership in our Alaska Native youth, strengthened with the experience and wisdom of our Alaska Native Elders. 

Quyana Alaska | Anchorage and Fairbanks
‘Quyana’ means ‘thank you’ in Yup’ik. Through the years, this cultural celebration put on by the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) has helped restore traditional dances and ensure they are passed onto future generations. 

Indigenous Peoples Day | Statewide
This day honors the past, present, and futures of Native peoples throughout the U.S. The holiday recognizes the legacy and impact of colonialism on Native communities, and it also celebrates the cultures, contributions, and resilience of contemporary Native peoples.

Two Athabascan women look at a mountain
Photo Credit: Lexi Qass’uq Trainer (Cup’ik/Yup’ik) 

NOVEMBER

Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month | Nationwide
This month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native American and Alaska Native People.

Alaska Native regalia
Photo Credit: Lexi Qass’uq Trainer (Cup’ik/Yup’ik) 

DECEMBER

ANHC Christmas Bazaar | Anchorage
Join the Alaska Native Heritage Center as they celebrate the Christmas season with dancing, art, and more!  

Alaska Native Heritage Center
Performance at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Photo Credit: Travel Alaska

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New! Alaska Native Culture Guide

Immerse yourself in Alaska Native heritage and learn how to experience the living culture of the state's Indigenous peoples.