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Events & Festivals Alaska

Festivals & Events

Festivals & Events

From music festivals to fishing derbies, Alaska celebrates all things wild and wonderful. Scan the skies at one of Alaska’s many birding festivals, experience an Alaska Native cultural event, or cheer on the state's canine athletes at a dog mushing race. Winter or Summer, Alaska’s festivals range from quirky to creative and everything in between. Be sure to check out the Alaska Events Calendar while planning your trip. There's something for everyone! Visit our Alaska Native Festivals & Events page for even more cultural events. 

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Upcoming Festivals & Events

World Ice Art Championships Photo
Feb 17 - Mar 31, 2024
Tanana Valley Fairgrounds, Fairbanks, AK 99709

The World Ice Art Championships, held in February and March, attracts talented ice carvers from around the world to Fairbanks. The event is one of the largest ice art competitions in the world, featuring stunning ice sculptures lit up with colorful lights. Visitors can walk among the sculptures [...]

30th Annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament Photo
Mar 23, 2024
Homer Chamber , Homer, AK 99603

The Homer Chamber of Commerce proudly announces the 30th Annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament, Alaska’s largest fishing event, scheduled for March 23, 2024, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament, hosted by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Ulmer's Drug & [...]

Skagway Spring Festival 2024 Photo
Apr 18 - Apr 21, 2024
Skagway, Alaska, Skagway, AK 99840

Your cabin fever reliever!It's time to get out and enjoy spring in Skagway! Join us for a family friendly, fun filled festival.Events include the Skagway Arts Council's International Folk Festival & Spring Show of Winter artwork, as well as the first Garden City Market of the year!The schedule of [...]

Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival Photo
May 3 - May 5, 2024
Cordova Center, Cordova, AK 99574

We invite you to join the mass migration of Pacific shorebirds, raptors, waterfowl, and songbirds. Their shoreside respite is framed against the pristine backdrop of coastal glaciers and mountains, the breathtaking vista that we call home. Come outfitted with your binoculars, spotting scopes [...]

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Photo
May 8 - May 12, 2024
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Visitor Center, Homer, AK

Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is Alaska’s largest wildlife-viewing festival, where birders from all over the world flock to Homer for workshops, seminars, and guided birding adventures. More than 100,000 shorebirds arrive at the tidal flats around Homer in early May, making it the largest bird [...]

Kodiak Crab Fest Photo
May 23 - May 27, 2024
Downtown Kodiak, Kodiak, AK

The Kodiak Crab Fest is Kodiak Island's best event. First held in 1958 to celebrate the end of crabbing season, the weeklong festival in late May features a parade, a blessing of the fleet, foot and kayak races, live music, fishing skills contests, and a lot of king crab.Photo Credit: Michael [...]

North Words Writers Sypmposium Photo
May 29 - Jun 1, 2024
Arctic Brotherhood Hall, Skagway, AK 99840

North Words brings together 40 writers from all over Alaska-Yukon and beyond to Skagway for three days of workshops, panels, great meals, and fun outdoor activities with a stellar faculty led by a nationally known keynote author and six published Alaska-NW authors. This intimate gathering is unlike [...]

Skagway Pride Celebration 2024 Photo
Jun 1, 2024
Dedman Stage in Seven Pastures, Skagway, AK 99840

The 5th annual Skagway Pride Celebration is an inclusive, all ages event featuring music by local & visiting talent & drag performances by Skagway artists. The highlight of the event is a 2-hour performance by the Queens & Kings of Juneau Drag! Food & drink will be available from the Skagway Brewing [...]

Celebration Photo
Jun 5 - Jun 8, 2024
Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau, AK 99801

Celebrate one of the largest gatherings of Alaska Native peoples in the state at Celebration, a four-day event that occurs every other year in downtown Juneau. Alaska Native Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples from come together to dress in traditional regalia and take part in song and dance [...]

Midnight Sun Festival & Midnight Sun Baseball Game Photo
Jun 21 - Jun 22, 2024
Downtown Fairbanks, AK

Fairbanks hosts one of the best summer solstice celebrations in Alaska on summer solstice weekend, when the midnight sun shines all night long. This free 12-hour event includes a downtown street fair with arts, crafts, food, live music, and entertainment. If you’re around on the actual summer [...]

Jul 2 - Jul 4, 2024
Downtown Seward, Seward, AK 99664

Join the Seward July 4th Festival and Mount Marathon Race in beautiful Seward, Alaska! July 2-4, 2024Be a part of the excitement:Boat Parade : July 3, 11 pmFireworks : 12:01AM on July 4Town Float Parade: July 4, 1 pmWitness the legendary Mt Marathon Race:Junior start: 9:00 AMMen's start: 11:00 [...]

Mount Marathon Race Photo
Jul 4, 2024
Mount Marathon Runner's Trail, Seward, AK 99664

Join the community of Seward for the running of the Mount Marathon Race on July 4.The men’s and women’s courses are a grueling 1.5-mile climb up, and back down, Alaska’s majestic and treacherous Mount Marathon. Runners from around the world join Alaskans in pursuit of a common goal: to safely [...]

World Eskimo-Indian Olympics Photo
Jul 10 - Jul 13, 2024
Big Dipper Ice Arena, Fairbanks, AK 99701

Each summer, Fairbanks is home to the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, a series of traditional Alaska Native competitions of mental and physical toughness that started in 1961. This four-day event attracts Indigenous athletes from across the north who display amazing athletic abilities in contests like [...]

Seward Silver Salmon Derby Photo
Aug 10 - Aug 18, 2024
Seward Small Boat Harbor, Seward, AK 99664

Join us at the 69th Annual Silver Salmon Derby! The 69th Annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby will be held from Saturday, August 10 to Sunday, August 18, 2024.It begins at 6 a.m. and continues every day of the derby until 9 p.m., except for the last day it will end at noon. Registration is not [...]

Alaska State Fair Photo
Aug 16 - Sep 2, 2024
Alaska State Fairgrounds, Palmer, AK 99645

“Everything’s bigger in Alaska” doesn’t just refer to mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. Alaska’s largest event, the Alaska State Fair, takes place in Palmer in late August and early September. Concerts, performances, exhibits, thrilling rides, and world-record-setting vegetables are all part of the [...]

SUPOlympics 2024 Photo
Aug 18, 2024
Dirty Skillet , Hope , AK 99587

Don't miss this years 4th Annnual SUPOlympics event at the Dirty Skillet in Hope, Ak on August 18, 2024! This all ages event is sure to be a fun-filled time for spectators and participants, all equipment is provided and its free to enter. There will be four different events to challenge your [...]

Sitka WhaleFest Photo
Nov 1 - Nov 3, 2024
Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka, AK 99835

At Sitka WhaleFest in November, world-renowned scientists share their expertise on whales and marine life through three days of lectures in Sitka. Whale watching cruises take presenters and guests out to search for whales and other marine wildlife in Sitka Sound. This community event aims to raise [...]

Alaska Bald Eagle Festival Photo
Nov 8 - Nov 10, 2024
The American Bald Eagle Foundation, Haines, AK 99827

The town of Haines celebrates the gathering of bald eagles in November at the Bald Eagle Festival. The event attracts hundreds of visitors from around the country for five days of speakers, presentations, photography workshops, art shows, and special exhibits at the Sheldon Museum and the American [...]

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