Events

Here are some of the biggest community events of the year in Alaska's cities and towns. Because of our deadlines, many of the dates are estimates. Don't plan a vacation around them without checking for up-to-date details. Fishing derbies, which go on in almost every coastal town in the summer and are listed in the sections on each town.

February

The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race . This sled dog race runs between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, trading the direction each year. Mushers say this rugged 1,000-mile race is even tougher than the Iditarod. Starts February 14, in Fairbanks.

The Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Winter Festival , Anchorage. This is a huge, citywide winter celebration, with many community events, fireworks, craft fairs, snowshoe softball, dog sled rides, and other fun. The main event has always been the World Champion Sled Dog Race, a 3-day sprint event of about 25 miles per heat. In 2004, the Rondy's end will coincide with the start of the Iditarod. February 20 to March 7, 

March

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race . This famed sled dog race starts with fanfare from Anchorage (it will be part of the winter festival ). After the Anchorage ceremonial start, the teams are loaded into trucks for the Iditarod Restart, in Wasilla, which is the real beginning of the race. Here the historic gold rush trail becomes continuous for the dogs' 1,000-mile run to Nome. The event enlivens Wasilla at the end of a long winter. The finish in Nome is the biggest event of the year in the Arctic, drawing world media attention and turning Nome into a huge party for a few days (they even play golf out on the sea ice). The race solicits volunteers to help, which is a much better way to experience it than just watching.

The Nenana Ice Classic , Nenana. This event starts with Tripod Days, when a "four-legged tripod" that will mark the breakup of ice on the Tanana River is erected, ushering in a weekend celebration of dance performances, dog mushing, and other activities. The ticket buyer who guesses the minute the tripod will move in response to the ice breakup wins the jackpot, typically over $300,000. Tripod Days are held the first weekend in March.

The World Ice Art Championships, Fairbanks. Carvers from all over the world sculpt immense chunks of clear ice cut from a Fairbanks pond. Among ice carvers, Fairbanks's ice is famous for its clarity and the great size of the chunks. Some spectacular ice sculptures stand as tall as a two-story building. Carving will be March 4 to 5 and 8 to 14 with the best viewing from March 14 to 21.

April

The Alaska Folk Festival , Juneau. This is Juneau's community-wide celebration, drawing musicians, whether on the bill or not, from all over the state. April 12 to 18, 

May

Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival , Cordova. This festival revolves around the coming of dizzying swarms of millions of shorebirds that use the delta and beaches near the town as a migratory stopover in early May. The whole community gets involved to host bird-watchers and put on a schedule of educational and outdoor activities for 3 days. May 7 to 9, 

The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, Homer. Held in early May, this festival includes guided bird-watching hikes and boat excursions, natural-history workshops, art shows, performances, a wooden boat festival, and other events. May 6 to 9, 

Little Norway Festival, Petersburg. This festival celebrates the May 17, 18,, declaration of the independence of Norway from Sweden. The town has several days of community events. The festival takes place on the third full weekend in May.

Koniag's Kodiak Crab Festival, Kodiak. Lasting 5 days over Memorial Day weekend, this is the town's biggest event of the year and includes many fun events, the solemn blessing of the fleet, and a memorial service for lost fishermen. May 27-31, 

June

The Sitka Summer Music Festival , Sitka. This chamber music series that began in 1972 draws musicians from all over the world throughout most of June. Performances take place Tuesdays and Fridays, and other events are held throughout the month. June 5-26, 

Midnight Sun Baseball Game, Fairbanks. A summer-solstice event: The local semipro baseball team, the Fairbanks Goldpanners plays a game without artificial lights beginning at 10:30pm. Around June 21.

Midnight Sun Festival, Nome. Nome celebrates the summer solstice, when the village gets more than 22 hours of direct sunlight, with a parade, softball tournament, raft race, and polar bear swim (when sea ice permits). June 21.

The Last Frontier Theater Conference , Valdez. This conference brings playwrights and directors to the community for seminars and performances in June. Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, and other famous writers have met the public here in an intimate setting. 

July

Independence Day. Most of the small towns in Alaska make a big deal of the Fourth of July. Seward always has a huge celebration, exploding with visitors, primarily from Anchorage. Besides the parade and many small-town festivities, the main attraction is the Mount Marathon Race, which goes from the middle of town straight up rocky Mount Marathon to its 3,022-foot peak and down again. Seldovia, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau also have exceptional Fourth of July events. See the individual town sections for more information.

August

The Southeast Alaska State Fair and Bald Eagle Music Festival , Haines. Held for 4 days in mid-August, this is a regional small-town get-together, with livestock, cooking, a logging show, a parade, music, and other entertainment. Usually begins on the second Wednesday in August, but call to confirm.

The Alaska State Fair , Palmer. This is the region's biggest event of the year. It's a typical state fair, except for the huge vegetables. The good soil and long Valley days produce cabbages the size of beanbag chairs. A mere beach ball-size cabbage wouldn't even make it into competition. Held the 12 days before Labor Day, August 26 to September 6,

October

Alaska Day Festival, Sitka. Alaska Day, commemorating the Alaska purchase on October 18, 1867, is a big deal in this former Russian and U.S. territorial capital city.

November

Sitka WhaleFest , Sitka. Over a weekend in early November, during the fall and early winter period when humpback whales congregate in Sitka Sound, there are workshops, whale-watching tours, a concert, and other community events. The event coordinates with the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival (discussed directly below). 

The Alaska Bald Eagle Festival , Haines. Seminars and special events mark an annual congregation of 3,000 eagles near Haines. It's timed to allow visitors to also attend the WhaleFest in Sitka .

Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout , Anchorage. The University of Alaska Seawolves hosts a roster of the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball teams at the Sullivan Arena. Thanksgiving weekend