Community Events

Denali

February 21-22

Denali Winterfest

Denali Winterfest offers loads of outdoor fun and educational events such as dog sledding, a 5k race, snowshoeing, hiking, park ranger programs, and more. This engaging, community-oriented festival starts off with a potluck and ends with a chili feed and cake walk—small town charm in the heart of Denali National Park at Mile 237 Parks Highway.
nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/winterfest.htm

Denali

February 21-22

Denali Winterfest

Anchorage

February 8

Alaska Marine Gala

The Alaska SeaLife Center hosts the annual Alaska Marine Gala at the Dena’ina Center. This “black tie affair with an ocean blue flair” promises a night of food, fun, and fundraising. Cocktails and a silent auction kick off the night, followed by dinner, the Alaska Ocean Leadership Awards, a live auction, and live music.
alaskasealife.org

February 15

Salute to the Military

The Annual Salute to the Military started in the form of multiple Service Balls hosted by the local Navy League. In 1977, the Navy League, with the support of Senator Ted Stevens, worked with the Armed Services YMCA of Alaska to create one annual event to honor all service branches and promote community awareness of military performance and service. Each year, twelve exceptional enlisted service members—representing each of the Active Duty branches, the Guard, and Reserve—are recognized for their outstanding achievements, this year at the Egan Center.
www.asymca.org/alaska-salute-tix

February 21-23

Anchorage Boat Show

Get a head start on summer boating and get out on the water this spring with the boat, equipment, and services needed to make the most of the fishing, hunting, and sailing season. There will be a host of big boat builders, brokers, and dealers at the Dena’ina Center that can connect prospective owners with the boat of their dreams.
anchorageboatshow.com

February 21-23

Alaska Salsa Festival

This year marks the 9th Annual Alaska Salsa Festival. Professional dance instructors and performers from around the world come together to bring Alaska the best in Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and ChaCha dancing. Never danced before? Check out the boot camps. Love the shows and parties? Check out the nightly showcases where champion dancers bring you their very best, and then dance the night away. The festival also includes intermediate and advanced workshops.
alaskasalsafestival.com

February 22

Ski 4 Kids

Ski 4 Kids Day is a festive winter day at Kincaid Park full of events for children up to age fourteen. Obstacle courses, a mock-biathlon, and series of races tempt and tantalize kids of all ages with the ultimate goal of developing an appreciation of winter outdoor sports and to promote fitness for Anchorage area youth. The event is organized by the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, which respectfully recommends a $20 entry donation.
anchoragenordicski.com/events/ski-4-kids/

February 28 – March 8

Fur Rondy

Come join the iconic Alaska tradition that includes winter sports, native art and culture, and many other events that celebrate life and the frontier spirit of Alaska, all in Downtown Anchorage.
furrondy.net

February 28 – March 8

Silent Sky

The year is 1900 and the world abounds with curiosity about what lies beyond the clouds. When Henrietta is given the opportunity to work at the Harvard Observatory mapping the stars, she leaves home to follow her dreams of scientific exploration.
ptalaska.org/anchorage/

Fairbanks

February 1

Yukon Quest

Taking place every February, the Yukon Quest is a 1,000-mile international sled dog race between Whitehorse, Yukon, and Fairbanks. It takes from ten to sixteen days and has been run every year since 1984.
yukonquest.com

February 6

Bard-a-Thon XXI

Bard-a-thon is a week-long celebration of the playwright, poet, and wordsmith William Shakespeare. Volunteers facilitate each show and arrange who reads which part from the Raven Landing Community Center. People from all over the Fairbanks area come to read at all hours of the day and night, and callers from around the world join via speakerphone. The event is also live online for listeners across the globe. Readers of all abilities are welcome.
fairbanksshakespeare.org/bardathon.aspx

February 13-22

Iron Dog

Iron Dog is the longest, toughest snowmobile race in the world, ranging from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley to the Interior. Race events include the Safety Expo/Pro Class Tech Inspection and the Halfway Ceremonies in Nome on February 19. The Pro Class start is February 16 in Fairbanks, with a finish on February 22 in Willow.
irondog.org

February 15 – March 31

World Ice Art Championships

This family-friendly event, produced by the World ICE Association, features interactive ice sculptures, multiple ice slides, and ice art exhibitions created by a multitude of artists, all at the Tanana Valley State Fairgrounds.
icealaska.org

Juneau

February 15-16

Wearable Art 2020: Joie De Vivre

This wearable art show benefits the whole community: for artists, it is an opportunity to explore, experiment, and showcase their talent via art on the runway; for audience members it is a joyful, enriching, and invigorating entertainment; and for the Arts Council, it is a fundraising event that supports many programs offered to the community. This year’s theme is Joie “De Vivre.” Performances are at Centennial Hall on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
www.jahc.org/wearable-art/

Sitka

February 6-8

Sitka Jazz Festival

The Sitka Jazz Festival teaches music appreciation, skills, history, artistic expression, and cross-cultural understanding through jazz in a supportive environment. Visiting artists and local educators provide clinics history, jazz theory, jazz improvisation, as well as a variety of individual instrument and section-specific workshops. Student performances are non-competitive, with an emphasis on cooperation and appreciation.
sitkajazzfestival.com

Valdez

February 14-17

Valdez Ice Fest

This winter festival features a variety of winter and climbing activities, including a welcome reception, workshops, clinics, dance party, and silent auction.
valdezadventurealliance.com

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