24-28
This festival celebrating the bears of Alaska takes place at the James and Elsie Nolan Center and includes street games, a Salmon Bake, jam sessions, bear symposium, bear country workshops, live music, a photo contest, wildlife photography workshops, a golf tournament, a marathon, and community market. wrangell.com
27
the-lakefront-anchorage.ticketleap.com
28
Celebrate Alaska’s rich aviation history at the Alaska Aviation Museum with live music, a food vendor carnival, adult refreshments, child and family activities, information booths, book author signings, and low-level aircraft fly-bys from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. alaskaairmuseum.org
12-13
Celebrate salmon and promote the health and sustainability of local salmon runs through art, music, road races, educational activities, and the Taste of Cordova Salmon Cook-off, all at Mt. Eyak Ski Hill. salmonjam.org
10-14
Events at this annual festival include the Slippery Salmon Olympics, the Running of the Bears, human foosball, Teddy Bear Picnic, classic car show, parade, carnival rides, and the I-Did-A-Duck race at various locations around Eagle River. bearpawfestival.org
13-21
Celebrate Fairbanks’ gold rush history with a parade, historic reenactments, rubber ducky race, and more. Golden Days also includes a parade, street fair, comedy night, barbeque championships, and a river regatta which is not a river race, but a flotilla where winners are judged on creativity and integration of the Golden Day’s theme “Picks, Pokes, and Golden Folks.” fairbankschamber.org/golden-days
14-28
Sing, play, dance, paint, cook, learn, listen, relax, write, stretch, and watch at this multi-discipline study performance festival at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The event includes workshops, master classes, and performances. fsaf.org
17-20
Athletes compete in traditional games and celebrate through pageants, dances, and Native arts and crafts at the Carlson Center. weio.org
5-7
The fair features hand-crafted items, exotic foods, and entertainers from all over Alaska, along with the annual Forest Fair Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Limited parking is available at the Alyeska Resort Daylodge with shuttle service provided to the Girdwood Fairgrounds located at Mile 2.2 Alyeska Highway. girdwoodforestfair.com
25-28
The fair includes a parade, exhibits, a logging show, live music, horseshoe tournament, fun-run, kids’ stage, amusement rides, vendors, food, entertainment, live animals, and puppet shows. Some of this year’s headliners at the Southeast Alaska Fairgrounds include Sitka Cirque, Ozomatli, Arietta Ward & the Voices of Greatness, Rastasaurus, Smoke N Bones, and The Sweet Lillies. seakfair.org
13
Rain or shine, the Palmer Midsummer Garden and Art Faire is a celebration of local art, gardening, food, and music in Downtown Palmer. This annual event showcases the best of what the Mat-Su has to offer, including a Topihairy Challenge, a no-holds-barred styling competition among local stylists for the best garden art themed hairstyle. palmergardenandart.org
4
From its start as a bet between two locals in 1915, the Mount Marathon race has become iconic. Competitors race from downtown to the top of Mount Marathon and back in both open and junior divisions. This year the Junior Race is at 9 a.m., the Women’s Race begins at 11 a.m., and the Men’s Race begins at 2 p.m. mmr.seward.com
26-28
Soldotna Progress Days is a community event that includes a parade, family activities, Dutch oven competition, the Sawfest Chainsaw Carving Competition, food and craft vendors, live music, and a free community picnic at Soldotna Creek Park. visitsoldotna.com