Alaskans like to max out every moment of summer. That means that from May through early September there are a lot of festivals, markets, concerts, and special events to fill the hours when you're not adventuring. Here are some of our team's favorites.
Midnight Sun Festival & Baseball Game
June 21 | Fairbanks
- A Fairbanks tradition for more than 100 years, every year on the night of the summer solstice the local Alaska Goldpanners play a game under the midnight sun. First pitch at 10 PM. No lights needed. The city also hosts the Midnight Sun Festival in downtown Fairbanks on June 22 from noon to midnight.
Anchorage Downtown Summer Solstice Festival
June 22 | Multiple Downtown Locations
- Throughout downtown the city hosts dance performances, food trucks, artists, live music, and lawn games. This is also the day of the Anchorage Mayor's Marathon, a qualifier for the Boston!
Seward July 4th Festival
July 3-4 | Multiple Locations/Times in Seward
- The infamous Mount Marathon Race takes place on the 4th, and leading up to the big event Seward puts on a few days of festivities. Fireworks on the waterfront is especially fun. It starts at 12:01 AM on the 4th, when it's just dark enough to see the display!
Girdwood Forest Fair
July 5-7, 11 AM - 8 PM Friday and Saturday, 11 AM - 6 PM Sunday
- Family friendly music and arts fest with three stages plus lots of arts and crafts vendors, local food, and a beer garden. Parking is always a challenge, so if you're in Anchorage take advantage of the $5 Forest Fair bus.
Alaska Yoga Fest
July 13 | Griffin Park, Fairbanks
- An all-day, all-you-can yoga marathon of sorts! Join in for a class, stay for a few. New class starts every hour on the hour.
Gold Rush Days
July 31 - August 4 | Valdez
- A celebration of this unique little town's past, present, and future. There's a parade, costumes, a Wet Yer Whistle Walk, food and art market, and community-favorite "Jail & Bail" fundraiser.
Alaska State Fair
August 16 - September 2 | State Fairgrounds in Palmer
- All your favorite fair staples with an Alaskan twist. The "largest veggie" competition is always a hit, showing off what can be grown during the long, long days of summer.
Fungus Fair
August 31 - September 1 | Girdwood
- Who knew fungus could be so .... fun.
At Alaska Tour & Travel, we specialize in building custom trips for every timeline, personality, and budget. If you'd like to have an Alaskan plan your Alaska trip, give us a call at 800-208-0200.
Posted in: Best Things to Do, Local Advice