In short–Anchorage celebrates life year-round with countless fun and exciting festivals, concerts, sporting events and conventions. Here’s just a glimpse of some annual events in and around Anchorage, broken down by month (get the full Anchorage calendar of events at Anchorage.net):
- January– Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival: mingle with Alaskans while sampling some of the finest craft brews from Alaska and the Lower-48.
- February– Fur Rondy: Anchorage winter festival tradition dating from the 1930’s.
- March– Iditarod Sled Dog Race: dog mushing teams trek 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome in this international world-famous race.
- April–Native Youth Olympics: watch traditional Native sport competition from over 300 young athletes across Alaska.
- May– Eagle River Nature Center Seymour Challenge: kick off summer with a 10k fun run in the wilds of Alaska.
- June– Mayor’s Marathon and Half-Marathon: soak in an Alaskan summer with this premiere running event that goes through city paths and forest trails.
- July– Girdwood Forest Fair: a free, three-day music and fun festival in Girdwood’s alpine woods where everyone lets their hair down and lets loose.
- August–Seward Silver Salmon Derby: anglers from near and far buy a ticket and fish for coho salmon and cash prizes. Not in Anchorage but worth the drive.
- September–Alaska State Fair: Rides, games, concerts and mammoth vegetables define Alaska’s largest annual outdoor event. In Palmer, 45 miles north of Anchorage.
- October–Alaskafest: two weeks of fun and festivities across Anchorage, celebrating the turn of the season.
- November–Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout: pre-season college basketball tournament with some of the best NCAA teams in the nation.
- December– Anchorage International Film Festival: a ten-day, multi-theater film marathon showcasing the work of some of the world’s finest independent filmmakers.
