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NEWS RELEASE
Photos available – contact pr@anchorage.net

Reindeer, Retail and Recreation: A Few Reasons to Visit Anchorage During the Holiday Season

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Nov. 9, 2009 – Anchorage is the quintessential winter city. Walk along plowed city sidewalks during this special time of year and see silvery-white snowflakes swirling in the light beams cast by streetlights. Listen to holiday carolers as they stroll from a hotel lobby to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts lobby to a local art gallery.

Stop by the Hotel Captain Cook and see – not just a gingerbread house, but a full-blown gingerbread village on display with more than 1,500 pieces all precisely placed and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. On weekends, a horse drawn carriage stands outside of the Hotel Captain Cook waiting to take visitors around town. Twinkling white lights flicker through the downtown corridor and radiate out into the neighborhoods – providing a bright, warm glow to an already gorgeous setting.

Warming barrels dot frozen Westchester Lagoon near downtown on weekends. Ice skating families pause to enjoy the fire’s bright heat before returning to the lagoon’s smooth, icy surface. It’s a perfect winter scene, happening daily throughout the season. Many weekends include music and a concession area featuring hot drinks and tasty food. Anchorage’s parks and recreation department maintains the ice throughout the season and has created a speed skating loop, an area for hockey, and a casual ice skating area. With views of downtown, the majestic Chugach Mountain Range, and the calm waters of Cook Inlet, Westchester Lagoon remains the gold standard for in-town winter fun. Best of all, it’s free.

No holiday season is complete without shopping. Anchorage has an abundance of shopping opportunities including Nordstrom, Old Navy, Kohl’s, and Gap, as well as small independent shops like the Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-op and Alaska Wild Berry Products. However, nothing compares to the long list of Anchorage’s craft show and holiday bazaars taking place now through Christmas. Find beautiful, one-of-a-kind, Alaskan made gifts. A few of the bazaars are listed in the attached calendar.

There are a plethora of holiday events taking place in Anchorage, Alaska. Enjoy a performance of the Nutcracker Ballet, or attend the cherished and long-standing tree lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving, with a personal appearance by Santa and his (live) reindeer. Take a break from holiday shopping altogether and attend the Anchorage International Film Festival. Or stop by the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout for collegiate basketball action. Anchorage has it all.

Direct flights are available from many U.S. cities. Travel to Anchorage this holiday season and be part of an incredible, white and toasty warm holiday season. A partial schedule of events is listed below. Go to www.anchorage.net/events for a complete list of what to see and do while in one of America’s great winter cities.

November and December 2009

Nov. 21, 2009
Arts and Crafts Emporium
Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center
A showcase for Alaska artists and crafters to display and sell their products during the holiday season, this festive event strives to provide the Anchorage community and its visitors with a free winter holiday show featuring a large variety of Alaska made arts and crafts, sold by their creators. For more information, www.anchoragemarkets.com

Nov. 24-28, 2009
Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout
Sullivan Arena
Turkey and hoops go hand-in-hand for many families and visitors to Anchorage during Thanksgiving week. Since 1978, many of the nation’s top collegiate teams have taken part in this fast-paced, collegiate tournament hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). Shootout action begins Tuesday, Nov.24, 2009, with the women’s host and three-time defending champion UAA, who will be joined in the four-team field by Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, and Western Carolina. It will be the first Shootout trip for each visiting program. The men’s field for the 32nd annual tournament will be Alaska Anchorage, Houston, Nicholls State, Oklahoma, San Diego and Washington State. With six teams instead of the traditional eight, the men’s field will undergo a format change for the first time ever, instituting Olympic-style pool play for 2009. For more information,www.Anchorage.net/shootout

Nov. 25 - Dec. 30, 2009
Antique Toys and Dolls Exhibit
Anchorage Museum
For a nostalgic and festive outing, take the family back to the holidays of yore, when children’s playthings didn’t require USB drives. “Wonderland of Toys,” an exhibition of antique dolls and toys from the museum collection, is on display through December 30. The museum’s volunteers transform the museum’s atrium into a dazzling tableau of toys, some that date back as far as the 1800s. Against a backdrop of twinkling lights and tinsel, visitors will find life-sized French dolls, Oaxacan – carved animals and much more, including:

The museum’s collection of more than 200 antique dolls and toys donated by the family of the late Marguerite “Peggy” Nystrom, an avid collector who lived in Anchorage. Among the collection’s exquisite showpieces are Victorian dolls from France, Germany and the United States.

A charming 30-piece, hand-painted wood Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty circus from the early 1900s. Albert Schoenhut, a German immigrant, began producing toy pianos in Philadelphia in 1872. His toy production expanded to include dolls, dollhouses, blocks and other wooden toys. By 1904, the company was producing Humpty Dumpty Circus in great numbers.

A completely furnished, Victorian-style dollhouse. For more information on this exhibit as well as other holiday festivities, visit www.AnchorageMuseum.org

Nov. 27-28, 2009
Crafts Weekend
Anchorage Museum
Find a wide array of handmade, one-of-a-kind crafts. The only juried holiday crafts show in Anchorage features the best work in the state. The ReadAlaska Book Fair features Alaska publishers, authors and illustrators selling their work. Live music and specialty food tables add to the festive atmosphere. www.AnchorageMuseum.org

Nov. 27, 2009
AT&T Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Town Square
The music begins at 5:00 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. The highlight of the evening is the appearance of Santa Claus with a full team of live reindeer. Santa and his reindeer are available for a “meet and greet” beginning at 6:15 p.m. Tom Williams, owner of the Reindeer Farm says there’s nowhere else that brings a full team of nine live reindeer. “That’s nine handlers, all paid employees, managing a team of nine different personalities, which isn’t always easy to do,” said Williams. “Some of my reindeer like to lie down. Others want to run. It can be quite a challenge,” he laughs. “But it usually comes off alright and the kids love it.” For more information, www.anchoragedowntown.org

Nov. 27-29, 2009
The Nutcracker Ballet
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
The premier performance event of the holiday season: kids of all ages will fall in love with the whimsical sets and costumes designed by former Disney artist, Don Carson, and new company, Eugene Ballet Company. The play tells the familiar story of Clara's dream about her childhood sweetheart, Hans, transformed into a life-sized nutcracker soldier who battles mice. Produced by Anchorage Concert Association and featuring dancers from Alaska Dance Theatre and musicians from Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, this collaborative event is always a community favorite. For more information about this performance as well as others, www.anchorageconcerts.org

Dec. 4 -17, 2009
Anchorage International Film Festival
Beartooth Theater Pub and various venues
North America’s northernmost independent film festival is getting ready for a record-breaking ninth year, bringing hungry movie-goers in from the cold to bask in the illumination of hot films from around the globe. Everyone needs a break from the madness of holiday shopping. Why not take in a quality, independent film? For the line up, venues, and list of activities visit www.anchoragefilmfestival.org

Dec. 5, 2009
26th Annual Native People's Bazaar
Alaska Native Medical Center
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Traditional Alaska Native arts and crafts including a Collector's Table, baleen baskets, grass baskets, dolls, bead work, Christmas ornaments, fur hats and gloves, beaded slippers, dance fans, silver jewelry, ivory jewelry, whalebone carvings, ivory artwork, kuspuks and books. There will be drumming, singing and dancing. For more information, call (907) 729-1120.

Dec. 5, 2009
Alaska Railroad's Holiday Train
Anchorage Depot. Departs 7 a.m.
The Alaska Railroad Holiday Train departs from downtown Anchorage and heads south along Alaska’s coastline to the seaside town of Seward. The day begins with caroling and storytelling, plus a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus with gifts for the children. After arriving in Seward, choices include a visit to Seward’s Holiday Festival, a cruise on Seward’s Resurrection Bay, or a trip to the Alaska SeaLife Center. Included in the package are a free shuttle, activity map, and shopping discounts. Free parking is available at Anchorage’s depot. The train returns to downtown Anchorage at 9:30 p.m. www.alaskarailroad.com

Dec. 12-13, 2009
Christmas Village
Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center
Christmas Village is Alaska's newest Christmas craft show. Featuring more than 200 vendors selling a wide assortment of gifts, the Village will help consumers nail down that special gift for that hard-to-shop-for relative or friend. The show is big; it’s fun, and it’s free.

Dec. 31, 2009
NECA/IBEW New Year's Eve Fire and Ice Celebration
Town Square
Come celebrate the "Year of the Volcano" at this year's NECA/IBEW Fire and Ice New Years Eve Celebration. Enjoy the live music of H3, fire performers, World Champion ice carvers and watch out for volcanic eruptions from the 20' volcano. Bring ice skates and dress warm. Children's ice skating party at 5 p.m., Fire and Ice Celebration 6-8 p.m., Fireworks begin at 8 p.m. Marketing Director Cheri Spinks says “We started the year out with Mount Redoubt blowing, and we’re ending the year appropriately with a 20-foot tall, hand-made volcano that will be erupting several times during the night.”

Dec. 31, 2009
Alyeska Resort's New Year's Eve Celebration
Alyeska Resort, Girdwood
Following a long-standing tradition of at least 30 years, New Year’s Eve at Alyeska Resort, just 40 minutes south of downtown Anchorage will be highlighted by the annual alpine torchlight ski parade and fireworks display. More than 300 hearty souls will ski and snowboard down Mount Alyeska carrying a glowing flare attached to the end of a long bamboo pole. An aerial fireworks display, one of the largest in Alaska, and live music at the Sitzmark Bar and Grill will immediately follow. Onlookers wanting the best view should park or stand at the Day Lodge at the top of Alyeska Highway. For a list of other events and activities happening at Alyeska Resort and Hotel Alyeska, visit www.alyeskaresort


The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage as a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by lodging associations. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund, a contribution established in 1979, and one-third to service the bond debt and operations of the Anchorage Convention Centers. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.

Media Contact:

Jeanette Anderson Moores
Public Relations
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
jmoores@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net


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