Fairs, festivals, special art events and craft markets call Anchorage home, offering plenty of opportunities to find that perfect piece to take home with you.
The first major art event of the year takes place during Fur Rendezvous – Alaska’s largest winter festival held over two weeks in late February and early March. In addition to selling their wares at the Native Arts Market, artisans are happy to share their stories. Arts and crafts are a significant part of Alaska Native cultural life and many of the creations have special meaning to the artists and may represent key moments in their lives.
You can also interact with Alaska Native artists at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Open daily in summer and weekends in winter, watch Alaska Native artists work and ask questions about their culture, society and life.
The Anchorage Museum hosts a number of arts events including Earth, Fire and Fiber, the state’s oldest and most prestigious biennial juried competition. Summer visitors will appreciate Summer Art Potpourri, which features a revolving roster of Alaska artists demonstrating their craft and selling artwork in the museum’s atrium. The museum also carefully selects artists for Crafts Weekend at the Museum, held annually over Thanksgiving weekend.
Find local farmers and artisans on weekends in summer, selling their goods at the Anchorage Market and Festival downtown at Third Avenue and E Street. Pick up anything from an ornate sculpture to a watercolor painting while mingling with locals.
Visual artists are also on display each month when Anchorage galleries and other venues stay open late for First Friday Art Walk. Maps are available in the prior Thursday’s edition of the Anchorage Press.
The Alaska State Fair is where Alaskans go to showcase their monster veggies, crafts and culinary creations in the days leading up to Labor Day. Enjoy agricultural contests, farm exhibits, the Alaska State Rodeo, big name performers and more.
Knock out some serious shopping from October through December, when the best artists and craftspeople in Alaska gather in Anchorage to sell their one-of-a-kind wares at the numerous arts and crafts events held each weekend. Beat the holiday rush with Make it Alaska Festival in October, find everything you can possibly imagine and more at the annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Emporium in November and bring the whole family to the Holiday Food & Gift Show –just to name a few.
Hometown holiday happenings and time-honored traditions draw visitors from all over the country to Anchorage each Thanksgiving weekend to kick off the holiday season. Enjoy a performance of the Nutcracker ballet and attend the traditional tree lighting ceremony to meet Jolly ol' Saint Nick and his (live) reindeer. Stop by the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout for collegiate basketball action, and find one-of-a-kind gifts at local craft shows and holiday bazaars. Reindeer, retail and recreation – Anchorage has it all!
