Alaskans know how to celebrate – whether it’s the longest day of the year or the world-famous Fur Rendezvous, held every February. In Anchorage, there’s an event for every season. These eight annual festivals each spotlight a colorful slice of local life, from Alaska’s early fur trapping and trading traditions to its craft brew culture and lively local music scene.

  • Anchorage Folk Festival - The vibrant annual folk music extravaganza offers free public performances, workshops, jam sessions, and a banjo competition. Enjoy original melodies from local lyricists, crowd-pleasing traditional tunes, and appearances by renowned guest artists – it’s a foot-stomping good time for all. January.

  • Alaska Beer Week - The annual celebration of craft beer in Alaska involves a rotating schedule of samplings, pairings, tastings, and other hops-fueled fun. Stop by an Anchorage brewery for locally fermented flavor, enjoy a special meal at a participating restaurant, and savor the bubbling brew culture that keeps craft beer connoisseurs coming back for more. January.

  • Fur Rendezvous - An Anchorage tradition since 1935, the annual Fur Rendezvous (or Rondy, as it’s affectionately known by locals) has become one of the city’s most magical midwinter events. A carnival, parade, snow sculpture competition, community pancake feed – the two-week festival hosts a full schedule of unique Alaska fun. Visitors can see lights sparkle over Ship Creek during the largest fireworks show in the state, watch the World Championship Sled Dog Races, and run with the reindeer down Fourth Avenue. Late February – early March

  • Summer Solstice Festival - The annual Summer Solstice Festival makes the most of the longest day of the year, filling downtown Anchorage’s Fourth Avenue with food trucks and an exhilarating array of family-friendly fun. Browse dozens of vendor booths, or join thousands of Alaskans cheering on local teams in the Hero Games, where military, first responders, and Anchorage athletes compete in fitness and relay-style competitions. Elsewhere throughout the city, revelers enjoy the extended daylight hours with evening baseball games, hikes in Chugach State Park, and other outdoor adventures. Late June.

  • PrideFest - An annual celebration of Anchorage’s LGBTQ communities, the weeklong PrideFest kicks off with a community BBQ, features a fair on the Delaney Park Strip, and ends with the Anchorage Pride Parade through the streets of downtown. Late June.

  • Girdwood Forest Fair - Every summer, Girdwood’s popular summer Forest Fair draws thousands of people to the woods at the edge of Chugach State Park. Vendors sell handmade arts and crafts, food booths serve Alaska-grown snacks and locally made treats, and entertainers from around Alaska perform for the public from multiple stages throughout the forest. There’s a parade, too, with occasional appearances by the black bears and moose that roam the Girdwood Valley. Early July.

  • Fourth of July - Anchorage celebrates the Fourth of July in a big way, with a community parade and carnival on Delaney Park Strip in the heart of downtown. See handmade floats, marching musical performers, festive displays representing Anchorage’s dozens of diverse cultures, and a heavy dose of Alaska history. July 4.

  • Bear Paw Festival - Between the Bear Paw Grand Parade, a carnival, a classic car show, a foot race, and the iconic Slippery Salmon Olympics, this annual summer event is a family friendly summer favorite that takes place in the cozy community of Eagle River, a quick 20-minute drive from downtown Anchorage. Early July.