A December Visit to Anchorage, Alaska

The holiday season sparkles in Anchorage. A visit to Alaska in December means experiencing the place like a local and taking advantage of snow and clear skies.

Things to Do in Anchorage During December

Anchorage embraces the outdoors no matter the month. No need to be coy about snow when it’s this much fun. There are lots of winter things to do in Anchorage. December is a great time for northern lights viewing, downhill skiing, fat tire biking, snowshoeing and skating. Many city trails are groomed for cross-country skiing as well.

There are great year-round draws like the Alaska Native Heritage Center, which stays open for self-guided tours, and Anchorage Museum as well as flightseeing, and local parks.

It's also in the middle of Heyi Days, a promotional campaign highlighting seasonal events, markets and outdoor opportunities. The name comes from the Athabascan word for winter.

Holiday Traditions in Anchorage

Anchorage’s holiday traditions are as evident as the 300-foot-tall star on the horizon.

Look east to the Chugach Mountains, and you’ll see the huge star on the mountain. The lights are set on the side of Mount Gordon Lyon in a tradition dating back to the 1950s.

There’s another big holiday display in Anchorage. Rather than a snow-topped mountain, this one is buried in an avalanche of icing. A whole gingerbread village rises in the lobby of the Hotel Captain Cook. The tradition began with Pastry Chef Joe Hickel, who spent countless hours each year building. Even though Hickel retired in 2024, the tradition continued, and UAA culinary students take on the sweet task each year.

They may not have made the cut for sleigh duty, however the Alaska Zoo and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center are home to some local reindeer, as well as moose, wolves, eagles and a whole bevy of Alaska animals. Pay a visit to learn about the incredible creatures that call Alaska home. The zoo even puts on a special holiday light display in the evening, Zoo Lights.

Holiday Events in Anchorage

The city’s brightly decorated tree stands in Town Square, with lights sparkling over the Thanksgiving weekend and shining all through the month of December.

Of course, there’s more than one outdoor tree. Community groups head to Kincaid Park to decorate live trees around the Mize Loop for the local ski association’s annual Solstice Tree Tour. The Alaska Botanical Garden gets in on the bright season with their own light-filled tour.

Winter Solstice in Anchorage

Even on the shortest day of the year, Anchorage still sees around five and a half hours of daylight. Winter solstice is a time to celebrate the season, and also welcome the longer days ahead for the Northern Hemisphere.

Locals celebrate outside. Some hearty hikers make a winter ascent of Flattop. Or Hilltop for downhill skiing and fireworks. Of course, the shortest days of the year also mean plenty of night skies for aurora viewing, arguably winter’s most popular pursuit.