Festivals

While Snoop Dogg won’t actually be in attendance at this traveling film festival, those lucky enough to make it to the 2019 Bow Wow Film Festival at Bear Tooth Theatrepub in Anchorage are in for a family-friendly, dog-centric collection of short films celebrating man’s (and woman’s) best friend.

Salmonfest, billed as “three days of fish, love and music,” returns this year with one of its best lineups yet.

The summer may be in full swing, but there’s still so much fun left to soak up during the extended daylight hours. Embrace the spirit of summer with these Alaska events:

School is almost out, and so is the Alaska sun. Here are the top festivals for the month of May:

The 46th annual Festival of Native Arts returns to the University of Alaska Fairbanks from Feb. 28 – March 2. Performances will occur at the Charles Davis Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Complex.

Ice worms are native to Southeast and Central Alaska and were first discovered in the 1800s. The tenacious animals actually burrow themselves into the glacial ice and thrive at temperatures as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Celebrate Alaska’s longest season of the year at the 19th annual Denali Winterfest. This year’s three-day festival will be Feb. 22-24 and will feature a variety of events for all ages and abilities.

Mark your calendars for Jan. 18-19, when the Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival will return for its 25th…

Holiday season is coming to an end, but there is still something for children and adults to look forward to in coming weeks. Kick off the new year at Fairbanks Kid Fest, a three-day festival of games, prizes and delicious food.

The holidays are rife with traditions and celebrations from across the world, and many of them are represented in Alaska. The state is chock full of communities with festivities for friends and family to enjoy during the most wonderful time of the year. Julebukking, bird counting, frozen art and boats decked with lights are just a few ways our state celebrates.

Fall may be short, but Alaskans are experts at celebrating the season in their own quirky style. Travelers looking for a fall getaway should check out these Alaska towns for inspiration:

Make plans this Fourth of July to head to Valdez for the city’s annual patriotic jamboree, which will feature the Uncle Salmon 5K Fun Run, Independence Day parade, free community picnic, live music and a market showcasing local vendors.

Celebrate Petersburg’s Norwegian heritage at the 60th Annual Little Norway Festival May 17-20. Held the third weekend of May to coincide with Norwegian Constitution Day, Alaska’s longest-running festival also celebrates U.S. Armed Forces Day and the start of both spring and fishing season.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the Kodiak Crab Festival is a long-standing tradition that originated as a way to celebrate and raise awareness for the growing king crab industry. It is five days rich with tradition. Some events have been part of the festival from day one. Here are a few things you definitely do not want to miss this year:

March 1-3, 2018, the Festival of Native Arts will return to the University of Alaska Fairbanks and celebrate 45 years of cultural education and diversity through traditional Alaska Native art, music and dance.

The largest concentration of bald eagles in the United States is located in Alaska’s Chilkat Valley. Each November, between 2,000-4,000 of these majestic birds descend upon the valley in Haines, Alaska, to feed on a late run of chum and coho salmon.

Sitka WhaleFest has been a Southeast Alaska tradition for more than 20 years. The 2017 theme, “The Making-Of: Behind the Scenes of Science,” will be incorporated throughout this year’s festival, running from Nov. 3-5. Can’t-miss events include a free film fest, a family concert and the WhaleFest Run.