Mark your calendar so you don’t miss this collection of amazing summer festivals in Alaska, including music, kids’ activities, food, and more.
The midnight sun makes summer the perfect time of year to get outside and explore Alaska’s festival scene.
Whether you’re looking to attend the State Fair—and see the massive fruits and vegetables grown under the endless daylight—or immerse yourself in the arts, music, history, or even fungi, this festival line-up is for you. Mark your calendar for these not-to-be-missed summer festivals in Alaska.
July festivals in Alaska
Bear Paw Festival
When: July 8-12
Where: Eagle River
This year, enjoy the 42nd annual Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River with five days of festivities.
Enjoy a Grand Parade with classic cars and fire engines, and wave at parade royalty as they go by. Don’t miss the Slippery Salmon Olympics, a unique–and messy–relay race.
Be sure to try a few carnival rides, play Human Foosball, and don’t miss the Teddy Bear Picnic. Make some time to listen to live music, visit vendor booths, attend beer tastings, and more at this great summer festival in Alaska.
Copper River Salmon Jam
When: July 17-18
Where: Cordova
Enjoy this fish-focused family festival during the height of salmon season. The Copper River Salmon Jam raises funds for Cordova Arts & Pageants and features an array of events, as well as live music, an artisan market, and more.
This year, The Wet Spots is the headlining band to enjoy, and there will be a variety of Alaska Salmon Runs to participate in, as well as opportunities to taste local salmon.
Bring the kids to an array of family-focused events, including Fishing for Books, educational activities, traditional games, fish printing, and more.
Golden Days
When: July 18-25
Where: Fairbanks
In July of 1902, gold was discovered in present-day Fairbanks, and every year the city commemorates this event with Golden Days.
You won’t want to miss the Grande Parade or the Rubber Duckie Race, where more than 8,000 ducks are released into the Chena River. People purchase tickets selecting which one they think will win, and there are prizes for the first ducks to reach the Cushman Street Bridge.
Enjoy the Street Fair with plenty of vendors and food trucks, as well as a Kidz Korner, and Old Tyme Games like a balloon toss and watermelon eating contest. Find tons of other activities on the entertainment schedule, including music, dance, comedy, and more.
The Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival
When: July 19 – Aug. 2
Where: Fairbanks
For more than 45 years, Fairbanks has celebrated the summer festival season with The Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. Every year, more than 10,000 attendees come to the event, which features more than 100 events and 200 workshops.
Enjoy workshops in fields like dance, movement, film, literary art, music, theater, and visual arts, including everything from glasswork to jewelry, with specialized offerings like Advanced Jazz Improvisation and Advanced Zimbabwean Marimba.
The Composing in the Wilderness program also offers a special chance for composers to create art while immersed in Alaska’s wilderness.
Back to Bluegrass Festival
When: July 25-26
Where: McGrath
The remote, fly-in community of McGrath hosts the Back to Bluegrass Festival each year in support of KSKO, which is the local community radio station.
Enjoy music from interior bands, as well as vendor booths and food. The event brings people from up and down the Kuskokwim River.
The community is located off the road system, so Alaska Air Transit added extra flights to help people get to the festival.
Salmonfest
When: July 31-Aug. 2
Where: Ninilchik
Listen to an all-star lineup, including Trampled by Turtles, Molly Tuttle, Anders Osborne, Jackie Greene, and many other incredible artists, at this year’s Salmonfest.
The multi-day music festival supports salmon-related causes and local needs, such as the Ninilchik Food Pantry. In addition to soaking up the music, participants can also learn about local environmental issues, including the threats salmon face, by visiting the “Salmon Causeway” during the festival.
Blueberry Arts Festival
When: July 31-Aug. 2
Where: Ketchikan
This year is the 51st Blueberry Arts Festival in Ketchikan. Around 12,000 people attend the event each year, which focuses on fun, blueberry-related festivities.
One of the highlights is the “Handmade Human Powered Blueberry Boat Race,” where entrants brave obstacles like rapids and bananas along an approximately 100-foot course.
Other events include a slug race, art exhibits, a blueberry dish contest, a blueberry pie eating contest, and more. Attendees can also enjoy live music and a multitude of booths by artists and vendors.
Tanana Valley State Fair
When: July 31 – Aug. 9
Where: Fairbanks
“All is Fair in Love & Spore” is this year’s theme at the Tanana Valley State Fair. The event is the oldest state fair in Alaska, with a history dating back to 1924.
Enjoy an array of exhibits and competitions, including a quilt show, fashion show, 4-H events, and more. See animals, attend livestock auctions, and enjoy plenty of good music, vendors, and delicious fair foods.
Alaska World Arts Festival
When: May-September
Where: Homer
From May through September, enjoy an array of performances, workshops, films, and more at the Alaska World Arts Festival.
The festival features world music, comedy events, storytelling sessions, craft workshops, and more.
August festivals in Alaska
Alyeska Blueberry Festival
When: Aug. 15-16
Where: Alyeska Resort
Head to the slopes of Alyeska Resort for the Alyeska Blueberry Festival. The event features live music, pie-eating contests, and a variety of blueberry-focused beverages in the beer and wine garden.
A highlight of the festival is picking blueberries on the resort’s slopes, but there’s plenty more to enjoy, including family activities, live music, food trucks, and vendors with artisan goods.
Alaska State Fair
When: Aug. 21 – Sept. 7
Where: Palmer
The Alaska State Fair is the ultimate festival in Alaska, packed with exhibits, competitions, and everyone’s favorite—the giant fruit and vegetable competitions. One of the most notable records is the 2022 record for a giant pumpkin that weighed in at a whopping 2,147 pounds.
The entertainment lineup this year features big-name acts like Megadeth, Ziggy Marley, Cake, and Modest Mouse.
Enjoy plenty of vendors, fair food, and non-stop fun during this year’s state fair. Be sure to check the opening hours and days, as it may be closed on some weekdays.
September festivals in Alaska
Sacred Acre Festival
When: Sept. 11-13
Where: Ninilchik
Billed as “Alaska’s Premiere EDM Festival,” the three-day Sacred Acre Festival is an immersive festival experience featuring three stages with headliners like Inzo, Opiuo, and Mindchatter.
Enjoy three days of performances, Alaska’s largest laser light show, workshops on topics like Somatic Healing Practices and Intention Setting, and more. Camping is available nearby.
Girdwood Fungus Fair
When: Sept. 12-13
Where: Girdwood
Dedicated mushroom lovers will enjoy the Girdwood Fungus Fair, which is hosted by the Turnagain Arm Mycological Society and partners.
The event is dedicated to serious fungus exploration, including an array of workshops and demos, fungus displays, expert talks, mushroom walks, and a Mycoblitz to survey and catalog fungus species. The exact schedule will be posted in late July.
Cordova Fungus Festival
When: Sept. 18-20
Where: Cordova
Mushroom enthusiasts will love the Cordova Fungus Festival, which features guided “Fungus Forays,” expert talks, expeditions to see mushrooms, and more.
Enjoy arts-and-crafts workshops, artists, food vendors, kids’ activities, and more. One of the festival’s top highlights is a delicious Fungus Feast celebrating wild harvests.
Skinny Raven Oktoberfest
When: Sept. 19
Where: Anchorage
Lace up your running shoes and hit Anchorage’s Ship Creek area on a 5K or 10K run for this year’s Skinny Raven Oktoberfest.
After the run, head back for pretzels and plenty of beer in honor of Oktoberfest. The annual event is a fundraiser for Covenant House Alaska, an organization that supports at-risk youth.
