Enjoy October’s best events in and around Fairbanks with this combination of art, sports, spooky Halloween-themed events, and more.
October is a great time for events and activities in Fairbanks.
Spend some time exploring your creative side with an abundance of art activities and events, from gallery exhibitions to do-it-yourself explorations. Get a head start on holiday shopping at craft fairs and bazaars. Watch live local sports as teams compete on the ice and at the volleyball net. And don’t forget the spooky Halloween-themed events.
There are plenty of great fall events all around the state, including 20 that are happening right in Fairbanks.
Pioneer Park Pickers Weekly Music Jam
Join the Pioneer Park Pickers‘ weekly jam night on Tuesdays. The loosely organized group meets each Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Pioneer Museum Lobby at Alaskaland.
The group welcomes people who play acoustic string, wind, or percussion instruments, as well as keyboardists and vocalists, to come and join the fun. In addition to jam sessions, the group also performs at local events, senior centers, and even in parades.
Inspirations in Watercolor Show
Visit the Fairbanks Community Museum this month to marvel at pieces by watercolor artists Margaret E. Kellogg and Carol Cologie. Its “Inspirations in Watercolor” show runs through October 31.
The museum is open 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and features a variety of other exhibits focusing on winter in Fairbanks, early Fairbanks, the Great Flood, dog mushing, the Klondike Gold Rush, and more.
“Observations: Two Decades of Change” Exhibit
Explore the exhibit “Observations: Two Decades of Change” at the Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery at the University of Alaska Museum of the North. The exhibit, which focuses on art quilts created by Ree Nancarrow, runs through January 10, 2027.
Be sure to check out the many other offerings at the art gallery and museum, including the Gallery of Alaska, which features 31 Pleistocene mammals, an 8-foot-9-inch-tall brown bear, and many other exhibits.
Fused Glass Open Studio
Get creative at Back to Glass, where you can enjoy a fused glass open studio a couple of times a week through December 20. Select from a number of individually priced projects to make things like bookends, a freestanding wave, rainbow suncatchers, and mini jellyfish, among many other options.
Metal Fest 2026
Learn all about blacksmithing and metal arts from visiting educator Elizabeth Belz at Metal Fest. From October 8-25, she will be teaching workshops and classes in and around Fairbanks as she serves a three-week stint as Fairbanks Craft Artist in Residence. The program is a collaboration with The Folk School and Calypso Farm and Ecology Center.
Select from options like a youth series, Blacksmithing 101, a variety of weekend project sessions, presentations, a course for women and nonbinary people, and many other options.
Paint Night and Stained Glass nights with Aurora Artistries
Stop by Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Company for a variety of art nights with Aurora Artistries. Sign up for workshops ranging from painting your pet silhouette and stained glass to spooky Halloween-themed options like the “Van Ghost” painting workshop on October 14 or a 3D pumpkin glass art day.
Denakkanaaga Monthly Native Artwork Pop Up Sale
Stop by Denakkanaaga in Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center to enjoy the Denakkanaaga Monthly Native Artwork Pop-Up Sale, which occurs on the second Friday of each month.
Explore traditional and contemporary art by an array of Alaska Native artists, meet the artists in person, and learn about their craft. Proceeds benefit Native artists and elders.
Fairbanks Fiber Festival
See the creations of more than 40 Alaskan fiber artists at the Fairbanks Fiber Festival, which takes place October 9-11 at the Alaskaland Centennial Center. Explore knitting, embroidery, sewing, felting, crocheting, weaving, quilting, and numerous other crafts.
The event includes workshops, hands-on demos, a crafter’s circle, and a kids area. There are also plenty of opportunities to purchase items from various vendors, including fiber tools and equipment as well as food and drink.
Fairbanks Ice Dogs Hockey
This month, you can watch the Fairbanks Ice Dogs take on several opponents at Big Dipper Arena. The team will take on the Kenai River Brown Bears, Wisconsin Windigo, and Minnesota Mallards during October. Check the team’s schedule for game dates and times.
Boots and Brews Beerfest
Sample numerous local breweries at the Boots and Brews Beerfest by the Brewers Guild of Alaska. The event is October 10 and features live music by The Whiskey Fish.
Tickets are $50 for general admission, $60 for early admission, and $20 for designated drivers.
Cozy Collective Artisan Market
Shop for cozy, handmade goods by local makers at the Cozy Collective Artisan Market October 10-11. Enjoy free admission as you shop for gifts at the event, which is held at the 8 Star Events Center.
University of Alaska Women’s Volleyball
Cheer for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks at UAF Alaska Airlines Gymnasium as the university’s women’s volleyball team takes on its competitors. This month’s home games are on October 15 and 17.
City Sampler – A Taste of Fairbanks
The 20th annual City Sampler – A Taste of Fairbanks event will be held on October 22. The event includes food, wine tasting, live music, and door prizes. It supports the Fairbanks Resource Agency, which supports Alaskans with disabilities, including seniors.
Farthest North Girl Scouts Council Holiday Bazaar
Get a jump on your holiday shopping at the Farthest North Girl Scouts Council Holiday Bazaar, which takes place on October 18.
Enjoy free admission and check out all the booths, with plenty of crafts, gifts, local goodies, and treats for sale. Proceeds benefit the council’s youth programs.
Annual Fairbanks Go Winter! Expo
Head to the Carlson Center on October 24-25 for the Go Winter! Expo. The annual event focuses on preparing for and enjoying winter in Alaska. More than 100 vendors typically attend, offering everything from outdoor activities to snow machines, camping, home heating, car care, and more. The event also includes the Interior Alaska Gun Show.
Last year, more than 3,700 attendees came to the two-day event. Tickets are $5 for adults; kids 12 and under are free. On Sunday, military with ID are free, as well as anyone who brings two cans for the food bank.
Lavender Gala Masquerade
Enjoy an evening of Queer joy, community, and more at the Lavender Gala Masquerade on October 24. The event takes place at the Centennial Center for the Arts at Alaskaland and includes plated dinner, a silent auction, dessert auction, dancing, performers, a photo booth, and more.
Tickets are $100/each or $750 for a table of eight. The event benefits Lavender Lounge and inclusive programming at Fairbanks Queer Collective.
Halloween Spooktacular Concert
Head to UAF Davis Concert Hall on October 25 to enjoy a Halloween Spooktacular Concert by the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are available on the symphony’s website at a range of prices, and costumes are encouraged.
Not So Spooky Halloween
Wear your costumes and swing by the Fairbanks Children’s Museum for Not So Spooky Halloween on October 30 to enjoy a fun family experience, with programming geared toward kids aged 8 and under. Enjoy themed activities and crafts, attend storytime, make slime, join the dance party, and more.
Halloween Trick or Treat Town
Enjoy a fun trick-or-treating experience at Halloween Trick or Treat Town. The event takes place at Alaskaland on October 31, with tickets costing $8 for early birds (through October 29) and $10 at the event, with kids 2 and under free with a paid adult.
Wear your favorite costume to compete in the costume contest, visit the treat stations, ride the Halloween train, and enjoy performances, carnival games, vendors, food trucks, and more.
Rink or Treat
Lace up your skates to enjoy Rink-or-Treat on October 31 from 4-8 p.m. at Polar Ice Alaska. The rink-or-treat experience includes two events: an earlier, lights-on, kid-friendly “treat and skate,” followed by a spookier experience for older kids and adults. Be sure to wear your favorite costume. Tickets for non-members cost $15 per event (or $25 for both).
