Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival
2026-07-19 - 2026-08-02
For more than 45 years, we have offered opportunities for engaging and inspiring experiences focused on study-performance of the arts, with hundreds of workshops that span 20 genres from visual to performing arts and beyond. There is something for everyone from children to adults and serving the absolute beginner to those on the aspiring and professional artist tracks.
The Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival is supported in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the NEA America 250 program. We are so honored to be a recipient of an America250 grant this season, allowing us to continue to bring great arts experiences and opportunities to Alaskans as we have for 46 year! This year, our focus is on the landscape of American art forms, composers, and artists — past and present. We are thrilled to be celebrating the rich and diverse contributions of Americans across generations and uniquely American art forms like Bluegrass and Old Time music to Jazz and Musical Theater, Swing dancing, and more. We hope that you will join us this season for all our Workshops, Concerts, Seminars and more!

Southeast Alaska State Fair
2026-07-23 - 2026-07-26
Contests, Showcases & Exhibitions

The Southeast Alaska State Fair Showcases our unique way of life with a variety of showcases and contests that help us celebrate what makes us who we are. From our Logging Show, to the Fishermen’s Rodeo, to the Wearable Art Review – there’s something for everyone in our communties to take part in!
REGIONAL EXHIBITS COMPETITION
What would a fair be without exhibits of the art, craft, crops, and kitchen science of our region?
The Southeast Alaska State Fair highlights the best of our region in Harriett Hall every year, from woodworking to photography to the most exquisite quilts from both sides of the border.
Join our exhibitors from all over Southeast Alaska and the Yukon. Click the department you’re interested in and learn more!

Soldotna Progress Days
2026-07-24 - 2026-07-26
Soldotna Chamber is once again bringing the Progress Days Parade to our Community! Parade line up at Soldotna Prep begins at 9am and the parade itself begins at 11am running from Soldotna Prep School (again, line up begins here) past SoHi, turning down Marydale, turning right on Binkley and continuing past the Borough Building. The parade officially ends at the Binkley/Redoubt roundabout, then you may disburse in whichever direction is needed. Shady Lane should not be used as a disembarkation point for floats. Soldotna Prep School works well for a disembarkation location.
This year’s Progress Days Overall Theme is “Pioneers, Patriots, and Progress“, and it is always a fun community-building event!
The Parade is a great opportunity for community exposure and networking for any local business or organization. It’s also free for Chamber Members.

Friday Fling Farmers Market
2026-07-24 11:00 - 18:00, 2026-07-31 11:00 - 18:00, 2026-08-07 11:00 - 18:00, 2026-08-14 11:00 - 18:00 (America/Anchorage) | Downtown Palmer Pavilion, 720 S Valley Way
Friday Fling is Palmer’s premier outdoor farmers market! This Fling lasts all summer long and proudly hosts a variety of favorites for your enjoyment. Quality locally-grown produce and handmade goods from local crafters, a variety of fine foods from our diverse mobile chefs, local musicians and entertainers…you’re bound to find something to kick off your weekend properly!

Fairbanks Golden Days
2026-07-25 | Downtown Fairbanks
Celebrate Golden Days 2026
Golden Days is Fairbanks’ biggest summer tradition! Join us as we celebrate our rich history and community spirit with a week of connection, celebration, and family fun. From the Grande Parade to the street fair, there is something for everyone in the Golden Heart City.

Kids Pink Salmon Derby
2026-07-25

Valdez Silver Derby
2026-07-25 - 2026-09-06
The Valdez Silver Salmon Derby features a $10,000 cash Grand Prize for the largest Silver, $3,000 cash for 2nd place, and $1,500 for 3rd place. The derby also features 1st and 2nd place daily prizes. It all starts with a derby ticket. You can find out where to get one by visiting our Tickets page.
Silver Derby Events
Big Prize Fridays: July 31 & September 4
CLICK HERE for Big Prize Friday info
Salmon Slam: Aug 28 through September 6
CLICK HERE for 10-Day Salmon Slam Tournament Information

Valdez Gold Rush Days
2026-07-29 - 2026-08-02
The Valdez Gold Rush Days are an annual 5-day celebration honoring the past, present, and future of Valdez, Alaska. It is hosted by a non-profit organization of local volunteers. Every year we donate money to a variety of local charities and organizations, especially to those focused on children and the future of Valdez.

Tanana Valley State Fair
2026-07-31 - 2026-08-09 | 1800 College Rd, Fairbanks, Alaska
The Tanana Valley State Fair is Alaska’s oldest and northernmost state fair, bringing together carnival rides, live entertainment, livestock shows, giant vegetable competitions, local arts and crafts, food vendors, and family-friendly activities. Held annually in Fairbanks, it celebrates the culture, agriculture, and community spirit of Interior Alaska.

51st Annual Blueberry Arts Festival
2026-07-31 - 2026-08-02
The Annual Blueberry Arts Festival presented by the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council began in 1975 and has been growing ever since. The Blueberry Arts Festival is always the first weekend of August, with over 12,000 community members and summer visitors attending. A few of the community’s favorite activities of the 3-day Festival include the Pet and Doll Parade, the Slug Weigh-In and Race, live music, the Blueberry Arts Festival Art Exhibit, the Best Blueberry Dish Contest, Fun Runs, the Blueberry Pie-Eating contest, the Great Blueberry Ball Roll, PLUS over 160 artist and vendor booths. The Blueberry Arts Festival wraps up Sunday with the Handmade Human Powered Blueberry Boat Race which includes a grueling almost 100-foot race course filled with tide changes, rapids, bananas, probably a dead salmon or two, eye patches, sinking boats, definitely a curious harbor seal, drama, and fun!!! The final activity of the weekend is the Annual Richard Brautigan, Dick Whittaker, Lillian Ference, and Phoebe Newman Memorial Trout Fishing in America Poetry Slam! Come see art, make art, admire an artist, be inspired by art, maybe give an artist a thank you hug, eat good food, and appreciate the community of Ketchikan for all its quirky gloriousness.

Salmon Fest Music Festival
2026-07-31 - 2026-08-02
Salmonfest is Alaska’s premier music festival, held each summer in Ninilchik on the Kenai Peninsula. The event features live music, local food, art, and family-friendly activities while promoting the conservation of Alaska’s salmon and wild habitats. It attracts thousands of visitors each year for a unique celebration of music, community, and nature.
July 31st, August 1st & 2nd 2026
Festival Hours:
Friday – Noon-2am
Saturday – 11am-2am
Sunday – 11am-10pm

Wrangell Bearfest
2026-08-06 - 2026-08-09
Wrangell is located in Southeast Alaska in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. Surrounded by craggy mountain peaks, lush temperate rainforest, and glaciers; we are home to both black and brown bears. Our history is entwined with the geology of this land, the arrival of the Tlingit down the mighty Stikine River, and the discovery of the island by Russians exploring the Inside Passage. We live with the rhythm of nature, the ebb and flood of tides, the return of salmon to streams and the gathering of bears feeding to withstand the next winter. Bearfest is our tribute to our surroundings and the nature of what makes Wrangell so special. Please join us in celebrating the Bears of Alaska and more, each year during the last week of July. For 2026, we are delaying our festivities by a week. Bearfest will run from Thursday August 6th through Sunday August 9.

Valdez Women’s Silver Salmon Derby
2026-08-08
FRIDAY, August 7th – Breast Cancer Awareness Walk & Art Scramble Event
SATURDAY, August 8th – GO FISHING!
Queen of the Silver Salmon Sisterhood (biggest fish) will win
$1,000 CASH & $1,000 in Prizes from Prospector
2nd Place – $500 CASH & $500 in Prizes from Prospector
3rd Place – $300 CASH & Prizes from Prospector
All Cash & Contest PRIZES available for pick up at weigh-in station Sunday, Aug 9th, 9am to 8pm

71st Seward Silver Salmon Derby
2026-08-08 - 2026-08-16
Seward Silver Salmon Derby is one of Alaska’s oldest and largest fishing tournaments, held each August in Seward. Anglers of all skill levels compete to catch the biggest coho (silver) salmon for cash prizes and awards, while helping support local fish restoration efforts in Resurrection Bay.

75th Annual Kenai Peninsula State Fair
2026-08-14 - 2026-08-16 | Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds, 16200 Sterling Hwy, Ninilchik, AK, 99639, United States
For over 73 years, the town of Ninilchik, Alaska has played host to the annual Kenai Peninsula Fair. Every August, approximately 7,000 people come from all points of the state for a chance to reunite with family and friends, to showcase their accomplishments from the past year and to take part in some down home fun. Some of the events they come to participate in or to watch include: live music, pig races, western-style rodeo with bull riding, the Backwoods Girl competition, the annual parade and much more. Every year people from across the peninsula, ranging in ages from 2 to 90, enter over 800 exhibits to compete for blue ribbons and bragging rights for the coming year. The Kenai Peninsula Fair continues to be one of the biggest celebrations on the Kenai Peninsula. It is an important festival that drives healthy tourism, provides for commerce development, builds community ties and supports youth and non-profit organizations from the Kenai Peninsula.

Houston Founder’s Day
2026-08-15
The tiny town of Houston triples its population (all the way up to 6,000!) during this one-day family-friendly blowout on the third Saturday in August. And the best part is that everything’s free! Kids’ games and bouncy rooms, dunk tanks, fishing ponds, slides, and a BBQ…it’s all covered by the folks of Houston.
The block party-style festival, which has been going on for at least 30 years, was started for kids, and they’ve kept the focus on the youngsters. So bring the family for pie-eating contests, free hot dogs and burgers, and games.
There’s also a poker tournament and garage sale (for the adults) and what the folks of Houston claim is the best fireworks display in the state (a member of their fire department owns a pyrotechnic company and puts on the show). The Air Force Band also plays during the evening, and there are free tours of a life-flight helicopter.

Anchorage RunFest
2026-08-15 - 2026-08-16
For 16 years, we’ve shared miles, cheers, and unforgettable triumphs with you. Through challenges and celebrations, your support has kept RunFest strong, and we are grateful for every runner, volunteer, and supporter who makes this event possible.
Anchorage RunFest is more than a race—it’s a tradition that celebrates resilience, health, and community spirit. With distances for everyone—from the United Physical Therapy 49K Ultra and Humpy’s Marathon and Relay, Half Marathon, 5K, and Kids’ events—there’s a place for all runners at our start lines.
We can’t wait to see you in August 2026, ready to train, run, and create new memories together!

Alaska State Fair
2026-08-21 - 2026-09-07
Alaska State Fair is Alaska’s largest annual event, held each year in Palmer. The fair features live concerts, carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, giant vegetables, local arts and crafts, food vendors, competitions, and family-friendly entertainment. Celebrating Alaska’s agricultural heritage since 1936, it attracts visitors from across the state and beyond.

Sitka Uncommon Music Festival
2026-08-31 - 2026-09-01
Music for Sitka, Alaska

The Uncommon Music Festival is an annual chamber music festival in Sitka, Alaska dedicated to equitable, accessible, community-building classical music. Since 2016, we’ve collaborated with our community partners to present an uncommonly diverse array of concerts, workshops, and other events.
August 31, 7pm | Odess Theater @ Sitka Fine Arts Camp
September 1, 2pm | Down Bar @ Mean Queen

10th Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby
2026-09-08 - 2026-09-13
The Kenai Silver Salmon Derby reduces selective fishing practices which lead to catch-and-release injuries that compromise the health of the silver salmon population.

Girdwood Fungus Fair
2026-09-12 - 2026-09-13
An annual event put on by the Turnagain Arm Mycological Society in Girdwood, Alaska.
