Alaska events

Alaska's natural wonders might overshadow its live entertainment offerings, but the state's diverse cities all offer intriguing arrays of events year-round. The bigger cities of Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks all boast thriving arts scenes and live events calendars, while smaller, more remote locales each showcase their own unique events. In no other state can you choose from tickets for operas, folk festivals and dog sledding events along with performances by local and world-famous musicians alike.

Alaska tickets

Anchorage is home to around half of all Alaska residents, so it naturally has the greatest range of live entertainment events. Top-notch performing arts companies based in the city, including the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and Anchorage Opera, present shows at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The center also hosts Broadway musicals and major concerts. The city is notable as the starting point for Alaska's most famous sporting event, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which commences in March with celebrations downtown. The annual AlaskaFest all-day and all-night music festival showcases local bands.

Other cities in Alaska present appealing festivals too. The state capital, Juneau, hosts the Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau Jazz & Classics, and Celebration, a three-day Alaska Natives arts and culture festival, the largest such event in Alaska. Fairbanks offers the Athabascan Old-Time Fiddling Festival, and historic Sitka is home to the Sitka Summer Music Festival. The Alaska State Fair in rural Palmer is renowned for its world-record-sized vegetables.

Alaska venues

Many great events in Alaska take place in smaller local spots, but the state has its share of large-scale venues too. Among them are Anchorage's George M. Sullivan Sports Arena, which hosts concerts as well as sporting events, and the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks ice hockey team.