What's on in Anchorage, United States through the year

Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)

Busy — Fur Rendezvous

• Festival

  Fur Rendezvous

  26 Feb – 8 MarMajor festivalCrowded

  Ten days of winter carnival downtown at the end of February: sled dog sprints on Fourth Avenue, outhouse races, snow sculpture and the running of the reindeer. It is the one time the city treats February as an asset. Source ↗

Still on: Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)

Peak crowds — Fur Rendezvous, Iditarod ceremonial start

• Festival

  Iditarod ceremonial start

  7 MarMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  On the first Saturday in March the teams run a slow eleven miles through downtown for the crowds before the real restart in Willow the next day. Fourth Avenue is trucked full of snow for it and closes from dawn. Source ↗

Still on: Fur Rendezvous (26 Feb – 8 Mar), Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)

Busy — Summer visitor season

• Nature

  Salmon runs

  15 May – 15 Sep · usuallyWildlife season

  Kings push into Ship Creek from mid-May, silvers take over from late July, and you can watch it from a car park in the middle of the city. Check the regulations before you fish — closures land mid-season when returns are weak.

• Season

  Summer visitor season

  15 May – 15 SepCruise seasonCrowdedBook early

  Cruise passengers, the railroad and every rental car in the state move through Anchorage between mid-May and mid-September. Book the car before the flight; running out of vehicles is a normal July here.

Peak crowds — Summer visitor season, Summer break in United States

• Hazard

  Interior wildfire smoke

  1 Jun – 15 Aug · usuallySmoke season

  In a dry summer the smoke from interior and Susitna valley fires settles over the bowl for days and the mountains vanish. Bad years are not every year, but June and July are when it happens. Source ↗

Still on: Salmon runs (15 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Summer visitor season (15 May – 15 Sep)

Peak crowds — Summer visitor season, Summer break in United States

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Salmon runs (15 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Summer visitor season (15 May – 15 Sep), Interior wildfire smoke (1 Jun – 15 Aug (usually))

Peak crowds — Summer visitor season, Alaska State Fair

• Festival

  Alaska State Fair

  21 Aug – 7 SepMajor festivalCrowded

  An hour north in Palmer, running from late August to Labour Day, and famous for vegetables the size of furniture that the midnight sun grows. The Glenn Highway back into town crawls on concert nights. Source ↗

• Nature

  Aurora season

  20 Aug – 15 Apr

  From late August the nights are dark enough again. City light washes out all but the strong displays, so the trick is a twenty-minute drive north or up Glen Alps and away from the bowl.

Still on: Salmon runs (15 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Summer visitor season (15 May – 15 Sep), Interior wildfire smoke (1 Jun – 15 Aug (usually))

Peak crowds — Summer visitor season, Alaska State Fair

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Salmon runs (15 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Summer visitor season (15 May – 15 Sep), Alaska State Fair (21 Aug – 7 Sep), Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)

Busy — Thanksgiving break in United States

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)

Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Aurora season (20 Aug – 15 Apr)