Alaska: Events

Alaskans are a celebratory people, especially in the summer when 24-hour daylight turns the most sober and sane into the most blithering and bonkers. Most towns have Summer Solstice (June 21) festivities. The festival in Fairbanks is one of the most popular, enjoying nearly 23 hours of sun to stage a midnight baseball game. Sitka lets off June summer steam with log-chopping, axe-tossing and tree-climbing competitions. Independence Day (July 4) is a very popular holiday with celebrations of particular note in Ketchikan and Anchorage, including parades, contests and softball games, all rounded off with impressive firework displays. On the second weekend in July, Talkeetna is the proud host of the Moose Dropping Festival, a high-class bash enjoyed by second-class shot-putters wondering why dropping-tossing isn't an Olympic event. Golden Days in Fairbanks is held in late July. It celebrates the discovery of gold with parades and sports, giving the less athletic a chance in events like the Hairy Legs Contest.