These 7 Alaska Towns Have The Most Unique Festivals

As a giant, frozen, sparsely populated, non-contiguous U.S. state owned by Russia until 1867, Alaska is already unique. Yet in its smallest, remotest towns are festivals so unique that America might request a refund. That is a joke, of course, but annual celebrations for ice climbing, whale hunting, and frigid women seem more appropriate across the Bering. In contrast, others, like a Fourth of July car launch, are the embodiment of “American.” Fun can be had at all those events, however, as long as you keep an open mind and an open schedule. Here are the towns and dates for Alaska's wackiest fests.

Talkeetna

There is so much to talk about, Talkeetna. This remote riverside village has a cat for a mayor, had a festival for moose poop (which devolved into a trainwwreck of crime and drunkenness, causing its cancellation in 2009), and annually pits single women against one another for backwoods dominion and bachelor attraction. Begun by the Talkeetna Bachelor Society in 1986, the Wilderness Woman Contest is an all-female competition involving water hauling, woodcutting, climbing, fishing, shooting, sandwich making, beverage delivering, and other essential skills for an off-grid Alaskan relationship. The winner is crowned with a fur hat. Festivities continue that evening with a bachelor auction and ball that raises tens of thousands of dollars for at-risk women and children. 2025's extravaganza is scheduled for Saturday, December 6.

Chicken

Though home to just 12 people per the 2020 U.S. Census, Chicken is acclaimed for its name. In fact, back in 2021, Jack in the Box bought the town during a "Chicken Wars" ad campaign. The sale was fictional, but Jack did donate $10,000 to Chicken for COVID relief. Nowadays, Chicken earns revenue from the Chicken Saloon, Chicken Gold Camp & Outpost, and the annual Chickenstock Music Festival. Dubbed "a cluckin' good time," Chickenstock welcomes a thousand-plus guests, a dozen-plus artists, and egg-cellent vibes via chicken meals, chicken costumes, chicken dances, and marshmallow Peeps (3,000 of which are dropped by Chicken Air onto festivalgoers). This year's Chickenstock took place on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, with artists like Jenny Baker and the Blackwater Railroad Company.

Valdez

Arguably, the most extreme winter sport is celebrated each February in Valdez, a small city flanked by glaciers and frozen waterfalls. Such slippery formations are climbed by brave attendees of the Valdez Ice Climbing Festival, AKA Valdez Ice Fest. Founded in 1983, it is said to be America's oldest ice climbing festival (yes, there are others, including the Michigan Ice Fest and Ouray Ice Festival). It now runs for four days and caters to all levels of climbers. That means you can ice climb for the first time at the Valdez Ice Fest. Unfortunately, 2025's fest has already passed, but you can catch other unique Valdez events while awaiting 2026's edition. The End Of The Road Ren Fair is set for June 20 and 21, and Gold Rush Days should begin on July 30 and finish on August 3.

Nome

It is easy to take the Iditarod for granted. Though a world-renowned sporting event, it involves sleds, dogs, several days, nearly 1,000 miles, freezing temperatures, blizzards, fatalities, and many more bizarre elements. The race runs each March from Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, to Nome, a super-small city that becomes the "Mardi Gras of the North" when the mushers slide into town. Activities include or have included snowmobile racing, arm wrestling, live music, arts and crafts, darts, poker, beer tasting, snow sculpting, basketball, Indigenous games, educational demonstrations, a wet T-shirt contest, and a musher's banquet. While waiting for next year's Iditarod "Mardi Gras," you can join the Anvil Mountain Run, a 17K race up and down Anvil Mountain on July 4, or enjoy chiller events like potlucking and crafting during the June-long Midnight Sun.

Glacier View

The view is odd in Glacier View... especially on July 4. That is when vehicles are launched from a 300-foot cliff as part of the town's Independence Day celebration. While "God Bless the U.S.A." echoes through the valley, organizers strap steering wheels straight and drop lumber onto gas pedals to cause vehicular free falls for freedom. Crushed cars, trucks, vans, snowmobiles, buses, and trailers—along with standard Fourth of July fare like food trucks and flyovers—have stimulated thousands of spectators along the Matanuska River since 2005. However, the riverbank is dangerously eroding, so there is a chance that this year's Drop will be slightly dangerous. Keep a safe distance!

Utqiagvik

Located within the Arctic Circle, Utqiagvik is America's most out-there city and has one of its most out-there festivals. To commemorate the spring whale hunt, residents of Utqiagvik (and other Iñupiat communities) gather for Nalukataq, which involves traditional songs, dances, clothing, and food, notably lots and lots of whale meat. Nalukataq's most unique event is the blanket toss, where participants are tossed dozens of feet in the air from a sealskin blanket. Although dates are variable, Nalukataq generally happens during the third week of June in time for the Summer Solstice. Stay in Utqiagvik for another couple of weeks to celebrate July Fourth in Iñupiat style. Activities have included ear pulling, high kicking, and other games that can send a participant to the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. The 2025 competition is to run in Fairbanks from July 16 to 19.

Cordova

Though it seems like the one place on Earth where you can escape creepy crawlies, glacial Alaska has worms—ice worms. Black, an inch long, and the only known macroscopic ice-dwellers, the worms move through glaciers by the millions to feed on bacteria and algae. In 1961, residents of the poor, frigid community of Cordova decided to start a festival to warm up spirits. They needed a local mascot, but since salmon and crabs were too ordinary, they chose the black sheep—nay, worm. Nearly 65 years later, the Cordova Iceworm Festival is the longest-running community festival. It spans a whole winter week and features everything from ice worm fireworks to an ice worm basketball tournament to a 100-foot ice worm float headlining the ice worm parade.

Finishing Thoughts

Do not be chicken and check out Alaska's most unique festivals. Start with Chickenstock on June 13, head to Nalukataq the following week, keep your distance at the Glacier View Car Launch on July 4, watch the Wilderness Woman Contest in December, break into 2026 at the Cordova Iceworm Festival, climb at the Valdez Ice Fest in February, and celebrate the Mardi Gras of the North in March. Of course, it is okay if you cannot make it to all those fests, but choose at least one to expand your horizons during an Alaskan vacation.