The Best Summer County Fairs In Alaska

You may not find traditional counties in Alaska like you do in the Lower 48, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find an amazing summer fair in the Last Frontier. With its mild temperatures in the summer and longer stretches of sunlight (especially around the June solstice), these fairs capture the spirit of an Alaskan summer. Only at an Alaska fair will you find lumberjack shows, fish tosses, and beard contests. If there’s any state that knows how to party in the summer, it’s the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Alaska State Fair, Palmer

North of Anchorage, along the Matanuska River, is the small town of Palmer, where you’ll find the Alaska State Fair. Many Alaskans make the trek to Palmer in late August as their “last hurrah” for the summer before the long Alaskan winter takes hold of the state. Not only is the fair the largest in the state, drawing hundreds of thousands of fairgoers to the 12-day event, but it’s also one of the oldest. It all started in 1936 as a celebration by the Mat-Su colonists and has exploded into one of Alaska’s largest parties. You can expect all the classic events at the Alaska State Fair. There are carnival rides, like the "Eli Ferris Wheel," which offers breathtaking views of the fairgrounds and Pioneer Peak.

It even holds an annual Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off, which is more exciting than it sounds. In 2009, the fair entered the Guinness Book of World Records with the largest cabbage on record, weighing in at 127 pounds. If you love healthy competition, there are unique contests that see hundreds of entries at the Hoskins and Irwin buildings for everything from quilting, baking, woodworking, and beekeeping. But there are odd contests, too, like beard contests, diaper derbies, and storytelling contests. When you’re ready to say farewell to summer, the Alaska State Fair hosts an amazing sendoff party.

Tanana Valley State Fair, Fairbanks

The Tanana Valley State Fair is one of the oldest in the state, dating back to the early 1920s. The first fair was held in the auditorium of the Moose Hall in downtown Fairbanks, but it moved to a massive 100-acre plot of land just outside the city in the 1950s. Held every year in late July and early August, the fair hosts everything from carnival rides to food vendors and live music. One of the most beloved aspects of the fair is the amazing food. From sweet treats like elephant ears and cream puffs to savory street foods like gyros, shrimp, and handmade pretzels, you won’t leave hungry.

What makes this Fair experience phenomenal is its live concert series. We’re not talking cover bands, but notable bands that have graced the top 40 like The Plain White T’s, Switchfoot, Uncle Kracker, and Gregg Allman. Held in the Sunrise Field Arena, these concerts pull massive crowds, making it one of the more anticipated events in Alaska over the summer. Then, after the concerts are over and the carnival rides start to pack up, the event ends with a spectacular fireworks show to bookend the event.

Golden Days Festival, Fairbanks

In the third week of every July, Fairbanks holds its annual Golden Day Festival and Parade, which honors its early Gold Rush roots. During the festival, local shop owners dress up as sourdough miners or wear their best “fluzie” outfits (clothing worn by saloon women during the Old West days). The festival kicks off with the Grand Parade, which is one of the biggest parades in the entire state. You can expect almost 100 floats, marching bands from all over Alaska, and residents dressed in their finest Gold Rush costumes. If you can only make it to one parade in Alaska over the summer, the Grand Parade is one of the best.

After the parade concludes, the Rubber Duckie Race is almost as anticipated as the parade. Over 8,000 rubber ducks race down the Chena River, all vying for prizes up to $10,000. You can also spend the afternoon walking around the street fair, shopping for artisan crafts and tasty food from local vendors, or stopping by the Kids Korner for face painting and family-friendly activities. With carnival rides, amazing food, and an even better parade, Golden Days is one of Alaska's most anticipated yearly events, and a great way to celebrate the summer.

Bear Paw Festival, Eagle River

The Bear Paw Festival website has a yearly countdown that ticks down the days to Eagle River’s most anticipated summer event. It’s not named after the sweet treats of Bear Paws, but the Native American symbol of the bear paw that signifies strength, courage, and protection. The festival draws more than 30,000 visitors from across the state, with live music, raffles, parades, and the delightful Slippery Salmon Olympics. While the slippery Salmon Olympics is a fun event to join, it’s also so much fun to watch. Participants weave through wacky obstacles carrying a (you guessed it) slippery salmon.

There are also bear-themed events in the festival, like the much-anticipated Running of the Bears. Don’t worry, it’s not real bears that participate in the 300-yard fun run, but costumed mascots. It’s a little wacky and silly, but that’s kind of the theme of the Bear Paw Festival. The Teddy Bear Picnic is a favorite of the kids, offering a booth where kids can bring their teddy bears in for “check-ups,” as well as a teddy bear picnic, games, and a bear parade. From carnival rides, tasty food vendors, and bear-themed parades, it’s a festival that’s perfect for the whole family.

Midnight Sun Festival, Fairbanks

In the summer, Fairbanks sees almost 19 hours of continuous sunlight from mid-May to late July. To celebrate its unique position on the globe, it holds the annual Midnight Sun Festival in June that runs for 12 hours from noon until midnight. The celebration draws almost 30,000 Alaskans to the streets of Fairbanks every summer. Even the businesses along 1st and 2nd Avenues stay open well into the evening to partake in the city-wide party.

Expect excellent food vendors, live musical performances, and craft vendors situated along the street. While it may seem like your average American summer party, there are a few things that make it uniquely Alaskan. Some of the food vendors serve up Alaskan delicacies like reindeer sausage alongside festival staples like BBQ, and cloudberry treats, something only found in the northern part of the United States, Canada, and Alaska. And, like any city-wide festival, you can expect family-friendly activities like a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, and carnival games. The Midnight Sun Festival is one of the best ways to kick off the summer in Alaska.

Summer Fun in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Alaska has a reputation for being cold and blustery, but what many forget is that its summers are spectacular. In some places in Alaska, the sun doesn’t set until midnight, meaning there are more daylight hours for summer fairs and carnivals. From indulging in Alaskan delicacies like reindeer sausage and salmon BBQ to watching lumberjack competitions, these summer festivities are full of quirks, charm, and more than enough daylight hours to fit in all the fun. Plus, you can’t beat those breathtaking mountain views atop a Ferris wheel.