Alaska Celebrations and Events

Alaska

Alaskans and visitors will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mount McKinley, North America's tallest peak, with a number of activities in 2013.  The year of celebration will include exhibitions, festivals and special tours, making the summer months of 2013 an ideal time to book a trip to Alaska. Although the mountain is the centerpiece, it is just one of the highlights of the vast, 6-million-acre park, a haven for extreme sports seekers, those looking for relaxing hikes and bike rides and wildlife spotting. Some of the celebrations will include a special National Parks exhibit at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North and a sustainable summits symposium in Talkeetna, Sept. 8-11. For more information see http://www.nps.gov/dena

Alaska

Celebrating 50 years of service in 2013, the Alaska Marine Highway System is the only marine route with the designation of National Scenic Byway and All-American Road. Known as the "blue canoes," Alaska's ferries allow travellers to navigate between 33 coastal communities along the Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula and theAleutian Chain. The yearlong 'Golden Anniversary' celebrations will include community events throughout the state, incorporating Alaska art and culture, state and national parks, wildlife viewing and more. For more information go to www.ferryalaska.com/50years 

  

For those heading up to Fairbanks late February and March, Alaska's Christmas town of North Pole was recently selected to host the 2013 International Federation of Sleddog Sports Winter World Championship sled dog races Feb. 26 - March 17. Races occur every two years, alternating between European and North American venues, bringing together the most talented dog mushers and skijorers from around the globe. What a fantastic opportunity to experience this amazing winter sport. For more details see sleddogsport.net

Alaska

If travelling the Inside Passage then a visit to Wrangell in early May would be great timing as Chief Shakes Tribal House, a historic replica of a 19th century Tlingit tribal house on Shakes Island in Wrangell Harbor, is celebrating its recent renovation with a rededication and reopening celebration on May 3-4, 2013. Please visit www.shakesisland.com for more information.