2012 Summer Traditional Music Festivals
Alaska and the Yukon

  • April 9-15, 2012 - Alaska Folk Festival - in Juneau every April. This is one of the best of any folk festival I've been to - a real musician's festival. It takes over the town. Broadcasts on the radio every evening. Dances from Thursday through Saturday nights concurrent with performances. Workshops. Jam sessions all night for any kind of folk music. A crammed weekend at the end - a physical discharge and a musical recharge for all. Musicians come from all over the Northwest. Not to be missed. Call 907-463-3316 or check the website above for further info. For those of you who like to plan ahead, dates for future years: AFF 38 April 9-15, 2012, AFF 39 April 8-14, 2013, AFF 40 April 7-13, 2014, AFF 41 April 6-12, 2015.

  • April 20, 2012 - Skayway International Folk Festival - in Skagway, Alaska the weekend or two after the Alaska Folk Fest. International because a lot of musicians and attendees come from Canada, Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory in particular. Contact Donna Grifford 907-983-3222 or donnabadonna@yahoo.com.

  • May 25-27, 2012 - Mendeltna Music Festival (~ 25 miles west of Glennallen on the Glenn Hwy). May 27-29. Contact: Kari Bailey, karileebailey@gmail.com.

  • June 8-9, 2012 - Chickenstock Music Festival - or Josea Busby — chickenite@hotmail.com Cluck, cluck.

  • June 8-10, 2012 - Kenai River Festival - celebrating keeping the Kenai River healthy.

  • Sat. June 9, 2012 - Fairbanks Summer Folk Fest - at the Borealis Pavilion at Alaskaland/Pioneer Park. Contact fairbanksfolkfest@gmail.com for further info. Future scheduling through 2018 puts this festival always on the second Sat. of June.

  • June 15-17, 2012 - Granite Creek Music Festival (Sutton, east of Palmer on Glenn Hwy). Contact: Bonni Harter bonniharter@gmail.com or Charlie Overby charlieoverby@hotmail.com

  • June 21-24, 2012 - Seldovia's Summer Solstice Music Festival featured Outside and Alaskan artists and a beautiful setting. further info Susan Mumma, Festival Director, 907-234-7614 or via email.

  • June 23-24, 2012 - Moose Pass Summer Solstice Festival - Lots of live music on Saturday at Milepost 29.5 Seward Highway.

  • June 23-24, 2012 - Denali Solstice Fest at Milepost 248.4 Parks Hwy. On the outdoor stage at 49th State Brewing Company with a mix of musical styles including folkrock, funk, reggae, blues, jamm beer garden and food. Onsite camping available McKinleyRV.com), $10 day but 21+. (907) 683-BREW.

  • July 6-8, 2012 - Girdwood Forest Fair just south of Anchorage, has a bunch of music, not exclusively folk styles, but a healthy potpourri. Info on the music, contact Andy Mullen mullen@ak.net or julia@alyeskamedia.com

  • July 13-15, 2012 - Cantwell Music Festival. Contact: Gary Markley garybanjo@gmail.com

  • July 14, 2012 - Angry, Young and Poor - a festival in Ester catering to younger folks (than me anyway). It's kind of a happening that makes the Republic of Ester proud.

  • July 20-22, 2012 - Dawson City Music Festival, held the second to last weekend in July, bringing a large influx into this small Yukon community. Contact: info@dcmf.com or 867-993-5584.

  • July 15-29, 2012 - Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival is broadening its reach into more trad music with a first week of an American Roots Series and also Slovenian accordion classes. Actually, there is quite a diversity of music and arts at this two week long event.

  • July 27-29, 2012 - Anderson Bluegrass Festival - near Clear Air Force Station off the Parks Hwy mile 283. They usually have guest artists. This is a wonderful family affair, minimal entrance fee, plenty of camping space, even running water! Further info andersonbluegrass@yahoo.com. For musician scheduling, contact Trudy at: trudy@acousticadventures.com or 907-488-0556.

  • July 27-29, 2012 - Deltana Fair Music Festival (their page needs updating for 2011 as of this posting) runs in conjunction with the Deltana Fair in Delta Junction. Mostly acoustic folky, bluegrass music with a mix of other styles. Musicians from Delta, Fairbanks, Anchorage. Contact info@deltanafair.com or 907-895-4075.

  • July 28-29, 2012 - Homer Concert on the Lawn - a two day affair the last weekend of July with Sunday's concert broadcast live over KBBI. (their page needs updating for 2011 as of this posting) Further info from radio station KBBI or Paulette Wellington - Music Director paulette@kbbi.org. For musician scheduling, it is kbbicotl@hotmail.com

  • August 18-19, 2012 - Kantishna Music Festival - At Kantishna Air Taxi, Denali Park AK 99755. (their page needs updating for 2012 as of this posting) It is usually during the third weekend of August and takes place at the Skyline Lodge. If you are interested in performing during the Kantishna Music season, please contact Matt Unterberger, Coordinator at mattunterberger@hotmail.com

  • Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 2012 - Acoustic Alaska Guitar Camp to be held in Wasilla. More info: Joe Becker, Acoustic Alaska Guitar Camp, 2674 S Patton Court, Denver, CO 80219, Toll Free 1-866-293-6827 or 1-303-937-1787 OR via email camp@acousticalaska.com

    Remnant 2011 Summer Traditional Music Festivals
    Alaska and the Yukon     (updates from promoters needed)

  • May 21, 2011 - Clucking Blossom Festival - kind of a younger folks free music and art festival at Birch Hill Ski Area in Fairbanks. A mix of music includes bluegrass and folk. Website not updated, but their Facebook page is.

  • May 27-29, 2011 - Trapper Creek Bluegrass, Folk, Country, Acoustic Festival at the Boots Bison Ranch. Directions: between mile 114 and mile 115 of the Parks Hwy. Take Susitna River Road East and then turn right on Bradley Road. Go to the very end of the road after the bridge and you are there. Only 500 tickets, presold only. Contact Boot at Boot's Bison Ranch bootsbisonranch@gmail.com or 727-2459. I also found a really basic FB page. Boot makes the point "no glass, no violence, no beer garden".

  • May 31, 2010 - updates for 2011 requested Fireweed Festival in Girdwood at The Silver Tip Grill - 165 Hightower Road, (907) 783-2594

  • June 17-19, 2011 - Nome Midnight Sun Folk Festival - Nome Midnight Sun Folk Fest - Features one guest band each year, as well as a main stage event with sets by local performers. The guest band performs and gives workshops throughout the festival. For further info call Carol at 907-443-3630 or gales(at)nome.net

  • July 22-24, 2011 - Music Between the Ranges (Kenny Lake, east of Copper Center). Contact: Bob Fairchild bobfair@alaska.net or Jarrod Peschang jarrodpeschang@hotmail.com.

  • August 5-7, 2011 - Talkeetna Bluegrass and Music Festival. 2011 was the last yearthis festival was being promoted.

  • Sat. Aug. 6, 2011 - Galway Days on G St. in Anchorage is an Irish Music Fest going on all day. Why it is not just Galway DAY was open to question. So I got The Answer from Ben Alexander, "The reason for Days is we always start the party the prior Thursday with an Irish session, then Friday with another session @ Suzi’s Woollies (which has a new web site www.suziswoollies.net ) Then the BIG day Saturday followed by Musicians only Sunday" 907-277-9660, 420 G Street Anchorage, Alaska 99501 or woollies@alaska.com.

  • Aug. 19-21, 2011 - Trapper Creek Music and Arts Festival at the Boots Bison Ranch. Directions: between mile 114 and mile 115 of the Parks Hwy. Take Susitna River Road East and then turn right on Bradley Road. Go to the very end of the road after the bridge and you are there. Only 500 tickets, presold only. Contact Boot at Boot's Bison Ranch bootsbisonranch@gmail.com or 727-2459.

  • Sat. Aug. 20, 2011 -

    - Annual Li-Berry Music Festival & Pie Throwdown! 2:00 pm to midnight at the Golden Eagle Saloon, 3630 Main Street, Ester (Fairbanks) Cost: $10 at the door (suggested donation). Benefit each mid-late August for the John Trigg Ester Library. Contact Monique Musick at 388-4784, or momusick@hotmail.com for further info.

    Summer Traditional Music Festivals
    Alaska and the Yukon

    From previous years - websites out of date for over a year

  • June 13-16, 2009 - Alaska Midnight Sun Song Camp at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. It has been offline for a couple years, but hopes to come back in 2012. Further info from Rick or Sheila Miller, 907-243-5758 or email rdmiller@alaska.net.

  • Sat. Aug. 4-8, 2009 - Alaska Traditional Music Camp, PO Box 90566, Anchorage, Alaska 99509. 907-830-4488 For more information e-mail: info@aktradcamp.org

  • Aug. 27-28, 2009 - The Richardson Highway Rendezvous will be at Tonsina Lodge on Friday August 27th and Valdez Saturday August 28th. It's a benefit for public radio in Valdez and the Copper Valley, as well as for the Valdez Animal Shelter and Kenny Lake volunteer EMS and Fire squads. The Tonsina event can host many many campers. We have lots of land, and camping is free all summer. Tonsina will have a nice bonfire. The Valdez event is the "main" event, but can't host camping because it's in downtown Valdez. Further info contact Joshua Howitt shwazam@gmail.com or 907-822-3000. He's talking about other festivals on subsequent weekends at the Tonsina River Lodge as well.

    Other Alaska events that include music

  • Festivalnet's results for 2011 with music.

    Annual affairs none-the-less

    Folk and other music can also be found at various "county" fairs around the state. The two fairs claiming to be the "official" state fairs are:

  • Tanana Valley State Fair, Fairbanks. Usually in early to mid-August. 907-452-3750.

  • Alaska State Fair, Palmer (just north of Anchorage), 4th Friday of August through Labor Day, Suzy Crosby, 746-7152 or suzy@alaskastatefair.org.

    Other fairs in the state with acoustic music are:

  • Salcha Fair, just south of Fairbanks on the Richardson Hwy tries to have local bands. Usually the 3rd week of June. Peggy Burns at salchafair@alaska.net

  • Southeast Alaska State Fair mid-August. 907-766-2476 or seakfair@aptalaska.net .

  • Kenai Peninsula State Fair in Ninilchik mid-August. Ninilchik Fair Association, Box 39210, Ninilchik, AK 99639. Contact (907) 567-3670 kpsfair@gci.net.

  • Kenny Lake Fair mid-August. This is a small community 7 miles down the Edgerton Hwy. From Glennallen, go south on the Richardson Highway to Mile 82, turn left on Highway 10 going toward Chitina. Turn left at mile 11.1 by the black mailbox. Further info contact Pete Peschang - ppeschang(at)yahoo.com or 907-822-5471 / fax 907-822-5472.

  • Kodiak State Fair, 487-4440, may also offer music.

    If you can update me on any of these festivals or have links with more information, email me at gary(at)alaskafolkmusic.org

    Festivals Page Alaska Folk Music