Get the full Fur Rendezvous experience with sled dog races, Running of the Reindeer and more
Feb. 22—Fur Rendezvous has been a staple of Anchorage winter life for nearly 90 years. Founded in 1935, the festival started as a celebration that coincided with miners and trappers coming to town to sell their wares. While Alaska's trapping and sled dog racing lifestyles are still featured in the two-week event, there's much more.
Here's a look at some of the big events and traditional gatherings scheduled for 2024 Fur Rondy, which runs from Friday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, March 3.
Week 1: Feb. 23 to 25
Melodrama 2024: Alaska Sound Celebration members return Friday with this perennially sold-out show. "Wamcats of the Wild" is this year's performance. The 33rd annual show runs from Feb. 23 through March 9 at the Heritage Theatre at 49th State Brewing. Tickets start at $25.
Miners & Trappers Country Jam: Drake Milligan headlines this show Friday night at the Egan Center. It starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $45 if purchased online and $55 at the door, with VIP tickets available for $85.
Open World Championship Sled Dog Races: The world championship sprint races run Friday through Sunday with a $60,000 purse on the line. These races have been attracting mushers from Alaska and around the world since 1946. Check the Rondy website for the best viewing locations.
Sled Dogs Downtown Scavenger Hunt & Auction: This event that runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday is a treasure hunt through the mushing district to locate 16 sled dogs decorated by 16 Alaska artists. Register online to participate. The auction runs through March 10.
Fireworks Extravaganza: Saturday night will feature one of the festival's most anticipated events. Starting at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Anchorage, the fireworks will be facing Ship Creek and the Small Boat Harbor. The Rondy Fireworks Party starts at 5:30 p.m. at The Bridge with a theme of Retro '70s. Tickets are $85 and only 185 are available.
Outhouse Races: Among the most hilarious sights during Rondy, these races Saturday run on Fourth Avenue between E and F streets. There are two divisions: Unlimited and Traditional, with applications available to race. All you need is a port-a-potty and some skis to run it on. Registration is $100 per team.
Big Fat Ride: Fat bikers unite on Saturday for a fun 5-mile loop ride that starts downtown and heads to Westchester Lagoon. The race starts at 3:15 p.m. with staging at 3 p.m. on Fourth Avenue. Register for the ride at Bike Anchorage.
Pioneers of Anchorage Pancake Feed: This feed, a decades-long tradition originally known as "The Pioneer Roadhouse," will be Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pioneer Hall at Sixth Avenue and F Street. Tickets are $12 for people 11 and older and $8 for kids 10 and under.
Fur Rondy Grand Parade: A great family event to kick off the opening weekend of Rondy. The parade runs through downtown from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Sparks at the Park: Get ready for a kick-sled experience at the west side of the Delaney Park Strip on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. This Stone Soup Group fundraiser is pay what you can, and Kick Sled Alaska will provide sleds.
Frostbite Footrace, Costume Fun Run & Frosty Paw Dog Jog: A classic Rondy event, there's a 5K and 2.5K fun run on Saturday. And this year there's also a dog jog. The race starts at 9:30 a.m. at Glacier Brewhouse at 737 W. Fifth Ave. Cost is $10 for children, $150 for a team of up to eight members, $25 for adults.
Rondyball Pickleball Tournament: This inaugural tournament will be held at the Arctic Recreation Center on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. There are mixed doubles divisions for 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0+ as well as 3.5 age 50 and up. The tournament is full, but a wait list is available.
Fur Auction: With auctions on Saturday, Sunday and March 2, there are plenty of opportunities to put the fur in Fur Rendezvous. Presented by the Alaska Trappers Association, the auctions start at 11 a.m. on all three dates and are held at Third Avenue and E Street. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game gets into the mix on March 3 with its state horn and hide auction starting at noon.
Snowshoe Softball Tournament: Step up to the plate, slugger! This softball tournament — but with snowshoes — runs Saturday and Sunday and is held at Kosinski Field at 16th Avenue and Cordova Street. Games start at 9:30 a.m. each day, and while registration is closed, it's a great spectator event.
Rondy Ice Bowling: This fun event covers both weekends, with play on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and March 2-3 at the same time. Cost for both kids and adults is $15, and the bowling will be held at 5227 Old Seward Highway (new Peanut Farm pond).
Blanket Toss: The Blanket Toss, an Alaska Native tradition, has been part of the Rondy festivities since 1950. The toss will be held Saturday and March 1 from 3:30-5 p.m. and March 2 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Carnival Lot located at Third Avenue and E Street.
Week 2: Feb. 28 to March 3
Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market: The market features Alaska Native artisans selling and demonstrating their art. It's named after former Rondy president and Lady Trapper Charlotte Jensen. It runs at the Dimond Center from Feb. 28-March 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On March 3, it runs from noon until 5 p.m.
World Championship Outdoor Hockey Tournament: Running from Feb. 29-March 3, this tournament is played at the Bonnie Cusack Memorial outdoor ice rinks near the Ben Boeke Arena. Cost is $650 per adult team and $450 for youth division teams and registration closes on Feb. 26. There are divisions for women, youth, intermediate and elite players.
Fur Rondy Blizzard Bash: This outdoor concert on March 1 features The Alaska Glacier Blues and will be at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and F Street. The show runs from 6-9:30 p.m.
Great Alaska Talent Competition: The prelims are held on Friday, Feb. 23 (6-9 p.m.) and Saturday, Feb. 24 (noon-3 p.m.) at the Anchorage Museum. The main event is March 3 at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts at 4 p.m. During the finals, the crowd can vote on the "People's Choice" award for $1 per vote.
Alaska Hold'em Tournament of Champions: Shuffle up and deal. This tournament is held on March 2 at noon at the Dena'ina Center. Ante up and see how you stack up against the state's top poker players.
Running of the Reindeer: Nothing at Rondy is wilder than Alaska's Wackiest Race, on March 2 at 4 p.m. The cost is $35 per person to scamper down Fourth Avenue between H and D streets. Register online.
Family Skate: Westchester Lagoon is the spot to get together on March 2 for the family skate from 1 to 4 p.m. And from 2:30-3:30 p.m. families can Skate With Critters.
Rondyfest Silent Disco: With plenty of vibes and three channels to choose from, this event at the Egan Center on March 2 should be a dance to remember. The disco runs 7-11 p.m. and tickets are limited to 300 and cost $35 each. If that's not your scene, check out Rondyfest Polka Party, 6-11 p.m. on March 2 at the Egan Center. Tickets are $20 for attendees 16 and older and $10 for youths 15 and younger.
Alaska Cornhole Championships: Can anyone touch Chandler Jones? Jones has won the last three championships in both singles and doubles. Anyone who's up to the challenge can register for the tournament, March 3 at Dimond Center mall. It's $25 to enter singles and $50 per doubles team, or $30 and $60 the day of the event.
Ongoing events
Amateur Photo Contest: The contest has already been decided, but the showcase is just about to start. The winners and select exhibition photos will be shown at Midtown Mall, 600 E. Northern Lights Blvd., starting Friday and running through the festival.
Fur Rondy Carnival: With a selection of snacks and rides, the Rondy Carnival is a favorite of kids and adults alike. This Alaska tradition starts on Friday and runs daily through the end of the festival at Third Avenue and E Street. Friday is Kids Day and Feb. 29 is Military Appreciation Day.
Alaska State Snow Sculpture Championship: The snow sculptures are a favorite Rondy attraction. The creators do their work Feb. 17-25, with a champion being crowned after judging on Feb. 25. Viewing runs until March 4. The sculpture showcase is off Ship Creek Avenue across from Comfort Inn.
Road closures
With all of the events happening in downtown Anchorage, there will be road closures the first weekend of Rondy. The biggest closure will affect the area surrounding the Mushing District for the World Championship Sled Dog Races. From Thursday evening until Sunday evening, Fourth Avenue between I Street and Cordova Street will be closed, along with a stretch of Cordova Street between Fourth Avenue and 16th Avenue.
On Saturday, the Grand Parade and Frostbite Footrace will force street closures as well. From 7:30-10:30 a.m., Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue between G Street and Eagle Street, along with G Street and Eagle Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, will be closed. Also, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Fifth and Sixth avenues between K Street and C Street, along with C and K streets between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. will be closed.
Other areas will have limited access on Saturday. From 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., northbound A Street between Fifth and Ninth avenues will be open only to drivers accessing nearby parking garages. Likewise during those same hours, northbound I Street between Fifth and Ninth avenues will be accessible only to People Mover buses.
