This weekend in Anchorage: Festival season hits peak with Summer Blast, Forest Fair and chamber music

Jul. 6—Summer has hit full tilt in Southcentral Alaska with festivals happening every weekend. This weekend, options include the Alaska Summer Blast Festival and a performance as part of the Anchorage Chamber Music Festival. Plus, just south of Anchorage, the Girdwood Forest Fair promises to draw large crowds with local food, music, arts and crafts.

Alaska Summer Blast Festival: noon-10 p.m. Saturday, Delaney Park Strip, West Ninth Avenue

This all-ages event features a car show, food vendors, raffles, games, beer and wine plus plenty of music. Among the artists slated to perform are MBNel, Aleksa Safiya, Heartbreaka and many others. Tickets are $40.

Anchorage Chamber Music Festival: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, UAA Recital Hall, 3700 Alumni Drive

The Anchorage Chamber Music Festival presents the program "Music of War," with pianist David Fung as the guest artist performing on each showcased piece. Artistic director and violinist Christine Harada Li will perform a violin sonata composed by Sergei Prokofiev. A piano trio composition by Dmitri Shostakovich will feature violinist Haerim Elizabeth Lee and cellist Nathan Chan, and Nathaniel Pierce will tackle a piece from Benjamin Britten. General admission tickets are $29.50.

Radio Ghosts: 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Wendy Williamson Auditorium, 3211 Providence Drive

"Radio Ghosts" kicks off the 20th anniversary of performances at TBA Theatre. Directed by Erin Dagon Mitchell, the play follows professor William Tell in the aftermath of a personal tragedy as he sees the world as a hologram. The play has entranced audiences with fantastic sound design. Tickets are $20.

Girdwood Forest Fair: Friday-Sunday, 250 Egloff Drive in Girdwood

A favorite summer event for many Alaskans, Forest Fair highlights local arts, crafts, music and food. The Forest Fair is free to attend but comes with a simple set of rules: "No dogs, no politics and no religious orders." Visit girdwoodforestfair.com for full music and entertainment schedules, and more information on a shuttle option from Anchorage.

[Your guide to Alaska's summer fairs and festivals in 2023]

Stories at the Cemetery: 6 p.m. Sunday, Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, 535 E. Ninth Ave.

The 11th annual self-guided walk features costumed actors to provide a glimpse of life in old Alaska as seen through the eyes of everyone from politicians to pioneers and adventurers who came to Alaska. The day will feature 10 new sites.

First Friday

Sara's Gift Cache: 408 W. Fourth Ave., featuring Erin of Erin's Universe and her daughter Kaedence, 5 p.m.

IGCA: 427 D St., featuring a group exhibition curated by Sandra Talbot, Joe Cook and Natalie Dawson, 5-8 p.m.

Snow City Cafe: 1034 W. Fourth Ave., featuring art by Gary Gantz and music by Shane Russell and friends, 5-7 p.m.

Stephan Fine Arts: 939 W. Fifth Ave., featuring new works of Kelly Leonard and Greg Arkle, 6 p.m.

Wild Starr Creations: 616 E St., First Friday paint night, "Camping Under the Lights" with Shannon Stock Auld. Cost is $45 per person, 6-8 p.m.

Buzzwinkle's Bazaar: 939 W. Fifth Ave., Alaska author Elisa A. Fleener will be signing her picture book "Pigsquealia and the Biggest Cabbage," 4-8 p.m.

Georgia Blue Gallery: 3555 Arctic Blvd., Peter Dunlap-Shohl will be signing his new book, "Nuking Alaska," and Kay Haneline presents new work including colorful abstract paintings, 5-7 p.m.

The Cove: 510 L St., featuring Congolese designer Elie Bishikwabo, 6-10 p.m.

Anchorage Museum: 625 C St., free museum admission on Friday to create in Art Lab from 6-8 p.m., or enjoy rapid space shorts in the Thomas Planetarium starting at 6:30 p.m. The museum's newest exhibition is "All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial," 6-9 p.m.

Check our online calendar for more event listings at adn.com/calendar.