7 things to do in Anchorage this weekend (summer solstice edition)
Jun. 20—Stories at the Cemetery
6 p.m. Friday; Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, John Bagoy Gate at Seventh Avenue and Cordova Street
Bruce and Audrey Kelly lead the John Bagoy 28th annual Summer Solstice tour. This tour includes biographies at each of the 10 preselected gravesites of notable Alaskans. Tours are free but donations are accepted.
Chugach Fest
6-11 p.m. Friday and noon-11 p.m. Saturday; Arctic Valley Ski Area, 18800 Arctic Valley Road
This year's festival features some of Alaska's best music with Wiley Post, SunDog, The Roland Roberts Band, Saucy Yoda and much more. There will also be food trucks and a beer garden as well as outdoor industry and festival vendors. Tickets are $50 for both days, $25 for Friday and $40 for Saturday for adults with discounted tickets for kids. Camping is $20 per night and must be purchased with a ticket.
Hilltop Summer Solstice Party
6 p.m. Friday; Hilltop Ski Area, 7015 Abbott Road
The bike lift will be running starting at 1 p.m. with music from DJ Blacksmoke at the top from 8 p.m.-midnight and DJ Cross spinning tunes at the bottom. Kids can participate in a strider bike race, and food from Finn's and food trucks in the parking lot will be available for purchase.
Annual Solstice Flattop Hangout/Sleepout
6:30 p.m. Friday; Flattop Mountain, trailhead at 13101 Glen Alps Road
Head up to Flattop for the annual overnighter for solstice. The Mountaineering Club of Alaska reminds you to bring your own food and drink and that sleepover camping is encouraged.
Downtown Summer Solstice Celebration
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday; Fourth Avenue downtown from E Street to G Street
Over 50 vendors will be on hand at this free downtown celebration along with plenty of family-friendly activities, local musicians, dance groups and bands like the Jangle Bees, the Spenerds and Yachtly Crew. Attendees can also play 3-on-3 basketball, visit a petting zoo and climb a rock wall. It also includes Sousapalooza, which starts at 11:30 a.m. on the lawn at the Anchorage Old City Hall.
Soul in the Cemetery 2
1 p.m. Saturday; Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, 535 E. Ninth Ave.
This free walk through local African American history includes visits to the resting places of Richard and Anna Watts, Johnnie Gay, Helen and Toby Gamble, the Rev. William B. Lyons and more.
Fun House: Carnival Dance Party
8 p.m. Saturday; Williwaw Social, 609 F St.
This indoor/outdoor block party will have rides, food trucks, cotton candy, dance music, theme drinks and more. There will be a fun house, a bucking salmon and DJs Fanservice and Megasisqo spinning tunes. Tickets are $10.
