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Every
summer Saturday and Sunday, more than
300 vendors take over 7 acres of downtown
Anchorage, selling a wide variety of
Alaskan-made goods and food from all
over the world. Set in a festive atmosphere
with free entertainment and right
in the heart of downtown, the Anchorage
Market & Festival is
a convenient and fun place to browse,
sample, or just sit back and enjoy.
With so many Alaskans selling their
goods, the first thing you’ll
notice is the sheer volume of things
to buy. Whether you’re in
the market for a valuable keepsake
or a last-minute souvenir, you’ll
likely find what you want here.
There’s clothing — everything
from souvenir t-shirts to furs.
Painters and photographers sell
their work; other artists sell
handmade jewelry.
You’ll
find a nice mix of mid-priced items
as well as inexpensive tchotchkes.
But this is no flea market—everything
is new, some of it handmade by
Alaskan natives. And while it’s
always good to compare, you may
find better prices here than
in the shops downtown.
Some visitors
just come for the food—more
than 30 vendors whip up meals
for the market. There’s
fresh seafood like fried halibut,
fresh oysters, and salmon (of
course). World cuisines like
Thai, African, and Pakistani
can also be found amid the hustle
and bustle, along with American
fare like hamburgers and funnel
cakes.
The music and dancing performances
keep the market lively. There
may be country music or Hawaiian
dancers on stage, all happening
while buskers stroll the aisles
playing music and singing.
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