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.
