Downtown Summer Solstice Festival
Summer Solstice 2021
Come join Anchorage Downtown Partnership as we celebrate the longest day of the year at the reimagined Summer Solstice Festival! This year we are celebrating Solstice on June 19th and our program includes activities in downtown and east downtown with the 3rd Avenue Radicals at 4th & Gambell.
Summer Solstice Festival is a family-friendly event that hosts a variety of entertainment, live music, street closures, dance, kids activities, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, a sober garden by Recover Alaska, beer gardens and much more. You don’t want to miss the fun!
Get the map HERE.
Here’s what to expect this year:
TOWN SQUARE PARK
-Underground Dance Company Hip-hop Performance 12-1pm
-Salsa Dancing hosted by Anaya Latin Dance 1-4pm
-Sober Garden hosted by Recover Alaska featuring summery drinks for all
-Live Music from Emma Hill 4:30-6pm
PERATROVICH PARK
–Activities for Kids: hula hoops, bubble tower, yard games & more! 12-6pm
-Timbre Music Studios performance for kiddos from 1-3pm
-UDC Dance Workshop from 3-3:30pm
-Anchorage Downtown Partnership informational tent with festival maps available 12-6pm
-Anchorage Police Department informational tent 12-6pm
-Team One Alaska Safety tent (medical and first aid available) 12-6pm
E STREET between 4TH & 5TH AVE
-Cider Garden by Double Shovel 12-6pm
-Official Summer Solstice Festival Photo Booth (free with photos to take home) 12-6pm
-Live music featuring The Wiley Post Band 3-5pm
G STREET between 3RD & 5TH AVE
– Beer Garden by Darwin’s Theory 12-6pm
-Live music stage featuring the 9th Army Band from 12-2pm and Dawn McClain from 4-6pm
Dawn McClain has emerged from the same rich soil of so many other great African American singers and we are thrilled to have her on stage for our 2021 Solstice Celebration. Like so many powerhouses and trailblazers in music, Dawn began singing in the church at a very early age. An 80’s baby with a splash of 60’s and 70’s influence, and a sprinkle of gospel roots, she blends and bridges the generation gap between these eras in music, melodically suspending time.
Ms. McClain is a Veteran of the United States Air Force, and a natural humanitarian and advocate for women’s health and cancer awareness. Dawn was diagnosed in 2010 with ovarian cancer. Never one to faultier she embraced cancer with GOD’s grace and has been in remission now for four years.
-Beer Garden by Crush Bistro 12-6pm
-COVID 19 Vaccine by Conquer COVID offering the Pfizer vaccine to all ages 12 and up. The first 100 people to receive their vaccine get a free cone card to downtown ice cream shop Wild Scoops! Clinic opens at 12noon.
-Games and art activities hosted by Sevigny Studio 12-6pm
-Alaskan artist Barbara Lavallee “Faces and Places” calendar & book signing at Cabin Fever 12:30-4pm
-Quilting Steals & Deals at Quilted Raven 12:30-4pm
-Master knitter Jacoba Toussain demonstrates Qiviut yarn knitting at Wooly Mammoth 12:30-4pm
MAYOR’S LOT (behind City Hall on 7th & F Street)
-3 on 3 Basketball Tournament hosted by TruGame Academy with 2 Alaska Airlines round trip tickets auctioned off to participants (register for the tournament HERE) 12-4pm
AFTER PARTY in East Anchorage at 4th & Gambell
-Beer garden hosted 5-9pm
-Live music from Nothin’ But Trouble from 6-8pm
-Taco Truck with all proceeds going towards Bean’s Cafe 5-9pm
-Small car and motorcycle show, with a Filthiest Car Contest
-Informational booths by Covenant House, East Downtown History, and the Master Plan for 3rd & Ingra 5-9pm
This event is brought to you by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership Ltd., Conoco Phillips, the 3rd Avenue Radicals, K&L Distributors, Easy Park Anchorage, TruGame Academy, Recover Alaska, Underground Dance Company, Anaya Latin Dance, Conquer COVID, Sevigny Studio, Anchorage Parks & Recreation, iHeart Radio, Alaska Airlines, Dawn McClain, the 9th Army Band and The Wiley Post Band.
OTHER EVENTS ON SOLSTICE DOWNTOWN:
- Mayor’s Marathon – The Mayor’s Marathon is scheduled for the same day as our Summer Solstice Celebration, for more information click HERE.
- Juneteenth – The Anchorage Museum will be free and open to the public in celebration of Juneteenth.
- Broken Blender – Enjoy a grand opening/Solstice fest with a pig roast and live music. For more info see their Facebook event HERE.
- Williwaw Social – Summer Solstice outdoor concert with Colorado-based rock legends Big Head Todd and the Monsters. For more info see their Facebook event HERE.