Holidays

Seven- and 8-year-olds compete in the watermelon-eating contest at Savviko Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

Douglas picnic marks the beginning of 4th of July celebrations

Community members enjoy barbecue, watermelon eating contest

 

Shannon Crossley, who helped build the Treadwell disc golf course, wears the Douglas grand marshal’s sash as she rides in the parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

History of Douglas continues through Independence Day celebrations

Juneau Disc Golf Club honored as Douglas Fourth of July grand marshal

 

People watch the fireworks after midnight on Friday, July 4<ins>, </ins><ins>2025</ins>. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau blasts into Independence Day with annual firework display

A century old tradition, decades of expertise and a year of preparation culminates in a treasured show

 

Rachel Hightower holds her 2-year-old daughter Carmen’s decorated tricycle at the Bicycle Decorating & Sidewalk Chalk Decorating event in the Douglas Community Library parking garage on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

Douglas kids gear up for 4th of July festivities

Riders decorate bikes, scooters for upcoming parade

Rachel Hightower holds her 2-year-old daughter Carmen’s decorated tricycle at the Bicycle Decorating & Sidewalk Chalk Decorating event in the Douglas Community Library parking garage on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
Mackenzie Lam, one of three grand marshals of Juneau’s Fourth of July 2024 parade, passes out candy from the back of a truck on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Mackenzie Lam, one of three grand marshals of Juneau’s Fourth of July 2024 parade, passes out candy from the back of a truck on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession during Juneau Juneteenth celebration at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library in 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Black Awareness Association hosts movie nights for Juneteenth celebration

June 19 is celebrated as an Alaska state holiday and a holiday for City and Borough of Juneau workers

Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession during Juneau Juneteenth celebration at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library in 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
People participate in the throwing of colors for the Holi festival in downtown Juneau on Monday, March 24, 2025. (Photo by Michael Penn)

Colors brighten Juneau’s spring during fourth annual Holi festival

“Forget the difference. Let’s be one. Let’s have fun.”

People participate in the throwing of colors for the Holi festival in downtown Juneau on Monday, March 24, 2025. (Photo by Michael Penn)
Maria Laura Guollo Martins, 22, an Eaglecrest Ski Area employee from Urussanga, Brazil, working via a J-1 student visa, helps Juneau kids make holiday decorations during the resort’s annual Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade gathering on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Foreign students working at Eaglecrest trade Christmas Eve traditions for neon lights and lasagna

26 employees from Central and South America are far from family, yet among many at Torchlight Parade.

Maria Laura Guollo Martins, 22, an Eaglecrest Ski Area employee from Urussanga, Brazil, working via a J-1 student visa, helps Juneau kids make holiday decorations during the resort’s annual Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade gathering on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ann Stepetin (left) and Marion Dau (center) talk to Pauline Duncan about her woven aprons and other items for sale at the Indigenous Artists and Vendors Holiday Market on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Public Market expected to be biggest since 2019 — and online shoppers can start browsing now

41st annual three-day event starts Friday, along with Indigenous Artists and Vendors Holiday Market.

Ann Stepetin (left) and Marion Dau (center) talk to Pauline Duncan about her woven aprons and other items for sale at the Indigenous Artists and Vendors Holiday Market on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Larry Gamez and Rachel Ceja collect items for a Thanksgiving food basket to deliver to a house in the Mendenhall Valley on Saturday morning as part of St. Vincent de Paul’s annual distribution program. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Matching those hungry to help with those hungry to feast carries on as pre-Thanksgiving ritual

Food baskets delivered to hundreds of homes, food bank hosts annual drive on Saturday before holiday.

Larry Gamez and Rachel Ceja collect items for a Thanksgiving food basket to deliver to a house in the Mendenhall Valley on Saturday morning as part of St. Vincent de Paul’s annual distribution program. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Brooklyn Kanouse (left) holds up her finished watermelon with pride at the watermelon-eating contest that happens during the Douglas Fourth of July Committee’s annual community picnic. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Douglas Island’s 125th annual Fourth of July celebration kicks off with a picnic and soapbox derby

Watermelon-eating contest and fast race cars part of Douglas’ “family fun” on eve of Independence Day.

Brooklyn Kanouse (left) holds up her finished watermelon with pride at the watermelon-eating contest that happens during the Douglas Fourth of July Committee’s annual community picnic. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Children run as fast as they can toward Treadwell Arena’s zamboni as it fills the street with candy during the Fourth of July parade on Douglas. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Douglas celebrates community in 125th Fourth of July parade and festivities

Molly McCormick honored as Douglas’ grand marshal for her years planning the parade and other events.

Children run as fast as they can toward Treadwell Arena’s zamboni as it fills the street with candy during the Fourth of July parade on Douglas. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Drummers with the Ati-Atihan Juneau Group make their way along Franklin Street during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A misty-eyed Fourth of July parade through downtown salutes Juneau’s youth

Trio of recent high school graduates serving as grand marshals share memories, hopes, candy.

Drummers with the Ati-Atihan Juneau Group make their way along Franklin Street during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Red, white and blue shoot off in Juneau to celebrate Independence Day. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fourth of July fireworks show once again a hues hit for Juneau

Traditional holiday events continue Thursday with parades downtown at 11 a.m., in Douglas at 2 p.m.

Red, white and blue shoot off in Juneau to celebrate Independence Day. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s 2023 Fourth of July parade. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s 2023 Fourth of July parade. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, cuts a cake at an event at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office on Thursday to celebrate Juneteenth’s new status as an official state holiday. The celebration followed a bill-signing ceremony at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Anchorage office. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy signs bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday in Alaska

On Thursday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill to make Juneteenth a legal holiday in the state. “Juneteenth is a day to celebrate a milestone… Continue reading

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, cuts a cake at an event at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office on Thursday to celebrate Juneteenth’s new status as an official state holiday. The celebration followed a bill-signing ceremony at Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s Anchorage office. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, speaks on the Senate floor on March 6. Gray-Jackson was the sponsor of a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

On Juneteenth, Gov. Dunleavy weighs adding a new legal holiday for Alaska

If the governor signs recently passed bill, Juneteenth would be observed as a state holiday in 2025.

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, speaks on the Senate floor on March 6. Gray-Jackson was the sponsor of a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alejandro Lamas stretches his arms as a bishop during an Our Lady of Guadalupe play on Sunday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. In the background are Kimberly Valadez, playing the Virgin Mary, and Milagros Correa and Carlos Orozco as the angels. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A visionary celebration for Juneau’s Hispanic community

Church celebrates Mexico’s Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Mass, play and food.

Alejandro Lamas stretches his arms as a bishop during an Our Lady of Guadalupe play on Sunday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. In the background are Kimberly Valadez, playing the Virgin Mary, and Milagros Correa and Carlos Orozco as the angels. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Staff of the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District carry a 15-foot-long lodgepole pine near the Silvis Lake area to a vessel for transport to Juneau on Nov. 30. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)

Together Tree departs Ketchikan for Governor’s Residence in Juneau

Annual Holiday Open House featuring 21,350 cookies scheduled 3-6 p.m. Dec. 12.

Staff of the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District carry a 15-foot-long lodgepole pine near the Silvis Lake area to a vessel for transport to Juneau on Nov. 30. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Marzena Whitmore (elf) and Dale Hudson (Santa), pose for a photo with Benny Orvin (partially obscured), 6, and his siblings Lilly, 4, and Remi, 2, taken by their mother Alex as their father Randy watches during Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Coming together as one giant community family at Gallery Walk

Thousands share an evening of entertainment in the outdoor chill, visiting shops and hot chocolate.

Marzena Whitmore (elf) and Dale Hudson (Santa), pose for a photo with Benny Orvin (partially obscured), 6, and his siblings Lilly, 4, and Remi, 2, taken by their mother Alex as their father Randy watches during Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)