I spent a few days out of town last week soaking up some Arizona sun and Vitamin D. It was a nice reminder that winter doesn’t last forever. It’s good to be back, and the calendar definitely didn’t slow down while I was gone.

This week’s roundup is a full one, with festivals, theater, live music, family-friendly events, and plenty of ways to tap into what Anchorage has to offer. There’s also a Local Spotlight below highlighting an Anchorage name showing up on one of the biggest stages in sports.

Let’s get into what’s happening around town.

🍺 Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival — Dena'ina Center (Fri–Sat)
The Brewers Guild of Alaska brings back this popular festival with multiple tasting sessions featuring Alaska breweries and beyond. Expect beer, cider, mead, wine, seltzers, non-alcoholic options, plus live music, local food vendors, and games throughout the weekend.

🎭 Unnecessary Farce — Anchorage Community Theatre (Fri–Sun)
A fast-paced comedy of errors set in a cheap motel with two cops, three crooks, eight doors, and nonstop confusion. Mistaken identities, hidden cameras, missing money, and perfectly timed entrances make this classic farce a laugh-out-loud weekend pick.

🎶 The War and Treaty — Bear Tooth (Fri–Sat, 7PM)
A rare two-night listening room experience with the powerhouse husband-and-wife duo blending soul, gospel, folk, and Americana. Fresh off major Grammy and Americana Music Award recognition, this is a chance to see one of the most talked-about acts in American roots music up close.

🍕 Junior Chef Family Pizza Party — 49th St. Brewing (Sat, 12PM & 3PM)
A hands-on, family-friendly pizza party where kids and adults learn to make their own pizzas with guidance from 49th State chefs. Each personal pizza is fired in the wood-stone oven, and kids leave with a chef hat and soda while adults enjoy a beer or soda.

Anchorage will have a familiar name represented at this year’s Super Bowl. Brandon Pili, a Dimond High School alum, is part of the Seattle Seahawks roster as they head to Super Bowl 60 on February 8 in San Francisco.

Brandon spent his early childhood in Utqiaġvik before moving to Anchorage, where he grew up and played multiple sports through high school. He left Alaska during his high school senior year to continue his football career in the Lower 48. Now competing at the highest level of the sport, he represents Anchorage on the Super Bowl stage.

Thanks for being part of this community. If there’s an event, opening, or local story worth highlighting, reply and let me know.

— The Anchorage Local