Well, the forecast fooled me last week. The rain mostly stayed away, and we got a weekend filled with Blue Angels flying over the city. Hopefully you caught a glimpse, but if not, you likely heard them.

This week brings blueberries, roller derby, new public art, a new place for kids to ride, and a few local stories worth knowing.

In the Roundup this week:

Here’s what’s happening around town 👇

🫐 Blueberry Festival — Alyeska Resort (Sat–Sun)
Alyeska’s annual Blueberry Festival returns for a full weekend of berry picking, live music, food trucks, local vendors, and plenty of blueberry-themed fun. There’s also a beer and wine garden, pie-eating contests, kids’ activities, and the rare chance to ride Chair 7 during the summer. Admission is free and open to all ages.

🛼 49th Skate Tournament — Begich Middle School (Sat–Sun)
Team Alaska Roller Derby hosts the first-ever 49th Skate Tournament with seven games across two days. Teams from Alaska, the Philippines, Maryland, and Alberta will go head-to-head in a high-energy flat-track tournament, with local vendors and food trucks between matches.

🪷 Hmong Harvest Festival — Sullivan Arena (Sat–Sun)
The Hmong Harvest Festival celebrates the start of the Hmong New Year season with traditional clothing, live music, dancing, and community gatherings at the Sullivan Arena. It’s a colorful weekend centered on culture, heritage, and celebrating together.

🎬 Trails in Motion Film Festival — Bear Tooth Theatrepub (Thu, 6 PM)
The Trails in Motion Film Festival brings an international lineup of trail and ultra-running films to Bear Tooth for one night. Expect stories of endurance, adventure, and the running community, with part of the proceeds benefiting the Anchorage Running Club.

⚽ The Dome’s Future Is Up in the Air

The Dome has launched a fundraising campaign to replace its nearly 20-year-old fabric exterior, which is nearing the end of its expected lifespan. The nonprofit has raised more than $4.5 million toward a $6 million goal and hopes to complete the replacement next summer. Without the remaining funding, operators say the facility could eventually be forced to close.

🛣️ Four-Lane Seward Highway Plan Moves Forward
A proposal to widen portions of the Seward Highway south of Anchorage to four lanes is back in the city’s long-range transportation plan. The $1.5 billion project still faces opposition, and another public review is expected to begin in late September before the plan returns for final approval.

🐟 What’s a Dipnetting Trip Really Worth?
A UAA economist is studying the value of dipnetting beyond the salmon that ends up in the freezer. His early research suggests Kenai River dipnetting may be worth more to participating households than what they actually spend, thanks to the experience, tradition, and time spent together.

🍸 Bar Hounds — New Mobile Bar Trailer
Bar Hounds has added a new Alaska-inspired mobile bar trailer to its event lineup. The smaller setup offers another option for weddings, corporate events, and private parties, with the same custom cocktails and full-service bartending in a more compact footprint.
📸 See the mobile bar
🌐 barhoundsak.com

🚲 Valley of the Moon Park — New Pump Track
Valley of the Moon Park has a new kids’ pump track near the playground. The community-funded project gives young riders a place to build their biking skills before taking on the nearby Chester Creek Singletrack trails.
🎥 See the new pump track

🎨 Downtown — Two New Murals
Downtown Anchorage has two new pieces of public art. Rhonda Scott created an interactive angel-wing mural at First United Methodist Church, while Crystal Worl added an Alaska Native heritage mural to the McKinley Tower.
🪽 Angel Wing Mural
📍 First United Methodist Church, 725 W. 9th Ave.
🧱 Alaska Native Heritage Mural
📍 McKinley Tower, 337 E. 4th Ave.

💬 Know about a new business, product, or project? Submit it here.

Browse 50+ events happening over the next seven days, filter by category, and discover what’s happening around Anchorage. You'll still find my Top Picks in the newsletter, while the full calendar is available online.

👉 View the Events Calendar

Whether you’re heading to Girdwood for blueberries, catching roller derby at Begich, or checking out one of the new additions around town, there’s plenty to keep you busy.

If you found something useful, share it with someone who makes really good blueberry muffins.

— Klynt
Publisher, The Anchorage Local

P.S. I’m always looking for great local businesses, events, and organizations to feature. Just reply if you’d like to connect.

The Anchorage Local is supported by local businesses and organizations that believe in helping people experience more of Anchorage.