Weekly Roundup (Apr 7-12)
Hey Anchorage 👋
It’s Election Day, and another First Friday has come and gone. Anchorage is running into spring at full force, with temperatures finally breaking 40 degrees last week. I made it up to Hilltop’s Sink or Skim Pond and had a great time watching the costumes and the creative ways people made their way into the pond.
Looking ahead, the spring momentum keeps building. Arctic Valley hosts the Merry Marmot Festival this weekend, complete with the always chaotic Dummy Launch, and Alyeska’s Slush Cup is right around the corner. There’s a lot happening as we head deeper into breakup season.
Here’s what’s happening around town 👇
⭐ Top Picks of the Week
🏔 Merry Marmot Festival — Arctic Valley (Sat, 10:30AM)
Arctic Valley’s spring tradition returns with a full day of mountain fun, races, live music, and costumes. From fat tire bike races to dual slalom and a crowd-favorite dummy launch, there’s something happening all day. Free to watch, with events and festivities running across the mountain. More Info
🎪 Cirque Mechanics: Tilt — Atwood Concert Hall (Fri–Sat)
Cirque Mechanics returns to Anchorage with a high-energy show blending acrobatics, mechanical sets, and circus storytelling. Tilt brings a theme park to life on stage, with performers navigating wheels, ramps, and moving structures in a visually stunning production. Tickets
🎹 Sir El Tom: Elton John Tribute — Discovery Theatre (Thu, 7PM)
This one-night show brings Elton John’s biggest hits to the stage with tribute artist Sir El Tom. Expect classics like Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, and Bennie and the Jets in a high-energy performance celebrating one of music’s most iconic catalogs. Tickets
🎭 Tick, Tick… Boom! — UAA Fine Arts Building (Fri–Sun)
Before Rent, there was Tick, Tick… Boom!. This autobiographical musical follows a young composer chasing his big break while navigating the pressures of life and creativity. Performed with a small cast and big energy, it’s an intimate look at the story behind a Broadway hit. Tickets
📍 Events Around Town (Non-music)
Recurring events like trivia, karaoke, and open mics now live in the Community Directory. 👉 View the Community Directory
📆 Tue-Thu
Storytime — Alaska Zoo (Wed, 10:30AM)
Green Thumb Class Series — Dr. Lidia Selkregg Chalet (Thu, 5:30PM)
With Love and a Major Organ — Cyrano's Theatre (Thu, 7PM)
Grease — Mad Myrna's (Thu, 7PM)
Sir El Tom: Elton John Tribute — Discovery Theatre (Thu, 7PM)
Thursday Night Boxing — Dena'ina Center (Thu, 7:30PM)
🎉 This Weekend
Top Forty Under 40 Gala — Hotel Captain Cook (Fri, 6PM)
Gnoss Scottish Band Concert — Discovery Theatre (Fri, 7:30PM)
Scared Scriptless Comedy — 49th St. Brewing (Fri, 8PM)
Grease — Mad Myrna's (Fri-Sat, 7PM)
Cirque Mechanics: Tilt — Atwood Concert Hall (Fri-Sat)
With Love and a Major Organ — Cyrano's Theatre (Fri-Sun)
Tick, Tick... Boom! Musical — UAA Fine Arts Building (Fri-Sun)
Container Gardening Class — Alaska Mill and Feed (Sat, 10:30AM)
Merry Marmot Festival — Arctic Valley (Sat, 10:30AM)
Food Truck Carnival — Spenard Food Truck Carnival (Sat, 11AM)
Sip N Riff Comedy — Turnagain Brewing (Sat, 7PM)
Orchestra Spring Concert — The Nave (Sat, 7:30PM)
Kirk McHenry Comedy — Koot's (Sat, 8PM)
Once Upon a Ballet — Sydney Laurence Theatre (Sat)
Snowboard Rail Jam — Hilltop Ski Area (Sun, 12PM)
Candlelight Concert: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons — 49th St. Brewing (Sun, 4PM)
Guitar Quartet: Rhythms of the World — UAA Recital Hall (Sun, 4PM)
Proclamations: Free Band Concert — Discovery Theatre (Sun, 4PM)
Candlelight Concert: Abba & Queen — 49th St. Brewing (Sun, 6:30PM)
Poker Night — Broken Blender (Sun, 6:30PM)
🚗 Worth the Trip
Snowboard Slalom — Alyeska Resort (Fri-Sat)
🎶 Live Music + Dance
Ben Heller — Van's Dive Bar (Thu, 9PM) · Live Music
Carnifex — Williwaw Social (Fri, 7PM) · Live Music
The Nameless / Vital / Noisegate — Van's Dive Bar (Fri, 9PM) · Live Music
Denali Cooks — Alyeska Resort (Fri, 9PM) · Live Music
Raised by Elephants — Humpy's (Fri, 9:30PM) · Live Music
K-Pop Night: BTS — Williwaw Social (Fri, 10PM) · DJ
Laidback Luke 360° Set — Williwaw Social (Sat, 8PM) · DJ
Noisegate / Vital / Mortal Shell — Odd Man Rush Brewing (Sat, 8PM) · Live Music
Denali Cooks — Alyeska Resort (Sat, 9PM) · Live Music
Loungin' with the Flow — Koot's (Sat, 9:30PM) · Live Music
Power Play — Humpy's (Sat, 9:30PM) · Live Music
Perreo Latin Night — Pink Cadillac (Sat, 10PM) · DJ
That’s the week, Anchorage
If you make it up to Arctic Valley, don’t miss the Dummy Launch. It’s one of those events you really have to see in person. Between that and everything else happening around town, there’s plenty to get into this week.
If you found this helpful, share it with a friend or send it to someone you want to get out and explore Anchorage with.
— Klynt
Publisher, The Anchorage Local