Ready to get in the Fur Rondy spirit? Here are the details on the festival’s big events for the next two weeks

The Fur Rendezvous has been a staple of Alaska winter life for nearly 90 years. Founded in 1935, the festival started as a celebration that coincided with miners and trappers coming to town to sell their wares. While Alaska’s trapping and sled-racing lifestyles are still featured in the two-week event, there’s much more as well. Here is a look at some of the big events and traditional gatherings scheduled for 2023 Fur Rondy.

Week 1

Melodrama 2023 Live and Back: The Alaska Sound Celebration members return Friday with this perennial sell-out show. “Peaceful … Well, It Was” is this year’s performance. The 32nd annual show runs from Feb. 24 through March 11 at the Heritage Theatre at 49th State Brewing. Tickets start at $25.

Miners & Trappers Country Jam: Shane Smith and the Saints headline this show Friday night at the Egan Center. It starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $45 if purchased online and $55 at the door.

Open World Championship Sled Dog Races: The world championship sprint races run Friday through Sunday with a $55,000 purse on the line. These races have been attracting mushers from Alaska and around the world since 1946. Check the Rondy site for best viewing locations.

Sled Dogs Downtown Scavenger Hunt & Auction: This event that runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday is a treasure hunt through the mushing district to locate 16 sled dogs decorated by 16 Alaska artists. Register online to participate.

Fireworks Extravaganza: Saturday night will feature one of the festival’s most anticipated events. Starting at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Anchorage, the fireworks will be facing Ship Creek and the Small Boat Harbor.

Outhouse Races: One of the most hilarious sights during Rondy, these races Saturday run on Fourth Ave. between E St. and F St. There are two divisions -- Unlimited and Traditional with applications available to race. All you need is a port-a-potty and some skis to run it on. Registration is $100 per team.

Big Fat Ride: Fat bikers unite on Saturday for a fun 5-mile loop ride that starts downtown and heads to Westchester Lagoon. The race starts at 3:15 p.m. with staging at 3 p.m. on Fourth Avenue. Register for the ride at Bike Anchorage.

Pioneers of Anchorage Pancake Feed: For decades, this feed originally known as “The Pioneer Roadhouse” will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pioneer Hall at Sixth Ave. and F St. Tickets are $12 for people 11 and older and $8 for kids 10 and under.

Fur Rondy Grand Parade: A great family event to kick off the opening weekend of Rondy. The big parade runs through downtown from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Sparks at the Park: Get ready for a kick-sled experience at the west side of the Park Strip on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This Stone Soup Group fundraiser runs $30-$45 for registration.

Frostbite Footrace & Costume Fun Run: A classic Rondy event, there’s both a 5K and 2.5K fun run on Saturday. The race starts at 9:30 a.m. at 5th Ave. and F St. Cost is $10 for children, $150 for a team of up to eight members, $25 for adults and $30 on the day of the race.

Fur Auction: With auctions on Saturday, Sunday and March 4, there are plenty of opportunities to put the fur in Fur Rendezvous. Presented by the Alaska Trappers Association, the auctions start at 11 a.m. on all three dates and are held at Third Ave. & E Street.

Snowshoe Softball Tournament: Step up to the plate, slugger! This tournament runs Saturday and Sunday and is held at Kosinski Field at 16th Ave. and Cordova St. It’s softball but with snowshoes! Cost is $300 per team and registration is available online.

Week 2

Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market: The market features Alaska Native artisans selling and demonstrating their art. It’s named after former Rondy president and Lady Trapper Charlotte Jensen. It runs from March 1-4 on 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On March 5, it runs from noon until 5 p.m.

World Championship Outdoor Hockey Tournament: Running from March 2-5, this tournament is played at the Bonnie Cusack Memorial Outdoor rinks near Ben Boeke. Cost is $650 per adult team and $450 for youth division teams. There are divisions for women, intermediate and elite players.

Fur Rondy Blizzard Bash: This outdoor concert on March 3 features Woodrow and will be at the intersection of Sixth Ave. and F Street. The show runs from 6-9:30 p.m.

Great Alaska Talent Competition: The prelims are held on Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 p.m. at The Bear Paw Downtown. The main event is March 3 at the Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. During the finals, the crowd can vote on the “People’s Choice” award for $1 per vote.

Alaska Hold’em Tournament of Champions: Shuffle up and deal. This tournament is held on March 4 at noon at the Dena’ina Center. There are a number of qualifiers around town to get to the tournament.

Running of the Reindeer: Nothing at Rondy is crazier than Alaska’s Wackiest Race. Run on March 4 at 4 p.m., the cost is $35 per person to scamper down Fourth Ave. between H and D Streets. Register online.

Family Skate: Westchester Lagoon is the spot to get together on March 4 for the family skate from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Alaska Cornhole Championships: Can anyone touch Chandler Jones? Jones has won the last two championships in both singles and doubles. Anyone who is up to the challenge can register for the tournament, which is March 5 at Dimond Center. It’s $25 to enter singles and $50 per doubles team.

Ongoing

Amateur Photo Contest: The contest has already been decided but the showcase is just about to start. The winners and select exhibition photos will be shown at Midtown Mall at 600 E. Northern Lights Blvd. starting Friday and running through the end of the festival.

Fur Rondy Carnival: With a selection of snacks and rides, the Rondy Carnival is a favorite of kids and adults alike. This Alaska tradition starts on Friday and runs daily through the end of the festival at Third Ave. and E St.

Alaska State Snow Sculpture Championship: One of Rondy’s favorite attractions is the snow sculpture exhibits. The creators do their work from Feb. 20-26 with a champion being crowned after judging on Feb. 26. The sculpture showcase is off Ship Creek Ave., across from Comfort Inn.