This weekend: Pride events throughout Anchorage, music, summer markets and more

It’s expected to be warm and sunny in Anchorage this weekend, making for a great time to be outside — and there’s a lot to do and see. Pride events are taking place all over town, with big gatherings planned downtown and in the Spenard neighborhood.

The musical options are plentiful as well, with a song circle and an all-day music marathon. For those who really want to get busy, there’s an enduro bike race. Here are some of the events going on in Anchorage this weekend:

Spenard Song Circle, 6:30 p.m. Friday, The Nave, 3502 Spenard Road

The Spenard Song Circle, an all-ages listening room experience hosted by Emma Hill, is back this Friday. Emma will be joined by local artists Abi Sparkman and Ashley Young, with food and drink available before the show thanks to Spenard Joe’s. Tickets are $20.

The Gambler Bike Race, 7 p.m. Friday, Hillside STA Trails, 7011 Abbott Road

The Gambler is an enduro race on the downhill trails at Hillside, sponsored by Speedway Cycles. Competitors must agree to volunteer three hours of trail work at a later date, must have the Strava app for timing, and must register by Thursday at 9 p.m., or show up early to register in-person before the race. Registration costs $35. Only downhill segments will be timed, so take your time on the climbs. Meet at the bottom of Drone Lane at the Hillside Trails.

Anchorage re:MADE Summer Market, 10 a.m. Saturday, Anchorage re:MADE, 13500 Old Seward Highway

The Anchorage re:MADE Summer Market is happening on the fourth Saturday of the summer months to celebrate and share upcycled crafts, vintage items, local art and food and drink of course.

Double Shovel Summer Outdoor Market, noon Saturday, Double Shovel Cider Co., 502 W. 58th Ave.

The Double Shovel Summer Outdoor Market is a place to hang out, explore local handmade goods and art, grab a bite and drink delicious cider. There will be more than a dozen vendors, food trucks like Mochileros and more, from noon until 6 p.m.

Pride Block Party, noon Saturday, Writer’s Block Cafe, 3956 Spenard Road

The Writer’s Block fourth annual Pride Block Party is this Saturday, with music from local DJs, artist and vendor booths and food and drinks from the cafe. The family-friendly event is completely free to attend, a community-centered celebration of Pride 2022.

V4 Vaniversary, 3 p.m. Saturday, Van’s Dive Bar, 1027 E. Fifth Ave.

Vaniversary is back for the fourth year, with 29 bands playing over the course of the night. Celebrate the anniversary of Van’s Dive Bar with a huge showing of local talent, including Fiona Rose, Sample Text, Hollis Bryan and Witty Youngman.

Midnight Sun Ski Jump-a-thon, 3 p.m. Saturday, Karl Eid Ski Jumps at Hilltop, 7015 Abbott Road

The Midnight Sun Ski Jump-a-thon is a solstice celebration and ski jump fundraiser at the Karl Eid Ski Jumping Facility. This event is fundraising with the goal of replacing the buildings in 2023, ahead of Anchorage hosting the U.S. Junior Nationals competition. The event is free to spectators, but anyone can purchase raffle tickets online or at the event to support the project.

Pride Bar Crawl, 4 p.m. Saturday, Avenue Bar, 338 W. Fourth Ave.

The fifth annual Pride Bar Crawl is happening this weekend! The bar crawl starts at Avenue Bar, where participants can pick up their vouchers and get the party started, and visit multiple downtown venues. Venues will be offering drink specials and waiving the cover for crawl participants, so make sure to register ahead of time. The afterparty starts at 10 p.m. at Gaslight Bar, so pace yourself accordingly.

Viva Pride, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Koot’s, 2435 Spenard Road

Viva Pride is an intimate drag variety show hosted in the Ice Bar at Chilkoot Charlie’s. Table and VIP table reservations are available for up to four people, and single seat tickets start at $30. All ticket holders will also be entered to win door prizes from the event’s sponsors.

Mad Myrna’s Pride Party, 9 p.m. Saturday, Mad Myrna’s. 530 E. Fifth Ave.

Mad Myrna’s is sure to be a busy spot for Pride weekend. The first 200 people get in for free, GCI is giving away tables, and there will be extra standing room available after that. Tables are still available to reserve, but they’re disappearing fast. This event is the culmination of a week of festivities happening at Mad Myrna’s, so check out their website to see what else is happening for Pride week.

Alaska Scottish Highland Games, Saturday-Sunday, Alaska State Fairgrounds, 2075 Glenn Highway, Palmer

The Alaska Scottish Highland Games are a celebration of Scottish heritage and traditions. Stop by the Alaska State Fairgrounds to compete in the games or to spectate. In addition to the games, there will also be traditional music, dancing and food. Tickets are available now.