Tour of Anchorage, Fur Rendezvous and other weekend happenings in and around Anchorage

2022 Iditarod Start, 10 a.m. Saturday in Anchorage; 2 p.m. Sunday in Willow

The 50th Iditarod is here! The ceremonial start will be taking place downtown from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday. If crowds and icy sidewalks in the cold aren’t your thing, check out the live broadcast from the comfort of your own home.

[Iditarod 2022: After two pandemic years, this year’s race to Nome should look mostly normal. Here’s what that means.]

On Sunday, mushers will take off during the “restart” in Willow. The restart is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will also be available to watch online. There will be a bus service from Anchorage Lakefront Hotel, Wasilla High School and the Wasilla Sports Complex to Willow for volunteers and spectators. Tickets are $25 round-trip for spectators and available for purchase at the Iditarod volunteer registration desk in the Lakefront Hotel.

Fur Rondy Events

Rondy Ice Bowling, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Hosted by the New Peanut Farm, Rondy Ice Bowling will be happening from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. both weekends of Fur Rondy. Head out to the Peanut Farm pond to try your hand at ice bowling for $10 a player. Kids 12 and under will get a T-shirt and a meal off of the special ice bowling menu in addition to their 10 frames of bowling.

[Reindeer runs, snowshoe softball and ice bowling: Here’s how to experience the 2022 Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage]

World Championship Outdoor Hockey Tournament, Thursday-Sunday, Bonnie Cusack Memorial Outdoor Rinks

With five divisions ranging from Sourdough (Elite) to Mushera (Youth), the World Championship Outdoor Hockey Tournament is an opportunity for all ages and skill levels. The tournament will take place at the Bonnie Cusack Memorial Outdoor Rinks and will cost $650 for an adult team and $450 for a youth team.

Running of the Reindeer, 4 p.m. Saturday, Fourth Avenue and G Street

This year’s event will be the 13th annual Running of the Reindeer. The $32 per person registration fee raises money for Toys for Tots, with the added bonus of giving you the chance to see if you can outrun reindeer in downtown Anchorage. The race starts at 4 p.m. (get there by 3:30 p.m.) at Fourth Avenue and G Street.

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Williwaw Local Social Market, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Williwaw Social

On Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Williwaw Social will be hosting a “Local Social Market” featuring a variety of local artists. It will be a “sip and shop” event, the perfect opportunity to step inside between downtown Fur Rondy festivities and warm up.

Winter Fashion Ball, 10 p.m. Saturday, Williwaw Social

Join DJ Fan Service at Williwaw Social on Saturday at 10 p.m. for this semiformal event. Dress your best and drink responsibly.

Tour of Anchorage, 9 a.m. Sunday

The 34th annual Tour of Anchorage is a collection of ski and fat bike races through Anchorage’s trails on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. It is a testament to the trails, tunnels, and greenbelts in Anchorage that this race exists.

There will be a 25K, 40K, and 50K race in each freestyle and classic cross-country skiing and in fat biking. The bike races will start later in the afternoon. The longer races start on Hillside and meet up with the 25K at its origin at Alaska Pacific University, and all nine races will finish at Kincaid Park.

2022 Winter Classics, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday, UAA Fine Arts Building

The Sitka Music Festival presents the 2022 Winter Classics, a chamber music event that will last all weekend. The Eroica Trio will be performing Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Zuill Bailey and Alfredo Oyágüez will take the stage on Sunday at 4 p.m. The performances will be hosted in the UAA Fine Arts Building and tickets are available online for between $30 and $35.

Straight No Chaser, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Atwood Concert Hall

Straight No Chaser is a 9-person a cappella group that has sold over 2 million albums. They will be performing in the Atwood Concert Hall on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale from $44. A Saturday matinee performance has been canceled.