Festivals & Events

Events & Festivals

JAN · FEB · MAR · APR · MAY · JUN · JUL · SEPT · DEC

January

Iditaswim - January to March 31.
Participants have three months to swim 1049 laps (one for each mile of the Iditarod Trail). All finishers receive commemorative T-shirt and certificate. Nome Swimming Pool, PO Box 131, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-5717

February

Iron Dog Gold Rush - Late February.
Classic Snowmachine Race.Longest snowmobile race in the world. Wasilla to Nome to Fairbanks, Alaska: 2,274 miles, usually takes 3 days. Alternate years they reverse direction, Fairbanks to Nome to Wasilla. Iron Dog Headquarters, 7100 Old Seward Highway Unit "C", Anchorage, AK 99515. Tel: (907) 563-4414, Fax: 336-5052
Idita-Walk:Event to promote physical fitness in the spirit of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

March

Iditarod Events Calendar - March 2008 (pdf)
The month of March: something for nearly every day!

lditarod Sled Dog Race - Starts 1st Saturday in March in Anchorage. Teams begin to arrive in Nome approximately 9 days later. Distance: 1049 miles. Activities in Nome include three awards banquets, dart tournament, golf on the Bering Sea, art & craft shows, reindeer potluck, movies, slide shows and much more.

Picture Gallery

Miners & Mushers Ball - 2nd Saturday in March.
Join the local people as they dress up in old time Nome attire to dance and mingle at a local establishment. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes. Jana Varratti, Tel: (907) 443-3961.

Lonnie O'Connor Iditarod Basketball Classic - Begins the 2nd Sunday in March. Week-long tournament. The largest basketball tournament in the world with over 50 teams in one location. Lonnie O'Connor Iditarod Basketball Classic (LOIBC), PO Box 420, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-2867.

Bering Sea Ice Golf Classic - 3rd Saturday in March.
Six hole course played on the frozen Bering Sea using bright orange golf balls. Par is 41. Cash prizes for best scores. Entry fee of $50 includes a T-shirt, hat, golf balls, tees (old shotgun shells), snake bite remedies (small bottles of vodka) and a certificate of completion. Fund raiser for the Bering Sea Lions Club, PO Box 326, Nome, AK. Picture Gallery	photo by Leslie Seamón

Businessman's Dog Team Race - 3rd Sat in March.
Three-dog teams provided. Wanna-be mushers pay $50 (usually sponsored by business) to race 3 miles. No experience necessary. Nome Kennel Club, Greg Parvin, PO Box 1103, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-4618. Picture Gallery

Nome-Golovin Snowmachine Race - 2nd Sat. in March.
Participants race 200 miles between Nome and the village of Golovin. Morgan Snowmobile Sales , Tel: (907) 443-2155.

Nome-Council Sled Dog Race
A 200 mile dog team race. Maximum of 12 dog limit. Mass start in Nome on March 26, six hour lay over in Council, $10,000 purse. Visitors welcome! Nome Kennel Club, Greg Parvin, PO Box 1103, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-4618.

Other Iditarod Events in March - March
Art exhibits, Eskimo dancing, movies, volleyball, dog sled rides, slide shows, reindeer potluck, Eskimo craft sales, etc. A calendar of events is available in early March from the Nome Convention & Visitors Bureau, PO Box 240, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-6624.
Idita-Walk: Event to promote physical fitness in the spirit of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

April

Cannonball Run - 3rd Saturday in April.
A 120-150 mile snowmachine race which begins on the frozen Bering Sea in front of the Nome Causeway. This is one of the largest local snowmachine races with a total purse exceeding $15,000. Held annually. Sponsored by Norton Sound Race Assn. Pat Johanson, Tel: (907) 443-7157.

May

Stroke & Croak Mini Triathlon - Held annually on the Sunday closest to Mother's Day. One mile swim in the indoor pool, 3.5 mile run outdoors and a 7.5 mile bike ride. Enter as a single or as a team. Entry fee is $5. All finishers receive a T-shirt. Nome Swimming Pool, PO Box 131, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-5717.

June

Summer Calendar of Events - June through September (pdf 120KB)

Midnight Sun Festival - Held the weekend closest to the summer solstice (June 21). Celebrate 22 hrs. of direct sunlight with a parade, mock bank hold-up, street dance, BBQ chicken feed, softball tournament and Folk Fest. Nome Convention & Visitors Bureau, PO Box 240, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-6624. Picture Gallery

Nome River Raft Race - Sunday closest to June 21.
Homemade rafts compete on a 2-3 mile course down the Nome River. Open to the public. Certain craft restrictions apply. First place team becomes the proud owners of the perpetual trophy... a fur-lined honeybucket! Bering Sea Lion's Club, PO Box 326, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-6624 (msg.) Picture Gallery	photo by Leslie Seamón

Midnight Sun Folk Festival - A three day musical event beginning Friday night (of the Midnight Sun Festival weekend) with a concert/dance at Old St. Joe's Hall. After the Midnight Sun Festival parade at Anvil City Square, there is an afternoon with music, food, arts, and crafts. Sunday, the featured band will play at the end of the raft race.For more information click here!

Polar Bear Swim in Bering Sea - June. IF the frozen Bering Sea ice has broken up by then! Water temps 40 ° F or less. Submersion of the entire body entitles participant to a commemorative certificate. Whether this is a test of endurance or intelligence is only for the observer to decide. Nome Rotary Club.

July

Summer Calendar of Events - June through September (pdf 120KB)

Anvil Mountain Run - 4th of July
A 17K run to the top of Anvil Mountain (elevation 1100 ft.) and back down again. The course must be completed within five hours with the return path being down the face of the mountain. All finishers receive a certificate. Trophies are given to the overall winner, first woman and winner in the "50 years and older" category. Leo Rasmussen, PO Box 2, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-2919.

July 4th Games
Street games for all ages. Foot races, bicycle competitions, gunny sack races, shoe scrambles, egg races, etc. Winners receive prize money provided by the Nome City Council. Free ice cream and a parade.
Nome City Clerk, PO Box 281
Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-6611

Picture Gallery

photo by Leslie Seamón

Poor Man's Paradise - 20th of July
Nome Centennial Event, old-fashioned gold mining skills are featured in this gold panning contest sponsored by Gold Prospectors of America and Rasmussen's Music Mart. Each contestant receives pay-dirt containing the same amount of gold. The winner pans all the gold in the shortest time. Contest held on East Beach. Leo Rasmussen, PO Box 2, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-2919

September

Summer Calendar of Events - June through September (pdf 120KB)

Bathtub Race - Labor Day.
Bathtubs mounted on wheels race down Front Street. Each team must have five members, one in the tub with bubbles in sight. Suspenders & hats are mandatory apparel. Each team crossing the finish line must have a bar of soap, towel, bath mat and at least 10 gallons of water in the tub. Winner receives possession of the "Miss Piggy & Kermit taking a bath" trophy until the next year's competition. Leo Rasmussen, PO Box 2, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-2919

Rubber Duck Race - Labor Day
Hundreds of numbered ducks are tossed into the river. Tickets are sold for $5 per duck. First three ducks to cross the finish line win cash prizes for their ticket owners. Nome Rotary Club, Ric Schmidt, PO Box 275, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-5221

Anvil Mountain 59 Minute 37 Second Challenge -
2nd Thursday in September. Starting gun sounds at 7 pm. The course starts at the base of Anvil Mountain, runners go uphill then back down via a gravel road. Open to all competitors. Leo Rasmussen, PO Box 2, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-2919

December

Community Craft Bazaars - On the 1st Saturday following Thanksgiving is the largest Christmas bazaar in Nome. Many homemade arts and crafts are available from the local residents. Several other craft bazaars occur in December.

Annual Fireman's Carnival - 1st Saturday in December.
This huge community event is a fundraiser for the Volunteer Fire Dept. Activities include games of chance, concession stands, bingo, cake walks and a chance to win a new snowmachine or ATV. Nome Volunteer Fire Dept, PO Box 82, Nome, AK 99762. Tel: (907) 443-2310

View / Sign our Guest Book

Nome Convention and Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 240 H-P, Nome, AK 99762

Tel: (907) 443-6624, Fax: (907) 443-5832
e-mail: tourinfo@ci.nome.ak.us

Rev 06/12/02 lch

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