Alyeska Resort Blueberry Festival

The Alaskan blueberry: plump, delicious, and so popular that every year Girdwood puts on a big celebration in honor of blueberry season. As many as 4,000 people have been flocking to Girdwood one weekend every August for the past 6 years, and the festival gets larger and more exciting each year, with people coming from all over Alaska. The two-day family-friendly event makes for a great excuse to visit this gorgeous area.

Visitors will find blueberry-focused events like no-hands-allowed pie-eating contests (for both kids and adults), chefs doing demos of how to cook various blueberry dishes, and dessert contests (featuring blueberries, of course). The festival also has some 40 booths selling arts and crafts, along with a dozen food vendors and artists from all over Alaska. In addition, there are bands, a beer garden, and plenty of spots to set up for a picnic (bring a blanket).

So why is everyone celebrating the blueberry? Because this area has a lot of them! They’re easy to find, especially on the backside of the resort, which has plenty of great stashes. Take Chair 7 up ($10 fee that goes to a local charity) so you don’t have trudge uphill to find them.