Arts & Entertainment

Fairbanks is in a part of the world that is defined by wild places that awaken and nourish the soul while joyfully setting the stage for a wide variety of classic and contemporary art, theater and music events and exhibitions year-round.

It could be the non-stop midnight sun in the summer and the winter's rhythms of the northern lights, but such a location gives local artists of all types a wellspring for creativity. Fairbanks is remote and 119 air miles (192 km) south of the Arctic Circle so it is a unique hotspot for cultural, classic and contemporary arts and entertainment that any visitor should experience. Fueled by an independent spirit, one can find a melting pot of musical and artistic talent here. From Athabascan fiddling and opera to traditional Alaska Native drumming and hip-hop, to the popular Fairbanks-based alternative rock band, Young Fangs (featured in the video below), one is destined to find a nightly venue with live music, plenty of locals and good vibes here in Alaska's Golden Heart!

Fairbanks is a hotbed of creativity, musicality and performing arts!

Premier concerts and symphonies showcase prominent performers and concertmasters. Study-performance festivals attract instructors and students from around the world. Noted authors, illustrators and composers call Fairbanks home. Ballroom, ethnic and swing dance clubs welcome visitors. Acclaimed dramatic artists present professionally executed shows. Galleries, exhibits, studios, murals and more display paintings, ceramics, masks, found art, sculpture and photography. Local artists are continuously creating brilliant works of art for show and for sale.

First Friday Art Events

Fairbanks is a buzz with art of all kinds each first Friday of every month when specialty shops, art galleries and other venues create exhibition space for a variety of Fairbanks artists. Painters, photographers, woodworkers and sculptors all find places to showcase their work, interact with the public and sell their art. First Friday shows generally run from 5:00-8:00pm and offer appetizers, libations and occasionally music. Downtown is a great place to start or finish your art tour as many locales are within walking distance. First Friday art shows often focus on regional topics that offer inspiration to local artisans like wildlife, winter, the aurora and the midnight sun. First Fridays offer a great way to rub elbows with locals and even take home a one-of-a-kind keepsake artwork form the far north.