The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping and the days are getting shorter. Luckily for us, there is plenty to do.
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The Anchorage Weekender rounded up eight local events happening this weekend.
1. Perspectives on Food Affordability: Challenges and Policy Responses
Friday, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., UAA Rasmuson Hall, Room 101 (3416 Seawolf Drive)
Hear three leading food economists discuss how the landscape of food security and costs associated with it are changing. They’ll answer the question: “How affordable is food today, what challenges are households experiencing and which policy responses might make a meaningful difference?”
Join Craig Gundersen from Baylor University, David Ortega from Michigan State University and Nicholas Li from Toronto Metropolitan University. The event will be moderated by UAA-ISER economist Mike Jones. Audience members will be given the opportunity to submit questions to the speakers. The event is free, but registration helps plan event resources. The doors open at 4:30 p.m. for light refreshments and the event begins at 5 p.m.
2. Family Movie Night at Rogers Park Elementary
Friday, 6 p.m., Rogers Park Elementary gym (1400 E. Northern Lights Blvd.)
With the high costs of movie tickets and refreshments, it’s almost not worth it sometimes. Luckily, Rogers Park PTA is hosting a family movie night in the school’s gym. They will be playing “Super Mario Galaxy” with free admission and pizza and concessions for just $2.
3. Free admission to the Anchorage Museum in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Anchorage Museum
Browse the wide collection of Alaska art and artifacts and explore the history of Alaska Native cultures for free in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The Living Our Cultures exhibition, on loan from the Smithsonian Institution, features more than 600 Alaska Native cultural heritage pieces in a modern and interactive exhibit.
4. AK Ski Swap
Saturday, 12 to 4 p.m., Alaska Airlines Center
Find deals on winter gear or finally clean out that closet and pass that unused stuff on to someone who will actually use it. The AK Ski Swap is the annual winter gear swap held at the Alaska Airlines Center.
There will be a gear check-in from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday. Ahead of the swap on Saturday, you can check in gear between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. The sale goes from 12 to 4 p.m.
Register here.
5. 2026 Anchorage Winter Prep Fair
Saturday, 12 to 4 p.m., Fairview Recreation Center (1121 E. 10th Ave.)
Here in Alaska, it’s never too early to start getting ready for winter. Join Renewable Energy Alaska Project for their Winter Prep Fair, where they partnered with a bunch of organizations to help residents save on energy costs and make their homes more efficient.
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There will be free food and home weatherization kits, family-friendly activities and opportunities to meet with local nonprofits that offer resources to help you keep warm and safe this winter.
6. Alaska Gamedev Expo 2026
Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., Egan Center
Try out locally-produced video games and meet the developers behind them in this free expo. The Alaska Gamedev Expo allows visitors to see what is being made here in Alaska, but also meet other creatives and network for future collaborations from art and modeling to music and voice acting.
7. Booklover’s Burlesque: Alaska Banned Books Edition
Saturday, 6 to 10 p.m., APU Earl Brown Auditorium (4101 University Dr)
Are you a fan of banned books? What about burlesque? If you said yes to both questions, you are in luck, because the Booklover’s Burlesque: Alaska Banned Books Edition is more than just a show. Burlesque and drag combine with banned books for a lively performance with prizes and a local artist market.
The doors open at 6 p.m. so you can browse local merch and the show starts at 7 p.m. Leave the little ones at home, because this show is for adults at least 18 years old. The performance will have live ASL interpreters.
Tickets are $30 in advance or if the event isn’t sold out, $35 at the door.
8. John Damberg Latin Jazz Quintet Fall Celebration Concert
Sunday, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Anchorage Lutheran Church (1420 N. St.)
Experience the grooves of Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and Trinidadian style songs performed by the John Damberg Latin Jazz Quintet along with special guest, Portuguese vocalist Jessica de Silva. If sambas, bossa novas or mambos get your body moving, you won’t want to miss this performance featuring some of Anchorage’s premier musicians playing in what is considered one of the best acoustically sounding venues in town.
Doors open at 4 p.m. and the concert lasts from 4:30 to 6 p.m. This is a free family event and donations are encouraged and appreciated.
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