Situated in the heart of Alaska’s interior, the remote city of Fairbanks is an unexpected travel destination. And yet, thanks to its location at the top of the world, this charming urban area attracts thousands of visitors each year, searching for outdoor adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Fairbanks is the gateway to some of The Great North’s most rugged attractions like Denali National Park & Preserve and the Arctic Circle, it also happens to be one of the best places in the world to experience two incredible natural phenomena: the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights.
This summer, Explore Fairbanks, the city’s non-profit marketing and management organization, is encouraging vacationers to come to Fairbanks to experience the wonder of what it calls “Midnight Sun Season,” the time of year when the sun never dips below the horizon from April 22 to August 20. During the Midnight Sun Season, summer is an endless adventure where celestial delights like patio dining and outdoor adventures can be enjoyed well after normal evening hours.
Beginning each spring, the days get longer and longer before coming to a peak on the summer solstice — often June 20 or 21. “The true magic unfolds from mid-May to late July when Fairbanks boasts a staggering 70 days of continuous daylight,” said Explore Fairbanks in an April 2024 press release. “Imagine — teeing off for a midnight golf game, conquering a scenic trail bathed in golden light or floating down the Chena River under a sky that refuses to surrender to darkness.”
To help travelers learn more about how sunlight dramatically changes throughout the year in Fairbanks and other parts of the state like Coldfoot and Utqiaġvik, Explore Fairbanks created the Midnight Sun Tracker, a tool that allows users to track daylight hours, watch live webcam footage and more.
Paired with this exciting time of year is an endless lineup of seasonal events. From solstice celebrations and festivals to the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics and the Tanana Valley State Fair, travelers will find plenty to do when they plan a summer getaway to this charming city. Vacationers looking to experience one of Fairbanks’ oldest traditions will want to plan their trip for June 21, the date of the 119th Midnight Sun Baseball Game where the first pitch is thrown at 10 p.m. and players face off without any artificial light.
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“There’s no shortage of exciting events during Midnight Sun Season,” said Explore Fairbanks. “Solstice celebrations capitalize on the endless daylight, with events like the Midnight Sun Baseball Game, Midnight Sun Run and the Midnight Sun Festival. Plenty of other events take place during the summer like Golden Days, the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics and the Tanana Valley State Fair. Beyond these highlights, numerous other events throughout the season showcase Fairbanks’ unique charm.”
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