August means the Sitka Seafood Festival is coming to town, held August 10 – 19 for the past eight years. It’s an annual culinary celebration of Sitka’s most revered natural resource. Seafood has long been at the heart of the town’s culture, economy, and lifestyle. Hosted by the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association and Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, the celebration includes consecutive days of seafood-related events with days packed with food, parties, and more at the Crescent Harbor Shelter.

Head to the Shelter August 12 at 9 a.m. for games, prizes, and a vendor market dishing up the tastiest samples in Alaska. Educational events are seasoned throughout the festival and continue through October. It all culminates in the Young Fishermen’s Expo and Season’s End Banquet November 8 – 10, so for extended stay guests you have several weeks of seafaring fun to enjoy.

An Ode to the Sea

Enjoy a pre-festival screening of Jaws early in August, hosted by the Sitka Film Society. The full calendar of events can be found online, with additions made regularly. The Sitka Tells Tales event includes “Wet Feet: Stories On, In, Under, and Of the Sea” while the Mean Queen hosts Seafood Trivia parties.

From the Beginner’s Knot Tying Class to the Sitka Farmers Market getting in on the seafaring action, there’s always a new way to celebrate seafood in Sitka. Don’t miss the Festival Vendor Market, Inupiaq Mask Carving masters showcase, and Fish Fillet 101 classes.