Festivals
Juneau Maritime Week
Days of guided walks, talks and celebration in one of the most remarkable corners of Southeast Alaska.
- Dec 19 to Dec 25
- 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Juneau Seawalk
- Free to attend
About this event
Seven days on the water: harbor tours, a wooden boat show, a fisheries day, paddling and a lighted boat parade to close it out.
Juneau Maritime Week brings together naturalists, photographers, families and first-time visitors for a festival that feels like a small-town reunion. Something is happening from morning to evening.
Guided outings leave from the main venue throughout the festival, with talks, exhibits and a market in between. Dress for the weather, and plan for a little extra time on the road.
Bring binoculars if you have them. Spotting scopes are set up along the river for anyone to use.
Highlights
Guided outings
Small-group walks with local naturalists and guides.
Talks and films
Presentations from researchers, photographers and storytellers.
Festival market
Local art, gear and food from regional makers.
Day by day
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Day 1Opening day on the Seawalk
The fleet blessing, a chowder cook-off and the first harbor tours of the week.
- Blessing of the fleet
- Chowder cook-off, voting opens
- Harbor tours begin, every hour
-
Day 2Wooden boat show
Builders and owners open their boats on the docks, from skiffs to a restored seiner.
- Docks open
- Builders' talk: planking in cedar
- Kids' boat-building table
-
Day 3Fisheries day
How the catch gets from the water to the table, with demonstrations from local fishers.
- Net-mending demonstration
- Filleting and smoking demo
- Talk: the salmon runs of Southeast Alaska
-
Day 4Whale and wildlife day
Naturalist-led tours and a talk on the humpbacks that feed in Lynn Canal every summer.
- Wildlife tours depart
- Talk: whale-watching etiquette
- Kids' tide-pool table
-
Day 5Paddle day
Kayak and paddleboard demos in the harbor, with instructors on hand for first-timers.
- Safety briefing and gear fitting
- Guided harbor paddle
- Rescue skills demo
-
Day 6Maritime history day
Stories, photos and film from a century of boats, canneries and ferries in Juneau.
- Historic photo walk along the Seawalk
- Film: the canneries of Taku Inlet
- Storytelling with longtime mariners
-
Day 7Closing day and lighted boat parade
Awards, a community picnic and the lighted boat parade along the waterfront.
- Community picnic
- Chowder and boat show awards
- Lighted boat parade lines up
Times are approximate and may shift a little on the day.
Good to know
Weather
Layers and rain gear are a must, whatever the forecast says.
Getting there
Allow extra travel time; ferry and road schedules change with the season.
Photography
Photographers are welcome. Give wildlife plenty of room.
Family friendly
Kids activities run every day of the festival.
