2 Best Performing Arts Venues in Fairbanks, the Yukon, and the Interior, Alaska

This weeklong event in early August is Interior Alaska's largest annual gathering—it dates back more than a century and is one of Alaska's three state fairs. If you've ever wondered just what a 50-pound cabbage looks like, check out the Giant Cabbage Weigh-In. You can also peruse the handiwork of local artisans and hear live local music. 

The early February Yukon Quest calls itself the "toughest sled dog race in the world," passing through historic early-gold-rush territory. In odd-numbered years the 1,000-mile race starts in Whitehorse, in even-numbered ones in Fairbanks. Both the start and finish are festive events, with huge crowds on hand even when the temperatures plunge.