Happy Alaska Day!

As the October chill settles over the Last Frontier, residents from the rain-soaked shores of Sitka to the frost-kissed trails of Fairbanks prepare to mark Alaska Day on October 18, commemorating the transfer of the territory from Russia to the United States in 1867. This statewide holiday, observed with parades, historical reenactments, and community feasts, serves as more than a nod to the past; it acts as a vital social glue in a state spanning 663,000 square miles, where rugged individualism often contends with geographic isolation.

Historians and community leaders alike emphasize its role in fostering goodwill, bridging divides between urban hubs like Anchorage and remote villages along the Yukon, by encouraging shared reflections on resilience—from the sour dough pioneers to modern stewards of Indigenous traditions collecting this weekend to commemorate the annual AFN convention.

In an era of national polarization, Alaska Day reminds all Alaskans of our collective stake in each other and this place defined by midnight suns and midnight winters, promoting dialogue that transcends borough lines and builds enduring bonds. Bonds that have many of us looking to hope for and help our fellow Alaskans recently hurt by Typhoon Halong.

From the Aleutian Islands' windswept outposts to the Interior's vast boreal forests, Alaskans are invited to embrace this special day with open hearts and full calendars—whether joining the torchlight procession in Juneau, savoring king crab at a potlatch in Ketchikan, or simply raising a glass under the aurora's glow. Let the echoes of drums and sourdough yarns weave you into the fabric of this unbreakable community, honoring the wild spirit that unites us all. Happy Alaska Day—go forth, celebrate, and let the goodwill ripple across our endless horizon, from all of us at Alaska Means Business.