Track the Midnight Sun | Explore Fairbanks Alaska (2024)

FAQs

How long does the midnight sun last in Fairbanks Alaska? ›

Here in Fairbanks there are 70 straight days of usable light—from May 17 to July 27. Continuous, pure sunlight 24/7 for 70 days— imagine that. Fairbanks' everlasting summer sunshine creates amazing growth and as a result the local farmers markets are truly extraordinary.

It's a 10K Race under the Midnight Sun! The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner "Midnight Sun Run" is a uniquely Alaskan event that attracts participants from all over the world. The race is held in June on the Saturday closest to summer solstice at 10PM.

Fairbanks, Alaska claims the nickname "Land of the Midnight Sun" and boasts many celebrations to commemorate the 24-hour days in summer.

If you stay in Fairbanks for a minimum of three nights and are actively out viewing every night you have a 90% chance of seeing the aurora. We suggest four to five nights as an ideal amount of time to scan the skies for the northern lights.

In fact, the northernmost city in America – Utqiaġvik, Alaska, formerly known as Barrow – has near-constant darkness from mid- to late November until late January because the sun never rises during that 60-plus-day period. Hours of daylight (sunrise to sunset) on the winter solstice.

People of all ages and abilities are welcome to run, walk, stroll or roll together under the midnight sun.

Course. The Midnight Sun Run, which has started at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Patty Center ever since the event's debut, winds through a number of Fairbanks neighborhoods and along the Chena River, and finishes at Pioneer Park. Despite the late hour, spectators line the streets to cheer the runners onward.

The December solstice (winter solstice) in Fairbanks is at 12:20 am on Saturday, December 21, 2024. In terms of daylight, this day is 18 hours, 8 minutes shorter than the June solstice. In most locations north of the equator, the shortest day of the year is around this date.

It's regular life during the Far North summer. When you decide it's time to sleep, darken the room. Some Alaskans tape foil, cardboard or heavy trash bags over windows, usually in their own residence. Light-blocking drapes and blackout curtains are common features provided by hotels and lodges.

Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow)

Even though residents of Utqiagvik, the northernmost town in Alaska, won't see the sun for 67 days come winter, they enjoy the midnight sun all summer - over 80 days of uninterrupted daylight.

What is the longest day in Fairbanks, Alaska? ›

Annually on June 21st

On the longest day of each year (with a full 24 hours of daylight in the vast Tanana Valley), Fairbanksans celebrate the coming of summer with the playing of this traditional game - which continues through the midnight hour and never uses artificial lights.

Fairbanks is one of Alaska's best year-round destinations and visitors will find plenty to do whether they come for the long, warm summer days or to watch spectacular northern lights coloring the night sky during Aurora Season.

Many people consider Fairbanks the single best place for viewing the Northern Lights in Alaska. Located directly beneath the oval of the Northern Lights, the northerly location of Fairbanks means that aurora borealis hunters don't have to venture too far away from the city in order to spot the lights.

The Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Alaska

Alaska's northern lights season is between late August and late April, peaking in March. However, the season is defined more by its long, dark nights than by solar activity.

Each year, the streets of downtown Fairbanks burst with a 12-hour, family-friendly street fair packed with live music, performances and hundreds of booths selling food, crafts, official festival t-shirts, and handmade souvenirs.

Fairbanks has long been known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun” with the summer sun shining up to 24 hours a day. Track the precise number of daylight hours for any day of the year on our Midnight Sun Tracker.

The extreme sites are the poles, where the Sun can be continuously visible for half the year. The North Pole has midnight sun for about 6 months, from approximately 18 March to 24 September. South Pole, Antarctica has midnight sun and experiences this from approximately 20 September to 23 March (about 6 months).