Celebrate Juneau’s rich maritime culture, history, and commerce with 80+ vendor booths, live music, FREE kid’s activities, beer garden, fresh grilled seafood, harbor cruises, tug-o-war, and special appearances by the One People Canoe Society, Yees Ku Oo Dancers, and maritime services, including the USCG and Navy!
Entertainment
11:00am: One People Canoe Society and Yees Ku Oo dancers
One People Canoe Society traditional arrival and welcoming ceremony with Yees Ku Oo dancers will kick off the Festival. Yees Ku. Oo – Shu Gyad — is a multi-cultural dance group, comprised of many indigenous nations including, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Aleut, Yupik, and other nations. The Tlingit name, Yees Ku. Oo means “New People/New Beginning.” (Shu Gyad is the Sm’algyax translation) The late Clarence Jackson translated the name for the group at AFN in 2003, the year the dance group formed. “Our purpose is to share our songs with everyone. We strive to show the utmost respect to all, and to teach the children through song – so that they will feel the pride of being indigenous.
Location: Seawalk
12:15pm: USCG Helicopter Search and Rescue Demonstration
Air Station Sitka’s area of responsibility (AOR) encompasses the entire Southeast region of Alaska from Dixon Entrance north to Central Alaska and from the U.S./Canadian border west to the central Gulf of Alaska. Air Station Sitka’s AOR presents the most demanding flight environment for Coast Guard aircraft operations, with 12,000 miles of isolated and rugged coastline and responsible for all inland search and rescue for Southeast Alaska. This region includes numerous remote villages and is characterized by mountainous terrain, severe weather and vast distances between fuel caches and landing sites.
Location: Seawalk
12:45pm: Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM)
JAMM is a tuition-free music program, which uses the power of music and the social experience of ensemble to help youth reach their fullest potential. With both during and after-school programming, JAMM serves over 600 students across three elementary schools and one secondary school within the Juneau School District.
JAMM is both a school-readiness and positive youth development model where children develop key skills for life and are encouraged to contribute positively to their community through music, ensemble and leadership.
Location: Mainstage
2:15pm: Vox Borealis
Vox Borealis is a vocal ensemble that performed Sea Shanties at the 2021 and 2022 Maritime Festival. We are thrilled that they are able to join us this year! Full bio coming soon. Vox Borealis on Facebook.
Location: Mainstage
3:00pm: Tug of War Contest
Think your team has what it takes? Bond with co-workers, family, neighbors and friends at this year’s Maritime Festival Tug of War Contest. Besides the huge trophy and bragging rights for a year, each team member from the first place team will receive a $50 gift card from our generous supporters at Petro One, Airport Juneau! To register a team, email Kirstie or visit the JEDC booth on the day of the festival by 2:00 pm.
Read all of the Tug of War rules here.
Location: Seawalk
4:30pm: The Rain Dogs
We’re an energetic band from Juneau, Alaska, specializing in indie sad girl pop punk—music you can bounce around to or wail along with. Our core lineup features Keenan on drums, Jacob on bass, Avery on lead guitar, and Anna on rhythm guitar and vocals.
Our passion for music has driven us to create a collection of tracks that resonate deeply. Drawing from our diverse musical backgrounds, we aim to craft songs that reflect the heart and spirit of our home.
You can check out our sound on Spotify and join us on this exciting journey as we explore new musical horizons. We can’t wait to share our stories through music and connect with you, whether at our live shows or through your headphones.
Location: Mainstage
5:50pm: Navy Band Northwest Brass Band
Navy Band Northwest’s brass band features the powerful voices of trumpets, saxophones, trombones, tuba, and drums. Performing a wide variety of funk, rhythm and blues, jazz and soul music in the New Orleans tradition, they re sure to bring a lively program wherever they go! As one of our most versatile groups, the brass band regularly performs for major festivals. professional sporting events, and university-level masterclasses. These professional Navy Sailor musicians serve as naval ambassadors which connect our communities, from Nebraska to Alaska, face-to-face with THEIR United States Navy. Navy Band Northwest Facebook Page
Location: Mainstage
Harbor Cruises Tickets
Why limit your Juneau Maritime Festival activities to the shore? Join us on May 3rd and get out on the water with one of our Harbor Cruises! Enjoy the live entertainment of your choice and a no-host bar featuring beer, wine, a limited alcohol selection as well as Allen Marine Tours’ classic “Glacier-itas”. There will also be complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate available, all while you tour around beautiful downtown Juneau’s surrounding waterways!
Trip 1: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm – Kids Cruise hosted by Juneau Public Libraries
Join Juneau Public Librarians in singing silly sailing songs and sharing superb sailor stories as we sail our southeastern seas. Simple yet satisfying craft will be supplied.
Trip 2: 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm – Environmental Cruise hosted by Alaska Department of Fish & Game biologist Barb Lake
Join ADF&G marine biologist Barb Lake on a cruise through Gastineau Channel in search of seals, sea lions, porpoises, and whales. Learn about these local creatures, as well as one of Alaska’s most recent invasive species—the European Green Crab—featuring real specimens, teeth, bones, and fur! Along the way, discover the rich human history of Juneau and Douglas Island by the marks left on the landscape to this day.
Trip 3: 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm – Live Music Cruise hosted by singer-songwriter Quinton Woolman-Morgan
Quinton Woolman-Morgan was born and raised in the foothills of the Cascades just north of Seattle Washington. He now resides in Juneau Alaska. Q’s first release was in January of 2022. All music was written in the wilds of somewhere else. You can listen to his music on Spotify by clicking here.
Trip 4: 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm – Live Music Cruise hosted by the Juneau Lyric Opera – BEER CHOIR
Join the choir that sings while drinking beer! Encouraged by our song leaders, you’ll BECOME the choir that sings while drinking beer.
Grab a Beer Choir “Hymnal”—the songbook that will guide the festivities—and a pint and get ready to join in on traditional drinking songs, popular tunes, hymns, and choruses. You don’t need to love choral music, or even sing well, to enjoy Beer Choir—all you need to do is show up!
Tickets prices:
$25 – age 12 and up
$10 – Age 2-12
Under 2 yrs old – FREE!
