Kick off your meeting with welcomes from our Alaska Native community and from Sitka ’ s mayor , or start your event with a live performance of the national anthem and our state ’ s “ Alaska ’ s Flag ” song sung by local singers . Sitka ’ s unique offerings can also be incorporated into meeting breaks with performances from local storytellers , acrobats and aerial performers , dancers , or string quartets . Create a special reception and dinner experience with live music from local blues or rock bands , or even a DJ .
Wow your attendees with a pop-up art market or an early evening art walk that includes demonstrations from local silversmiths , weavers , and beaders . To help you plan these events for your next gathering , Visit Sitka will work alongside you to coordinate these special moments .
Our community is excited to share our stories , talents , and culture with you . Plan your next meeting in Sitka and give your attendees an experience to remember .
Planner Spotlight : WhaleFest
Sean Neilson
The first weekend in November marks the date for Sitka ’ s WhaleFest , a much-loved event that overlaps with the annual presence of humpback whales in the Sitka Sound as they feed before migrating to Hawaii . The spirit of WhaleFest is closely tied to the history and cultural importance of the ocean and its inhabitants , and every year , the event begins with a Tlingít welcome and land acknowledgment .
During this multi-day festival , WhaleFest hosts an array of Sitkan vendors at a marine-themed artisan ’ s market , and scientists from far and wide fly into Sitka to present their research . WhaleFest ’ s most recent theme was Ocean Connections : Culture and Communication , which challenged participants to explore the many forms of culture and communication that are tied to the marine environment through the lens of Indigenous knowledge and scientific discovery .
MEETINGS GUIDE 5 VISITSITKA . ORG