The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show – All Ages Fun in Ketchikan

We can be just as touristy as the next guy and there’s a reason the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is a big touristy thing to do in Ketchikan: cuz it’s awesome. Our kids love slapstick comedy and think lumber sports are great, so getting to join all the other visitors and enjoy the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show was a blast. If you haven’t gotten to experience lumber sports before, you have to plan to do this when you’re in Ketchikan.

So have you been thinking about booking the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show as part of your visit to Ketchikan? If not, read on and see what you can expect and our tips for having a great time at the show. Please let us know if you have any questions or how we can help you plan your visit to Southeast Alaska. This is a wonderful region and we’re always happy to share more.

Highlights of the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

I love experiences that are all about comradery and fun. The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is exactly that, both on stage and in the crowd. This is a great activity with kids or a pack of grown ups because it really is fun for everyone. If you’re not into audience participation, don’t worry, you can sit back and just enjoy the show. And when I say audience participation, I mean verbally and not actually sawing things or climbing poles.

Each of us had a favorite part of the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, and they really did a lot. The kids liked the log running and rolling events the best, but I though watching the chopping and cutting was cool. It’s crazy to witness the physicality of what lumberjacks have to do in the process of felling and transporting trees. My back and shoulders hurt just watching them, but since we were spectators it was all in good fun and I’m thankful for my career choices.

Something else that made the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show such a good time was actually the comedy they have layered into it. There’s an MC who keeps the crowd riled and engaged, but then the lumberjacks themselves put into the humor of the show just as much as the physicality. The jokes are kid appropriate and the inuendo is at a minimum. This is a great event to enjoy when you’re in Ketchikan.

Get Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show Tickets here!

Tips for a Great Lumberjack Show Experience

Unless the weather gets insane, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show still happens in the rain. Don’t worry though, as the audience seating is nearly all under cover. If you’re in the front rows and the weather is gross, you could get a little wet, but in general you can expect to stay dry even on a rainy day. Dress warmly if it’s a chilly day, but during the peak summer months there should be plenty of sun shining into the performance space to keep everyone warm.

When you arrive, get there nice and early so you can choose your seats and get closer to the front. The second or third row in the middle of the stands is the BEST seat in the house, but really, you’ll be able to see everything really well wherever you sit. If you have kids with you, try to be closer so that in moments of audience participation the kiddos might get picked for prizes and such.

NOTE: if you want to add onto your Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show experience you can purchase an axe throwing session following the show. Some people love it and are natural-born woodsmen, and some aren’t. Add it to your ticket and see if you may be!

Being Prepared for Ketchikan’s Lumberjack Show

Just dress warmly or whatever is appropriate to the weather. You won’t need an umbrella for the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show even if it’s raining, but you may want to keep one with you for walking around before or after the show. There are concessions within the performance space, so if you need a snack you’ll have options. Next door though is the Alaska Fish House, which has awesome salmon tacos and pretty good fish and chips. And then Ketchikan’s famous Creek Street isn’t far away, so you should plan to walk over there after the show as well, so be prepared for that.

When it comes to getting great photos at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show you can get good shots with a camera phone, but a nice camera is ideal. Zooming in on the sweat flying as the lumberjacks are chopping like mad, or catching the splashes of the log rolling competition make for great pictures. Up to a 250mm lens is good, but more than that isn’t necessary.

Getting to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

There is paid parking right around the corner from the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show arena. You’ll also find parking near the Tongass Historical Museum, and then of course there is street parking all through town. Pay attention to signage though and if you’re in a paid lot, be sure that you remember to pay before you walk to the performance space. For guests coming from the cruise ships, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show is a five minute walk from the primary cruise ship port, and specifically Birth Two. Birth three is just another three minutes away, so it’s an easy jaunt.

More Things to Do in Ketchikan

Ketchikan is such a cool town and it’s a wonderful place to explore for several days. If you’re only able to stop in for a little bit from a cruise ship, that’s fine too, but you’re going to want to come back and explore on your own in the future. What makes Ketchikan such a great town to visit is the combination of Alaska Native culture and all the elements that come to mind when you think of Alaska: salmon, mining, timber, landscapes. Ketchikan can be a wonderfully active town to visit or you can arrive and spend a few days relaxing.

As you plan your time in Ketchikan, think about how you want to mix up your activities. You can plan tours on the water or to visit different parts of Ketchikan to learn about Tlingit culture or nature. There are some walking tours to dig into the food scene or you can enjoy the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Do you need a car when you come to town? No, not necessarily and downtown is very walkable, even beyond Creek Street, and there is a bus system that goes to some further away spots. A car is nice though, as that open you up to hiking and traveling around the island freely.

Here are are recommendations for things to do in Ketchikan:

Where to Stay in Ketchikan

If you’re lucky enough to get to spend several days in Ketchikan, there are some fun options for hotels around down town. For visitors with their own cars, you can consider something outside of the immediate downtown area and not need to worry about parking. I will say, there are some cool places to stay just off Creek Street, which puts you right in one of the most iconic Alaskan neighborhoods. You can even stay at the Cape Fox Lodge overlooking downtown and then take the funicular down to the main area. Some hotels in Ketchikan offer shuttle service between the hotel and downtown or the airport ferry terminal, so if you want to enjoy a more quiet stay, you can still easily get about town without a car.