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Gold Rush Days

The festival celebrates the trek of gold seekers over the All-America route beginning in Valdez. The five-day event includes a parade, a classic-car display, a fashion show, a fish fry, a gold-panning demonstration, a pancake breakfast, music, luncheons, kids' activities and a "Going to the Dogs" costume ball benefitting the Valdez Animal Shelter. The Valdez Museum will have lectures and free lemonade.

Where: Locations vary

When: Aug. 3-7

Cost: Free

Phone: 1-907-835-2984

Web: www.valdezalaska.org

Last Frontier Theatre Conference

The 13th annual conference brings together aspiring playwrights for a lab workshop. Guests scheduled to participate include Arthur Kopit and Richard Foreman. Daily play lab, panels, workshops and evening entertainment are planned. Kopit is being awarded the Edward Albee Last Frontier Playwright Award.

Where: Valdez Civic Center

When: June 18-25

Cost: $225 for full registration; day registration is $50

Phone: 1-907-834-1614

Web: www.pwscc.edu

Valdez Fish Derbies

Halibut and silver salmon derbies run throughout the summer with big payoffs for the winners. The two derbies have a combined payout of more than $80,000 in cash and prizes. In 2004, $15,000 first prizes went to Lloyd Jones with a 310.6-pound halibut and Don Little with a 19.44-pound silver salmon.

Where: Waters around Valdez

When: May 20 to Sept. 4 (halibut), July 29 to Sept. 4 (silvers)

Cost: $10 daily

Phone: 1-907-255-4727

Web: www.valdezfishderbies.com

Valdez Museum

The museum offers interpretive exhibits about the history of the Prince William Sound-Copper River Valley-Valdez region. Topics include Native cultures, Gold Rush, founding of Valdez, the 1964 earthquake, the oil industry and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Items of interest include two turn-of-the-century restored fire engines, a lighthouse lens and reproductions of a prospector's cabin and early Valdez parlor. A special exhibit is "Quilt and Fibre Expressions 2005."

Where: 217 Egan Drive

When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Cost: $5 adults, $4.50 seniors, $4 ages 14-17, free younger than 14 (includes admission to the Remembering Old Valdez Exhibit)

Phone: 1-907-835-2764

Web: www.valdezmuseum.org

Remembering Old Valdez Exhibit

The centerpiece is the Old Town Valdez Model that shows the town as it appeared in 1963, just before the 1964 Good Friday earthquake. The model includes more than 400 buildings and 60 city blocks. Buildings were constructed based on original photographs, and former residents were consulted to determine the location of various features. The exhibit also has displays about seismic activity.

Where: 436 S. Hazelet Ave.

When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day

Cost: $5 adults, $4.50 seniors, $4 ages 14-17, free younger than 14 (includes admission to the Valdez Museum)

Phone: 1-907-835-2764

Web: www.valdezmuseum.org

Whitney Museum

The museum provides a look at Alaska life, cultures and wildlife. Some of the displays include Eskimo kayaks and umiaks, Native-carved ivory, trophy-class mounts of Alaska's big game animals, whale baleen pieces, Alaska Native dolls in authentic clothing and prehistoric artifacts. There is a large number of Alaskana books and videos. The collection was donated by Jesse and Maxine Whitney.

Where: Valdez Airport Annex

When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Cost: $5 adults, $4 seniors and military

Phone: 1-907-834-1690

Web: www.pwscc.edu

Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site

The glacier is easily accessible from the Richardson Highway. There is a short trail leading up to the glacier, and there is an interpretive shelter. The Thompson Pass area features many glaciers and high alpine tundra.

Where: Richardson Highway

When: Open daily

Cost: Free

Web: www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/jewels/pws.htm