Alaska Day 2025

Alaska Day is observed on October 18, 2025. Alaska Day is a legal holiday in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States which occurred on Friday, October 18, 1867. On March 30, 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for the sum of $7.2 million.

It was not until October of that year that the Commissioners arrived in Sitka and the formal transfer was arranged. The formal flag-raising took place at Fort Sitka on October 18, 1867. The original ceremony included 250 uniformed U.S. soldiers, who marched to the Governor's house at "Castle Hill". Here the Russian troops lowered the Russian flag and the U.S. flag was raised.

Alaska Day was declared a state holiday in 1917 and is a paid holiday for state employees. The official celebration is held in Sitka, where schools release students early, many businesses close for the day, and events such as a parade and reenactment of the flag raising are held. It should not be confused with Seward's Day, the last Monday in March, which commemorates the signing of the treaty for the Alaska Purchase in which the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867. (With material from: Wikipedia)

More dates:

• Alaska Day on Oct 18, 2026 in Alaska
• Alaska Day on Oct 18, 2027
• Alaska Day on Oct 18, 2028