The 2025 Valdez Gold Rush Days Theme is "Making a Splash!" This year we are celebrating the wonderful waterways that make Valdez so special. From Prince William Sound to Lowe River and everything in between, our amazing lakes,rivers, creeks, and Sound are important to our way of life.

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

12:00pm - 1:00pm: Golden Opportunities Luncheon & Golden Rock Awards

Kick off the 63rd Annual Valdez Gold Rush Days with the Golden Opportunities Luncheon, which includes the Golden Rock Awards (brought to you by the Valdez Community Garden) and crowning of the 2025 Royalty, Festivities will also include performances by the Little Kickers and CanCan Girls.

Valdez gardeners work long and hard to beautify their yards, gardens & businesses during the short summer months in hopes of earning a prestigious Golden Rock Award!

Please join Prince William Sound College at its annual Golden Opportunities Luncheon and Golden Rock Awards.

Lunch - FREE
Attendance - FREE
Golden Rock Awards - FREE

FREE*
All Ages

Location: Prince William Sound College, 303 Lowe St, Valdez, AK 99686

1:00pm - 2:30pm: Historic Homes Hoosegow Tour

Join us for a free Historic Homes of Valdez tour and learn about the Old Town Valdez homes, businesses, and citizens that survived the 1964 earthquake and relocated to the new Valdez town site. Faith Revell, Valdez Museum educator will be your guide on this 90-minute tour while riding the Hoosegow. The tour begins at Prince William Sound College, following the kickoff, on Wednesday.*

*This tour will take place again on Saturday at 3:00pm as a walking tour beginning from the Valdez Museum Annex on Hazelet across from the Gold Rush Days store.

FREE
ALL AGES

Location: Prince William Sound College, 303 Lowe St, Valdez, AK 99686

5:00pm - 7:00pm: Ice Cream Social at the Valdez Senior Center

The perfect evening event for the entire family! Join us for the annual Ice Cream Social Event at the Valdez Senior Center. Music, ice cream & live performances from the Little Kickers at this years celebration.

FREE
All Ages

Location: Valdez Senior Center, Inc., 1300 E Hanagita St, Valdez, AK 99686

Friday, August 1, 2025

2:00pm - 3:00pm: Kid's Dive for Gold

Join us at the Valdez Pool for the annual Dive for Gold competition! Children ages 3 - 12 will have a chance to dive into the depths and hunt for treasure - the child with the most "gold" wins! No registration required - please visit www.Valdezak.gov/register for additional information!

Ages 3-5: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Ages 6-8: 2:20 pm - 2:35 pm
Ages 9-12: 2:40 pm - 2:55 pm

FREE
Ages 3-12, with parent/guardian

Location: Valdez High School Swimming Pool, 319 Robe River Dr, Valdez, AK 99686

Sunday, August 3, 2025

12:30pm - 1:00pm: 2025 Gold Rush Days Parade Line-Up

Location: Egan Avenue and Hazelet Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686

1:00pm - 1:45pm: Gold Rush Days Parade

The official beginning of the end of the 2025 festivities is the good old-fashioned Gold Rush Parade! Join us on Egan Street and watch our hometown pride shine! Parade starts at 1:00pm. (Parents, please help keep children safe by keeping them on the side of the road at all times.) FREE EVENT

Parade Registration Form  (Deadline to enter: Fri, Aug 2 at 5PM)

FREE
All Ages

Location: Egan Avenue, Valdez, AK 99686

At Kelsey Dock Uplands (across from Ruth Pond)

Open Air Market
Fri 5-10PM | Beer & Wine Garden 7-10PM*
Sat 10AM-5PM
Sun 12PM- 5PM
*must be 21+ and show ID to enter

Beer & Wine Garden with Live Music at the Open Air Market
Fri 7-10PM*
Sat 7-10PM*
*must be 21+ and show ID to enter

Wet-Yer-Whistle Walk
Friday 5PM - 7:30PM
2025 List & Map
Tickets go on sale starting in July

Whiskey Sit
Saturday | 1-4PM | Eagle's Rest RV Park | $100
Only 50 tickets sold

Date: July 30, 2025 - August 3, 2025

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