FAIRBANKS, Alaska, Feb. 20,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Iditarod Trail
Sled Dog Race, also known as "The Last Great Race," is now
scheduled to run from Fairbanks to
Nome, moving it closer to its
original historic route. March 3,
2025, marks the fourth time in history that the Iditarod
will restart in Fairbanks. The
Iditarod Trail Committee made the announcement on February 17, 2025, after conditions on some
portions of the trail south of Fairbanks were deemed unpassable. Located in
the center of Alaska, the
Fairbanks region with a population
just under 100,000, is well equipped for hosting the renowned
Iditarod. Pike's Waterfront Lodge on the Chena River will serve as
the headquarters and location for the restart.
Dog mushing, Alaska's official
state sport, has proven a reliable form of transportation for
hundreds of years. This is shown by "The Serum Run" of 1925 where
heroic dogs and mushers became life savers in an incredible race
against time. The Iditarod was inspired by this legendary journey
that began just south of Fairbanks
in the town of Nenana and ended
674 miles later in the small city of Nome which was facing a diphtheria outbreak. A
20-pound cylinder of diphtheria serum traveled via the Alaska
Railroad from Seward to
Nenana, and it was there that the
serum began its grueling trip to Nome with the help of 20 mushers and more than
100 dogs. This epic run was accomplished in only five days when
Gunnar Kaasen and his lead dog Balto arrived in Nome on February 2,
1925.
The Iditarod will bring an added boost of energy and excitement
to Fairbanks' already event-filled
March. With mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine, this time of
year has one-of-a-kind events like the World Ice Art Championships
where more than 50 international ice sculptors turn enormous blocks
of ice into works of art. Travelers journey to the Fairbanks area from all over the world from
August 21 through April 21, also
known as the Aurora Season. Located under the Auroral Oval,
Fairbanks offers a balance of
clear nights and occurrence frequency and activity resulting in an
increased likelihood of seeing the dynamic lights.
In addition to outdoor fun, there are plenty of museums, art
galleries and creative performances to enjoy. Be sure to make the
Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center your first stop in
Fairbanks where can find
information on things to do during your stay.
To learn more about the Iditarod, visit www.iditarod.com. For
more information on Fairbanks,
request a free copy of the Fairbanks Visitors Guide and Winter
Guide by calling 1-800-327-5774 or (907) 456-5774. Order or view
the guides online, get information about the aurora borealis and
see a robust schedule of winter events and activities online at
www.explorefairbanks.com.
About Explore Fairbanks
Explore Fairbanks is a non-profit marketing and
management organization whose mission is to be an economic driver
in the Fairbanks region by
marketing to potential visitors, optimizing the visitor experience,
and advocating for a thriving year-round visitor industry. Explore
Fairbanks markets Fairbanks as a year-round destination by
promoting local events, attractions and activities to independent
travelers, group tour operators, travel agents, meeting planners
and the media as well as by developing public policy and
infrastructure to achieve marketing objectives. Find out more at
explorefairbanks.com.
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SOURCE Explore Fairbanks
