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2026 Alaska Homestead

EXPO & Marketplace

Your favorite homestead event just got bigger! Join us for an extended weekend of hands-on learning and inspiration.

The 3rd Annual Alaska Homestead Expo & Marketplace brings together Alaskans who want to garden, raise animals, learn traditional skills, live more sustainably, and build practical skills for their families and homesteads.

Our keynote speakers are nationally recognized educators Josh & Carolyn Thomas of Homesteading Family. From special guests, dozens of Alaskan instructors sharing their local wisdom, engaging workshops, community gatherings, onsite food trucks and a curated homestead marketplace, you won't want to miss this long Memorial Day weekend event.

May 22-25, 2026

Big Lake Lions Club, Big Lake, AK

THE 3RD ANNUAL ALASKA HOMESTEAD EXPO & MARKETPLACE

Mark your calendars and grab your tickets early for the best pricing!

We're doing Memorial Weekend up BIG at the 2026 Alaska Homestead Expo & Marketplace & you will not want to miss it! Whether you’re brand new to homesteading or deep into off-grid living, you’ll leave with practical skills you can use immediately.

This isn’t just a conference. It’s an immersive homestead experience.

✔ Learn directly from experienced homesteaders

✔ Choose from 50+ workshops: attend as many as you want

✔ Shop the Homestead Marketplace

✔ Connect with like-minded Alaskans (with quiet spaces available, too)

✔ One ticket covers all 4 days

*subject to change*

Schedule

MARKETPLACE: Friday & Saturday Only

  • Friday: Open from 9am- 5:30pm.
  • Saturday: Open 9am- 4pm.
  • Expo ticket holders get free access to the marketplace. For those without a weekend expo ticket, marketplace only tickets are $5 and give access to the entire vendor hall plus the food vendors. 

FRIDAY EXPO:

  • From 9am- 5:30pm: 30 total class offerings across 5 learning spaces. 
  • From 9am- 5:30pm: Whole Cow Slaughter & Butchery in the AK Butcher Supply Tent.

SATURDAY EXPO:

  • From 9am- 4pm: 25 total class offerings across 5 learning spaces. 
  • From 9am- 4pm: Whole Cow Butchery continued in the AK Butcher Supply Tent.
  • Lady Homesteaders of AK VIP Lunch (Free for all members of Lady Homesteaders of AK)
  • 7pm Keynote from Josh & Carolyn Thomas with Dulcimer intro
    • "The Seasoned Homestead: Why Families Thrive when They Live by the Calendar, Not the Clock"

SUNDAY EXPO:

  • From 10am- Noon: Church Service from David Stelzer
  • Noon: Lunch & Ice Cream Social
  • Afternoon: Keynote from Josh & Carolyn Thomas
    • "Slow, Steady, and Strong: Building a Life That Outlasts the Noise"
  • From 3pm- 5:30pm: One Hour long Roundtable Discussions on 6 Topics
    • Q&A 
    • The Sustainable Small Scale Homestead
    • YouTube Influencers
    • Livestock
    • Food Preservation
    • Making $ on the Homestead

MONDAY EXPO:

  • From 9am- 4pm: 30 total class offerings across 6 learning spaces. 
  • From 9am- 4pm: Viking Iron Works Forging Demonstrations in the AK Butcher Supply Tent.
New for 2026

FAMILY PROGRAM

New for 2026: Family Pass & Family Program

For $300, your entire family receives full weekend access to the Expo. That's up to $210 in savings depending on your family size! 

The Family Pass includes:
• Admission for 2 adults
• Admission for up to 6 children under 18
• Access to all workshops and demonstrations
• Entry to the vendor marketplace
• Time for your whole crew to enjoy our dedicated family learning program

We are also offering a robust family program with a designated family learning tent, creating opportunities for kids and adults to learn together in an engaging, hands-on environment. Please note that children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult in both family programming activities and expo classes/demonstrations. 

Sponsored by:

Azure Logo
Common Ground Alaska
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GPP new logo (1) TRANS_ Lined
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2026 Speaker & Class Info

VISITING EXPERTS

Josh and Carolyn Thomas <br> Homesteading Family

Josh and Carolyn Thomas
Homesteading Family

Jeff Mattocks <br> Fertrell

Jeff Mattocks
Fertrell

"Doc Tom" Roskos <br> Flowing River Farm

"Doc Tom" Roskos
Flowing River Farm

Dr. Jed Adamson <br> Holistic Health & Wellness Center

Dr. Jed Adamson
Holistic Health & Wellness Center

David Stelzer <br> Azure Standard

David Stelzer
Azure Standard

Dr. Patrick Jones <br> HomeGrown Herbalist

Dr. Patrick Jones
HomeGrown Herbalist

Lucianne Walker <br> HomeGrown Herbalist

Lucianne Walker
HomeGrown Herbalist

Alaska-Based Experts

Allie Barker <br> Chugach Farm

Allie Barker
Chugach Farm

Nathan Conant and Tim Huffman <br> Midnight Sun Bee Club & Rigeneration Nutrition

Nathan Conant and Tim Huffman
Midnight Sun Bee Club & Rigeneration Nutrition

John Sylvester <br> Alaska Garden & Pet

John Sylvester
Alaska Garden & Pet

Ellen VandeVisse <br> Good Earth Garden School

Ellen VandeVisse
Good Earth Garden School

Margaret Loew <br> Wholly Living

Margaret Loew
Wholly Living

Andrea Briggs <br> Wild Moose Company

Andrea Briggs
Wild Moose Company

Suzy Crosby <br> Cottonwood Creek Farm

Suzy Crosby
Cottonwood Creek Farm

Jenna Smith <br>

Jenna Smith

MORE DETAILS: 

We’ve designed the Alaska Homestead Expo to be flexible, practical, and easy to navigate, so you can build the weekend that works for you.

Come and Go as You Please

Your Expo ticket gives you access for the full weekend (May 22–25). You’re welcome to arrive and leave as needed, stay all day or pop in for a few favorite sessions. There are no required tracks and no mandatory sessions. This is your weekend to design.

No Class Reservations Required

All workshops and demonstrations are first come, first served no pre-registration needed. Don't worry, there is plenty of space in each! However, if a session does fills, you can easily head to another tent or classroom, we have multiple learning spaces running simultaneously & many repeat classes!

✔ Attend as many classes as you’d like.

✔ Move between learning spaces freely.

✔ Choose topics that fit your interests and experience level.

30-Minute Breaks Between Sessions

Each class is followed by a 30-minute transition break so you have time to:

✔ Visit the vendor marketplace

✔ Grab food or coffee

✔ Visit the AK Butcher Supply Tent for that day's live demonstration

✔ Connect with instructors

✔ Move to your next session

✔ Take a breather

Five Learning Spaces + Live Demonstrations

Throughout the weekend, sessions run in:

✔ The Main Stage

✔ Upstairs Classroom

✔ Three Learning Tents

✔ A dedicated Family Learning Tent

✔ The AK Butcher Supply Tent

Shop the Marketplace Anytime

The vendor marketplace is open during designated hours and you’re free to move in and out as you’d like. Browse local vendors, connect with small businesses, and shop tools, resources, and handmade goods that support your homestead goals.

Convenient Location

Big Lake Lions Club
Big Lake, AK

2942 S Lions Ct
Big Lake, AK 99652

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