Cordova Iceworm Festival Week is observed over a period of eight days ending on the first Saturday of February. In 2026, it falls from January 31 to February 7. This winter celebration in Cordova, Alaska, was designed to boost community morale during the darkest months of the year. It centers around the “iceworm,” a tiny annelid that lives in glacial ice, which serves as a mascot for the resilience and humor of the residents. 1
Table of Contents
History of Cordova Iceworm Festival Week
The festival was founded in 1961 by a small group of local citizens, including M.K. “Mud Hole” Smith and Ohmer Waer, who wanted to create an event to combat the “winter blues.” At the time, Cordova was a quiet fishing village with little activity during the colder months. The founders decided to use the real-life ice worm, a creature discovered in the 1800s on the Muir Glacier, as a unique and quirky symbol for the town’s first major winter festival.
The highlight of the inaugural event was a 150-foot-long ice worm float made from hula hoops and white sheets, which undulated down Main Street like a Chinese dragon. This tradition was an immediate success and even won first prize at the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous parade shortly after. Over the decades, the festival has expanded from a two-day affair into a week-long celebration featuring a variety of community-led competitions, ranging from survival suit races to beauty pageants.
Why is Cordova Iceworm Festival Week important?
This week provides a vital social and economic boost to Cordova during the off-season for the commercial fishing industry. By organizing a wide array of activities, the festival encourages residents to leave their homes and interact with neighbors, strengthening the social fabric of the remote coastal town. It transforms the challenges of the Alaskan winter into a source of entertainment, proving that community spirit can thrive even in a harsh environment.
The festival also serves as a platform for local organizations and schools to raise funds through food booths and specialized contests. Beyond the local impact, the event draws visitors from across the state and the world, putting a spotlight on Cordova’s unique culture and the surrounding glacial landscape. The celebration of the ice worm itself highlights a fascinating biological anomaly, reminding participants of the diverse and hardy life forms that inhabit the nearby glaciers.
- The event celebrates the return of longer days and sunlight.
- It supports local businesses during the quietest economic period.
- The festival provides a venue for showing off local artistic talent.
- It preserves unique Alaskan traditions like the beard-growing contest.
- Group activities help reduce the seasonal isolation often felt in rural areas.
How to Celebrate Cordova Iceworm Festival Week
The primary way to celebrate is by attending the Iceworm Parade on the final Saturday, where the giant mascot makes its appearance. You can participate in the “Tail Hunt,” a city-wide scavenger hunt where participants follow daily radio clues to find a hidden iceworm tail for a cash prize. Many locals and visitors also sign up for the Survival Suit Race, an event where teams compete to don heavy immersion suits and jump into the freezing waters of the harbor to swim toward a target.
Food plays a major role in the festivities, with many residents attending the sourdough pancake breakfast or competing in the “shuck and suck” oyster contest. If you enjoy sports, you can watch or join the volleyball and basketball tournaments held throughout the week at the local recreation centers. For those who prefer the arts, the variety show and photo exhibition at the Cordova Center provide a creative way to engage with the festival’s annual theme.
- Join the crowd on Main Street to see the 150-foot iceworm float.
- Listen for radio clues to participate in the annual tail hunt.
- Watch the survival suit races at the South Harbor docks.
- Visit the Iceworm Bazaar to buy locally made crafts and pins.
- Enjoy a traditional reindeer sausage and pancake breakfast.
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss a holiday again!