Connecting People to Denali
Every summer Denali Education Center hosts fundraisers for our surrounding communities. Each is designed to bring our community together to celebrate our differences and have a blast in the process. All fundraisers support the programs and mission of Denali Education Center.
Annual Fundraising Events
Talkeetna Brewfest
Sample beers from across the state during this fun-filled, community-focused weekend! All proceeds from Brewfest benefit Talkeetna programming endeavors.
The Talkeetna Brewfest will take place in the yard of our Talkeetna Campus. The Susitna Hall will be open for perusing…and bathrooms, of course! Besides tasting many unique brews from across our state, learn more about the Denali Education Center, our programs, mission, and hopes for the future. Funds raised benefit the many educational programs that DEC provides. A portion of the funds supports the Brewers Guild of Alaska, a non-profit trade association that promotes craft beer throughout Alaska!
Many thanks to the Denali Brewing Company for helping to plan and execute this event; it would not exist without their expertise, graphic design, ideas, troubleshooting, and dedication to promoting craft beer in our community and beyond! Thank you!
Healy Tundra Challenge Golf Tournament
Hosted by Black Diamond Golf Course, 18 teams of four golfers play a 9-hole scramble and compete for amazing prizes.
The Healy Tundra Challenge Golf Tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Scott Menke Memorial Fund. Scott was a young man with a bright future whose brief life touched the hearts of our community. Scott cared deeply for his friends, family and himself showing us that its ok to believe in yourself, push yourself, and not be afraid to find joy in life.
You will not find a golf tournament like this anywhere else in the world! Join us every July at the Black Diamond Golf Course in Healy to cheer on teams, check out the zany costumes, purchase refreshing beverages from the beer cart, and join in on a day of remembrance, camaraderie, and fun!
Tournament registration begins in early June. If you’d like to donate to the Scott Menke Memorial Fund, please contact info@denali.org, or head to our DONATE page.
W.I.L.D. About Denali Brunch
Every year in September, the McKinley Creekside Cafe hosts a fundraising brunch with all restaurant sales, server tips, and employee labor donated to our WILD About Denali program.
Every year in September, the McKinley Creekside Cafe hosts a fundraising brunch with all restaurant sales, server tips, and employee labor donated to our WILD About Denali program.
Most of the donations from the brunch go towards full scholarships for WILD about Denali participants. WILD groups typically camp for a week at Wonder Lake, where campers hike, explore, and learn about the Wonder Lake area in the heart of Denali National Park and Preserve. In addition to funding scholarships, Creekside Cafe provides a lunch for the participants free of charge while they are visiting Denali. We cannot thank them enough for all they do to support this program!!
Visit Mckinley Creekside Lodge and Cafe’s Facebook page for announcements about this and their other incredible events!
Dog Keg Pull
As part of the Denali Arts Council’s “Talkeetna Ice Festival,” the annual Dog Keg Pull puts doggo against doggo in a fun and entertaining afternoon event!
The Talkeetna Arts Festival happens annually in Talkeetna, and is put on by the Denali Arts Council. The festival includes ice carving and sculpting, kid-friendly activities, a scavenger hunt, and much more! As part of the festival, the Dog Keg Pull is a fun way to engage the communities furry friends! Dogs will “compete” and be timed pulling an empty keg through the streets of Talkeetna! Learn more and sign up for the 2024 Dog Keg Pull here!
Denali Arts Council is non-profit founded in 1981, and their mission is to have people of all ages and abilities involved in Alaskan arts. DAC serves the entire Susitna Valley, and is funded by by private, corporate and foundation memberships and donations, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.