We are actively looking for interested, businesses, groups, and individuals to help activate the block! Reach out or apply for space today for one of the 6 small chalets, or to book your event :)
The Starter Block is Open daily this Summer!
A temporary downtown gathering space for local retail, recreation, events, and community connection.
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Located at 123 Lacey Street, the Starter Block turns an underused downtown block into a flexible public space for small businesses, pop-ups, performances, workshops, family activities, and everyday gathering. Come visit, bring an idea, rent a chalet, host an event, or help shape what happens next.
What is the Starter Block?
A Place to Experiment
What began as a winter experiment in reclaiming downtown space—with skating, sledding, public art, lighting, and gathering during one of Fairbanks' coldest winters in over a century—has evolved into a year-round demonstration of what happens when streets and public spaces are designed for people first.
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The Starter Block is a living prototype: a place to test ideas, support local businesses, and explore how small, temporary changes can create lasting improvements for downtown Fairbanks.
What's Happening Here?
Every season brings something new. Throughout the summer you'll find rotating small businesses, public events, live music, recreation, food, art, markets, and opportunities to simply spend time downtown.
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Whether you're stopping by for lunch, attending an event, renting a chalet, playing a game, or discovering a new local business, no two visits are quite the same.
Help Shape What's Next
The Starter Block isn't a finished project—it's an ongoing community experiment.
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Every event, business, partnership, and visitor helps shape what comes next. We invite you to visit often, share your ideas, host something new, or become part of the growing community that's helping imagine the future of downtown Fairbanks.
Summer Programming
Retail
Small shops, maker markets, food vendors, artist booths, bike rentals, and local pop-ups.
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Recreation
Free and low-cost activities that invite people to linger downtown: lawn games, bikes, family play, seating, shade, music, art, and casual gathering.
Relationships
Community events, workshops, meetups, performances, volunteer days, and programming that helps Fairbanks connect across organizations, neighborhoods, and generations.
Amenities
What You'll Find on Site​
Chalet vendor spaces, flexible pop-up areas, seating, public gathering space, family-friendly activities, bike-friendly access, event space, and rotating community programming.
Amenities will continue to grow through the summer as partners, vendors, volunteers, and community ideas come online.
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Chalet / pop-up Application
Want to Test an Idea Downtown?​​
The Starter Block offers low-barrier space for small businesses, artists, makers, nonprofits, food vendors, recreation providers, and community groups to try something temporary, seasonal, or experimental.
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Apply for a chalet rental, weekend pop-up, market booth, workshop, or community activation.
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Good fits include:
local retail, handmade goods, rentals, demonstrations, youth activities, art, food, music, public workshops, wellness, games, and downtown-serving services.
Survey
Have a idea you cant wait to share?
The Starter Block is intended to evolve through community ideas, partnerships, and experimentation. We want to hear what would make you excited to spend more time downtown — from events and recreation to vendors, amenities, workshops, art, music, and unexpected ideas. Share your thoughts through the community survey and help shape what comes next.
Friends of the Block
Helping build the next iterations of downtown
The Starter Block is made possible through collaboration, creativity, and community support. Friends of the Block includes the businesses, organizations, sponsors, volunteers, and partners helping bring energy, resources, programming, and momentum to downtown Fairbanks. Their support helps keep the space welcoming, active, experimental, and accessible throughout the season.
​Labor | Materials | Both!
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Core Team:
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Festival Fairbanks -Julie Jones
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FAST Planning - Corey DiRutigliano
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Duncan Meyers
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Chris "Uncle Gizmo" Tilly
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Volunteer corps:
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IUOE 302, The Sorum-Ritchie Family, Schemper-Hill Family, Mike Sanders, Faustine Bernadac, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
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​City of Fairbanks Public Works
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Rink building (Roy, Alex, Tim, Malakai, Corey, Vince, Kayla)
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Snow Clearing (Jeremiah Cotter, Silas, Chris, Duncan)
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Chalet Shuffle (Robert, Josh, Craig, James, Byron
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Boardwalk Building (Byron + Tim)
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Hutch High Construction Trades
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(Mr Cross, + students)
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Stew's Electric
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Vertex
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Browns Electric
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Alaska Hose and Fastener
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​(Rob, Jessie, Shawn)
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IABA
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Marja Hallsten
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Kennebec Family
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BuildAK
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Black Gold Transport
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