America’s Most Remote Music Festival — Sacred Acre
Let me introduce you to America’s most remote music festival – Sacred Acre. Far to the North, hidden in Ninilchik, Alaska, lies an intimate gathering of wooks and wonky music. It’s a place where lasers light up the night sky, weird and wonderful music fills the air, and the people invite you to experience a piece of their culture. – And above all else, this festival serves a greater purpose; to preserve the breathtaking beauty of the wilderness of Alaska. But first, we have to get there.
I am based in Phoenix, Arizona, or at least, I was at the time of this festival, so getting to Alaska is a bit of a hike in and of itself. For this trip, I am traveling with my partner, Mady. She was invited to host a workshop as a part of the festival. Our flight took us to Seattle, where we met our connection to Anchorage. We arrived a couple days early to allow for some time to explore.
We stayed the first night in Anchorage to enjoy some time in the city, and then set out for Ninilchik. It would have been a 3hr drive, but we hit a couple stops along the way. With views like these, how could we not?
We stayed the night at a tiny home AirBNB in the small town of Girdwood, where we took in the mountain views and had the comfort of a cute little brewery just a brisk walk away. This provided for a warm meal, cool beers, and good company by the fire.
In the morning we continued on through the fog, following the highway along the coast until we hit our final destination, keeping one eye open for bears and moose. Once we had finally arrived, it was time to set up camp. The organizers had set aside a space for us in the ambassador campground, just across from the festival entrance. Once we had finished setting up, Mady and I took a quick peek inside. It was a quiet night, silent enough to hear the crickets, and dark enough to admire the stars.
Morning came quickly, and the jitters were already setting in. Day One.
Today we’d get to experience what only the dedicated few who’ve made the journey ever have. From what we’d seen before, we were in for a treat.
Sacred Acre takes place at the Arches Amphitheatre campground. It comes complete with two main stages, a farmers market, helicopter and boat rides, and immersive art installs. Between it all you can find fun activities and wellness workshops running all day.
When I mentioned how intimate the festival was, I meant it. This festival caps out at around 5000 attendees, with a healthy mix of around 50:50 locals to out of state attendees. While this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it came like a breath of fresh air to me after having spent my summer hopping from one triple-A festival to the next. There is time and space to meet and connect with so many people at this festival. People aren’t in a hurry, rushing from one stage to the next, and the crowd is the perfect size to strike up a conversation with those around you, where you’re dancing at main stage, or swaying in a nearby hammock.
But don’t get me wrong, once the lights go down, this festival can throw down with the rest of them. The talent scouts musical acts both from Alaska and abroad, leaving plenty of opportunity for discovery of new music. One of my favorites was Phypher. This guy absolutely rips on the electric guitar in the middle of his set, really bringing another element to the production. Oh, and the special effects team? Yeah, they really outdid themselves. Considering the scale of the festival, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they blew any expectations out of the park. Just take one look around during the set and you can see the excitement in everyone's eyes.
The practical effects were out of this world as well. Flow artists were invited to perform on stage, and stilt performers roamed the crowds during sets. Giant light-up puppeteers would appear from time to time, in the form of sea creatures native to Alaska, a reminder of what the festival is all about. And the cherry on top? The fire acts. I have seen plenty of impressive productions in my day, but there isn’t much that I would place above the performance of these talented flaming flow artists. There is just something primal about the way they dance and manipulate the flames that captivates an audience and draws you in…
Some more key info about Sacred Acre.
Weather: Plan for cold nights, and moderately temperate days.
Plan for wind and rain as well. It never got bad, but the weather changes quickly this close to the coast.
Food: If you have any dietary restrictions, plan on making a stop in Anchorage to ensure that you have food for your time at the festival.
They do their best to ensure there are options for everyone, but at better safe than sorry.Unplug: Cell service can be spotty this far out from the rest of the world. Try not to stress. Use it as an opportunity to disconnect and unwind. The worries of the real world will be there when you get back.
Make Connections:
w/ your neighbors! You’ll see the same people dancing with you and at workshops every day.
w/ nature! You are in Alaska baby! Take that helicopter ride, Go on that boat excursion, walk around the woods barefoot, ground your spirit, smell the forest, free your spirit.
w/ yourself! Use this time away from your every day to rediscover your inner self. Set aside time to reflect.
Family Friendly:
Sacred Acre is a family friendly festival, meaning children of all ages are welcome to enjoy themselves with appropriate supervision.
Core Purpose:
Preservation of Alaskan wildlife, both land and sea, and putting a halt to ocean trawling.
Leave no trace:
Like many camping festivals, clean up after yourselves. Pack out whatever you pack in. The campgrounds are right in the heart of Ninilchik, so trash is easy to dispose of appropriately.
Overall Rating ~ 4.5/5
Theme 5/5
For uniqueness, consistent theming throughout, and staying true to its original purpose.
Production 4.5/5
Far surpassed expectations for a boutique festival. Hosts 2-3 stages. Does not rival AAA production such as Tomorrowland/EDC, as to be expected.
Talent 4.5/5
Hosted noteworthy acts such as Jade Cicada, Troyboi, Dirtmonkey, etc. Pleasantly surprising given the remote location and size of the festival.
Community 5/5
This is where the festival truly shines. The ability to connect with others, and the overall welcoming nature of Alaskans at this festival were unmatched.
Accessibility 3.5/5
It took a full day’s travel to reach the venue. Depending on where you travel from, it’s a 3-12hr travel day, plus the 3hr drive from Anchorage. Food restriction considerations were limited, but the venue was very handicap accessible!
Bonus points for Alaska being Alaska. Definitely worth making a trip out of it and taking it all in.
We decided to take the final day of the festival to explore Alaska some more, and adventured further down the coast to Homer, where we found what some would consider the end of the world. And who’d have guessed, it came with its own lighthouse / tavern combo, the Salty Dawg Saloon. Apparently it is tradition to staple a dollar bill to the roof and pick up a hoodie here as proof that you’ve made it to the end of the road.
We did just that.
All in all an outstanding journey. One of the best in our lifetimes. We’ll always hold the Alaskan countryside fond in our hearts and who knows? Maybe one day you will too. Until then, cheers!
