Events calendar.

• Position: Calendar

ANCHORAGE

2 Iditarod Start

Known as "The Last Great Race on Earth," the Iditarod has 68 teams entered this year for Iditarod 41. Ceremonial race start and Idita-Ride begins at 10 a.m., downtown, iditarod.com

5 Anchorage Youth Symphony Winter Concert

Currently under the direction of Linn Weeda, each concert features the Anchorage Youth Philharmonic with debut conductor William Waag. The 150 members of the Alaska Youth Orchestras come from throughout southcentral Alaska. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m. myalaskacenter.com

9 Avi Avital

This Grammy nominated mandolinist is one of the world's most exciting and entrepreneurial young musicians with a deep commitment to building a fresh legacy for the mandolin through virtuosic performances and exciting new repertoire. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. myalaskacenter.com

12 Arctic Entries

In the spirit of "This American Life," "The Moth," and other urban storytelling events, Arctic Entries brings Alaskans to the stage to share their personal stories; at each performance, seven people each tell a seven-minute long, true story relating to the show's theme. This month the theme is: "Do It Yourself: Stories of Homemade Concoctions, Solo Journeys, and Taking Matters Into Your Own Hands." Snow Goose Theatre, 7:30 p.m. arcticentries.com

23 Raven's Ball

This black tie affair benefits the Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation. It is hosted by celebrity guests and features dinner, auction opportunities and award recognition for the foundation's partners. Hotel Captain Cook, 7 p.m. inspiringgoodhealth.org

3/29-4/21 Dead Man's Cell Phone

This comedy is a poetic fantasy about our need to connect in our technologically obsessed world and a surrealistic fantasy that happens to be populated by eccentrically real people. Cyrano's Theatre Co., various times, cyranos.org

CHATANIKA

16 Chatanika Days

The gold mining community of Chatanika, 30 miles north of Fairbanks, celebrates winter with outhouse races and a snowmobile tug-of-water. Chatanika, daylong. For more information contact 907-389-2164.

FAIRBANKS

15 Ladysmith Black Mombazo

The voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo marry the rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions with the sounds and sentiments of gospel music. Lathrop High School, 8 p.m. fairbanksconcert.org

22 BeauSoleil

This 11-time Grammy nominee group mixes Cajun, zydeco, country, blues, bluegrass, Tex-Mex and Afro-Caribbean sound. Lathrop High School, 8...