Petersburg Home to Octoberfest Artshare.

• Author: PILKINGTON, STEVE
• Position: Brief Article

This small fishing community turns to the arts every October.

Firmly situated just below Frederick Sound on Alaska's Inside Passage sits a treasure of productive commercial fishing grounds, often surrounded by the breaching flukes of a large and unique collection of humpback whales.

While the vitality of fishing in Petersburg is to be envied, and the marine studies and pursuits have brought in biologists from far away to study whales and other marine life in its waters, there is a surprising boon of local artisans and craftspeople who have made this coastal town their home, and for good reason.

If you've never been to Petersburg, you're missing a flavorful part of the Alaska experience. Although October is not a typical time for tourism, the annual Octoberfest and its accompanying events give visitors a great opportunity to get to know this little Norwegian town.

The Octoberfest celebration offers musical concerts, plays, food, gallery walks and the usual fare for a month; But a special part of the festival is the Octoberfest Artshare, which takes place on Oct. 27 from 10 am. to 5 p.m. at the Petersburg Community Gym. The event is sponsored by the Muskeg Maliers.

"It's a great day for everyone to come," said Jean Curry, coordinator for the Artshare event. "We normally have about 60 different artisans. It has all kinds of mediums, from the simplest to some fine art. We have a lot of cards, stained glass, quilts, floral decorations, ceramics, wreaths, candles and soap.

Petersburg's history and culture is evident in the local artwork. Norwegian fisherman and their families settled the town in the 1890s. There is an annual Little Norway Festival in May and the Julebukking tradition each Christmas time when local businesses offer customers food and spirits in appreciation for their business that year. The Sons of Norway Hall, built in 1912, is an active and prominent landmark in Petersburg.

The town was incorporated in 1910. The...