Our Story

Group of people at an outdoor event, many wearing matching blue shirts with 'Event Flock' printed on them, some wearing hats and accessories, posing for a group photo in front of a crowd at a festival or fair. 
Where It All Began

“I know Chicken… and you are DEFINITELY not from Chicken!”

That outlandish declaration was all it took to hatch what is now lovingly known (and often giggled at) as Chickenstock.

In 2007, festival coordinator Josea Busby was helping at the finish line of the Iditarod in Nome when she stumbled upon a bluegrass band playing in town. Mid-jam, her Chicken credibility was boldly questioned - and just like that, the wheels started turning. Right there in Nome, a festival was born. Because if there’s one thing remote Alaska does best, it’s zany, unexpected magic - and Josea would know.

From Humble Beginnings to Top-of-the-World Tunes

What started small has grown into a high-energy summer celebration of music, community, and a whole lot of fun at the Top of the World. Every June, Chicken’s double-digit population swells to more than 1,000 adventurous, fun-loving music fans who flock in from Alaska, the Yukon, and beyond.

The result? A raucous but family-friendly crowd dancing, singing, hula-hooping, and soaking up the midnight sun all weekend long.

The Music (aka the Whole Point)

Of course, none of this would be much of a festival without the bands. While we love introducing folks to our tiny coop in Alaska’s Interior, we’re just as proud to showcase the incredible musical talent - much of it homegrown - that takes our stage each year. We’re endlessly grateful to the musicians who’ve helped make Chickenstock what it is.

Each year, a dozen-plus bands - bluegrass, country-ish, bluesy, folksy, hard-to-define, and everything in between - perform on two vintage WWII trucks parked ass-to-ass (yes, really). Add in a candy cane colored helicopter flying overhead and dropping 10,078 marshmallow Peeps, and a crowd trying to remember every move to the Chicken Dance, and you’ve got peak Chickenstock.

As intended, Chickenstock isn’t just a music festival - it’s a spotlight on the map-dot town of Chicken and its 17 hardy residents (that’s a whole ten more people than Google claims!).

Flock Life

Chickenstock is powered by a migratory but fiercely loyal crew known as the Event Flock, led by our fearless head hen, Josea, alongside her parents Mike and Lou Busby, and Anthony Sandoval, the hardest-working rooster around.

From rocking tie-dye and referee stripes to keeping the music (and the beer) flowing, this crew does it all. What started as a team of five has grown into 60 dedicated volunteers (and their fledglings) over the past 20 years - and we’re endlessly grateful for every single one of them.

Chicken Gold Camp it's Historical Mining Roots

The mud, sweat, and beers that go into making Chickenstock each year are a nod to the gold miners who first staked their claim in this rugged corner of Alaska. The towering Pedro Dredge, a fixture in Chicken, stands as a reminder of that gritty history.

That same relentless work ethic continues to sustain both the community - and the festival - to this day.