Entry No. 32 — the Anchorage file — filed under: witchy
Whisperwood Witchery
A small-batch witchcraft and metaphysical-supplies maker that sells handcrafted magical tools as a pop-up vendor, most reliably at the Girdwood Forest Fair each July. A genuinely hidden corner of Alaska's pagan scene.
The story
You won't find Whisperwood Witchery listed on a commercial strip or glowing under strip-mall neon. In a state where dedicated metaphysical supply shops are few and far between, this small-batch maker operates without a permanent brick-and-mortar storefront. Instead, they handcraft one-of-a-kind occult accoutrements—witches bells, ritual fire logs, crystal-infused intention candles, anointing oils, and ethically sourced herbal salves—that surface only at select Alaskan summer pop-ups. You didn't hear it from us, but if you want to tap into Turnagain Arm's quiet pagan scene, you have to track their social feed or hunt down their booth hidden beneath the forest canopy.
Their primary annual sanctuary is the Girdwood Forest Fair, a legendarily non-commercial gathering tucked into a coastal rainforest park at Mile 2.2 of the Alyeska Highway. Since its 1975 founding, the fair has operated under three strict, non-negotiable rules: no dogs, no politics, and no religious orders. That anti-dogmatic clearing in the woods makes it the ideal refuge for small-batch magical makers. Outside of July's forest rendezvous, you can catch the maker drifting through other Anchorage-area summer circuits like the Spenard Farmers Market, the Three Barons Renaissance Fair, or Eagle River's Bear Paw Festival.
What it's like
Expect to trek into a damp, mossy grove of hemlock and coastal spruce about an hour south of Anchorage. Because general parking at the Mile 2.2 fairgrounds is strictly reserved for vendors, park your car at the Alyeska Resort Daylodge and hop on the free Glacier Valley Transit shuttle into the grounds. Wear waterproof boots—the rainforest soil gets slick and muddy fast—and look for the booth draped in hand-bound dreamcatchers, witch bells, and organic bath salts. If you miss fair weekend, keep tabs on their Instagram feed (@whisperwoodwitchery), which serves as their official schedule of record for pop-up market dates.
The move: Make the July 3-5 Girdwood Forest Fair your day trip, find the Whisperwood booth to pick out a handmade altar tool together, then browse the rest of the fair's oddball vendors.
📍 Before you go There is no storefront — Whisperwood is a pop-up booth, most reliably found at the Girdwood Forest Fair, held annually over the Fourth of July weekend at the wooded community-park fairgrounds at Mile 2.2 of the Alyeska Highway, about an hour south of Anchorage along Turnagain Arm. General parking at the fairgrounds is for vendors only, so leave the car at the Alyeska Daylodge and ride the free Glacier Valley Transit shuttle in. The fair has standing rules — no dogs, no politics, no religious orders — and Girdwood sits in coastal rainforest, so waterproof shoes are wise. Outside fair weekend the maker circuits other Anchorage-area summer markets (Spenard Farmers Market, the Three Barons Renaissance Fair, Eagle River's Bear Paw Festival); their Instagram is the schedule of record.
- 📍 Girdwood (Turnagain Arm)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Girdwood, AK (seasonal vendor; Girdwood Forest Fair in July & local markets)
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Old Portage Townsite — Drive ten miles south down Turnagain Arm after the fair to explore the mudflat ruins of Portage, completely submerged during the 1964 Good Friday earthquake.
- Glen Alps / Flattop Mountain Dark-Sky Overlook — Head 20 miles north to the foot of Flattop Mountain in Chugach State Park for panoramic city views and dark-sky stargazing away from Anchorage's glow.
- Gravity Hill — Take a quick detour to Upper Huffman Road on your return trip north to put your car in neutral and experience a roadside optical illusion.
Good to know
Is there a physical storefront where I can buy tools year-round?
No. Whisperwood Witchery has no permanent storefront and operates exclusively as a pop-up vendor at local Alaskan summer markets and fairs.
Where is the best place to find their pop-up booth?
Their most reliable venue is the annual Girdwood Forest Fair, held over the Fourth of July weekend at the community park fairgrounds at Mile 2.2 of the Alyeska Highway.
How do I get to the Girdwood Forest Fair without parking issues?
Park at the Alyeska Resort Daylodge and ride the free Glacier Valley Transit shuttle to the fairgrounds, as general parking at the site is vendor-only.
Where else do they pop up outside of Girdwood?
During the summer season, they circuit Anchorage-area events including the Spenard Farmers Market, the Three Barons Renaissance Fair in June, and Eagle River's Bear Paw Festival in July.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Instagram · Facebook · girdwoodforestfair.com
last checked: 2026-06-09