Sun Never Sets on the Fun: 3rd Hour of TODAY Throws an Epic Summer Solstice Bash in Alaska

3rd Hour of TODAY Celebrates Summer Solstice in Anchorage

What happens when you take the TODAY show 3,000 miles from the hustle of New York City to the breathtaking wilds of Alaska? You get the ultimate celebration of the summer solstice—where the sun barely dips below the horizon, the cocktails are as colorful as the scenery, and a sense of adventure fills the midnight air.

From Skyscrapers to Snow-Capped Peaks

The 3rd Hour team kicked things off with a bang—literally—arriving in Anchorage, the “Land of the Midnight Sun,” after a nonstop flight and a drone flyover to capture the jaw-dropping landscape. Standing more than 2,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by seven glaciers, the hosts couldn’t help but marvel at the city’s unique beauty. With 300,000 residents, Anchorage isn’t just Alaska’s biggest city—it’s one of the most diverse in America, with over 112 languages spoken in local schools.

Living the Longest Day

Anchorage celebrates the summer solstice with up to 22 hours of daylight, and the hosts were ready to soak up every minute. Ever the science whiz, Dylan Dreyer took the opportunity to explain the phenomenon with—you guessed it—local props: Al Roker as the sun, a puppet salmon as the Earth, and a whole lot of laughs. “This seems very fishy,” Al quipped, as the demonstration showed how the Earth’s tilt keeps Alaska bathed in sunlight nearly all day and night. At 2 a.m., it’s only a little bit darker—then the sun comes right back!

Cheers to the Midnight Sun

No celebration is complete without a toast, and the team sampled the Aurora Gimlet, a dazzling local cocktail made with Alaskan-grown grain and butterfly tea petals. “The presentation is absolutely beautiful,” they raved, raising their glasses to the endless day and the local bartenders who made it all possible.

Honoring Alaska’s First People

The celebration took a meaningful turn as the hosts welcomed Aaron, President of the Native Village of Anchorage, who greeted them in his indigenous language and shared a message of welcome and respect for the land’s original inhabitants. It was a powerful reminder that Anchorage’s story stretches back thousands of years.

A Sweet Surprise from a Hometown Star

The festivities didn’t stop there. Alaska’s own Jewel sent a heartfelt video message and a care package of wild fire Alaskan honey from her hometown of Homer. “I hope you get out in that big, beautiful nature,” she encouraged, sending her love and a taste of home.

The Takeaway

From science lessons with salmon puppets to sipping craft cocktails under the midnight sun, the 3rd Hour of TODAY brought viewers a front-row seat to one of the world’s most magical natural events. With gratitude to the people of Anchorage—past and present—the team proved that even 3,000 miles from Studio 1A, the spirit of TODAY shines as bright as the Alaskan sun.