07/31/2025
In the Golden Heart City of Fairbanks, 8 Star Events Center is redefining what it means to host world-class events in Alaska. Founded less than a year ago by longtime Alaskan and event/AV expert Jon Huff, 8 Star is already making waves with high-capacity hosting, innovative service, and deep community roots.
“I was the AV nerd,” Jon recalls with a smile. “I got into theater as a freshman and started playing around with sound gear at church. I didn’t know what I was doing, but it made my brain light up.” That early curiosity led to a full-blown career in event production and live entertainment — from hip-hop shows and film shoots to large-scale luncheons and military banquets.
8 Star Events Center now features 11 unique spaces, a full catering operation, and the ability to serve up to 900 seated guests — or 10,000 people outdoors once their 11-acre expansion is complete. “We’ve done about 14,000 meals in under a year,” Jon says. “We serve 15-550 people in about 18 minutes — no trays clanking, no food spilling.” And they’re just getting started.
Behind the scenes, GCI technology keeps everything connected. “I have three businesses under my roof, and I need to stay connected whether I’m on vacation, at a trade show, or across town,” Jon explains. From cloud-based booking platforms to digital room layout software, 8 Star runs on strong, high-speed internet. “There are some events where I’ve got three Zoom calls going, I’m streaming to Facebook, YouTube, and a private site — there’s so much stuff happening that we have to have the bandwidth.”
But it’s the personal support that really stands out. “If something breaks down, even at 11 p.m. on a Sunday, I know I can call our GCI rep Josh and we’ll be back up by the morning.” Josh sums it up best: “We’re not a community center — but we’re a building for our community.” And in Fairbanks, that’s exactly what people have been waiting for.