Mat-Su Valley Blog

Talkeetna is the place to be from January 31 through February 8, as the fifth annual Talkeetna Ice Festival includes a packed schedule of fun events. All the festivities are organized by the Denali Arts Council. An ice carving competition begins on Saturday, January 31 in the Village Park, for...

Communities across the United States have participated in Audubon's Christmas Bird Count for over a century. Wherever your travels take you during the holidays, there's likely a Christmas Bird Count you can participate in. This holds true in The Mat-Su. Conducted by the local Mat-Su Birders club,...

There is simply no better way to get into the holiday spirit than a visit to Colony Christmas in downtown Palmer. People in that community come together to make it one of the most memorable weekends on the calendar. From a parade of lights and fireworks to outdoor events and Santa Claus, Colony...

The Su Dog 300 Sled Dog Race is proud to announce the Start Line Party for the inaugural race on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Twenty dog teams will start at 2 p.m. at the Willow Community Center and travel 300 miles across the Susitna Valley. All are welcome to join organizers at the starting line...

This weekend, a uniquely Alaskan event takes place in downtown Talkeetna, as the famous Wilderness Woman competition and Talkeetna Bachelor Society Auction take place. This is part of the community's annual Talkeetna Winterfest. The festivities begin on Friday, Dec. 5, with a Christmas Tree...

One of the Valley's top Christmas traditions is back for another year, as the Bright Up the Night light display will open at the Alaska State Fair on Thanksgiving. The Bright Up the Night event at the fair consists of more than 70 holiday light displays across the fairgrounds. It's the largest...

Hey neighbors! If you haven’t checked the forecast yet — tonight’s aurora activity looks incredible! We’re talking KP levels through the roof and clear skies across much of The Mat-Su. So, before the night sky bursts into green and purple glory, I wanted to share my top ten tips for making the most...

At this time of year, we often get asked, "Is Hatcher Pass open, even though there's not much snow in Wasilla?" The answer is YES! And to be honest, it's a great time to visit one of Alaska's most scenic places. Hatcher Pass remains open year-round, although with a few caveats. The road that leads...

Every year ski enthusiasts purchase their season passes to the Skeetawk downhill ski area. It's that much fun! One of Skeetawk's challenges, as with any resort, has been occasional insufficient snow conditions. Even in a region like The Mat-Su, where great snow is a defining feature, sometimes a...

Happy Alaska Day! October 18 marks the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States. And it was a pretty good deal, too - just $7.2 million. The sale price was approximately 2 cents an acre and enlarged the United States by 586,000 square miles. Alaska was originally a...