Temperatures are climbing and the snow is melting, but we're still waiting for ice to clear from the lakes and buds to appear on the trees. Summer is so close we can almost taste it. With their eye fixed on the warmer months ahead, Mat-Su Valley residents are hard at work planning activities and...
This weekend, Colony Days takes over downtown Palmer, and with it, plenty of opportunities to get outside, have fun and celebrate. Colony Days kicks off Friday with several events, including the weekly Friday Flings open air market. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., family activities will be taking place in...

Memorial Day

May 23, 2025 by Casey Ressler
The first long holiday weekend of the summer is finally here, and it's time to get out and explore! While camping and barbecuing is high on the list of things to do for many, there are organized activities taking place around the Valley. For live music, there's plenty to pick from: Ukulele Russ...

Live at 5

May 19, 2025 by Casey Ressler
Every Friday throughout the summer, Talkeetna is the place to be for live music, as the Live at 5 Summer Concert Series takes center stage. Co-sponsored by Denali Arts Council and the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce, Live at 5 runs through the end of August, with new bands playing every Friday at 5...
Backpacking through Alaska is never just about the destination—it’s about getting off the grid, breathing in that vastness, and feeling small in the best way. If you’re eyeing the Mat-Su Valley, you’re in good hands. This guide covers what you need to know: where to go, how to prep, where to get...

Friday Fling

May 8, 2025 by Casey Ressler
Palmer's popular outdoor market, Friday Fling, returns every spring and continues through August in the downtown area. Each Friday, the downtown area turns into a makeshift farmer's market, food court and music venue, as Friday Fling takes shape. The market typically runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m....
When a community hosts tractor pulls, farmers markets, and a Colony Days celebration commemorating its agricultural beginnings, you'd be right to assume that farming is a pretty big deal there. Just in case you still have any doubt, however, the town of Palmer has found a way to put its agricultural...
Independence Mine State Historical Park is nestled in the Talkeetna Mountains, in a breathtakingly beautiful place called Hatcher Pass. Today, visitors and residents can travel the paved road to the historic site and immerse themselves in the bygone gold mining era of the Mat-Su region. Here's a...
Despite having a lot of snow on the ground still, the first sign of spring is this weekend - the annual Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show at the Menard Center. You know that summer can't be too far away once the outdoor show season starts, and the Mat-Su show is the first one up on the calendar this year....
In your conversations about epic Alaska road trips, the Mat-Su is bound to come up. Navigated by three of the state's major highways, this region calls to every road trip adventurer out there. And it doesn't get much better than a trip along the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway. Getting there is...