Mat-Su Valley Blog

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...

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....

When people tell us about the adventures they'd like to have in Alaska, it's amazing how often they assume the activity is not for them because they've never done it before. That shouldn't make an activity feel unapproachable, though! Remember that ice climbers, white water rafters, backpackers,...

The Oosik is hosted by the Denali Nordic Ski Club and is one of the most fun and funky races in Alaska. The course changes every year, but there are three divisions - 10- 25- and 50-kilometers. While competitive skiers definitely participate every year, it's the recreational skiers that have given...

The 2025 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially starts Monday, March 3 in Fairbanks. Traditionally, mushers depart for Nome from Willow in the Mat-Su Valley every year, but insufficient snow in some sections of that route this year have convinced race officials to relocate the race start. This is...

The world's longest snowmobile race officially kicks off next week in Big Lake, as the Iron Dog roars to a start. Pro Class racers hit the trail starting on Saturday, Feb. 15, followed by the Expedition Class. Pro Class racers will line up at the starting chute and depart in 2-minute intervals, with...

The Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic is back in Big Lake, with more than 150 hockey teams playing February 21-23 for Alaska's largest outdoor hockey event. On the ice near Burkeshore Marina in Big Lake, 20 outdoor rinks will host 10 divisions of four-on-four hockey. The event is hosted by the...

Talkeetna is the place to be from January 25 through February 2, as the fourth-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 25 in the Village Park, for...

The inaugural Su Dog 300 is right around the corner, and organizers are busy marking the trail, preparing for the start line party and recruiting volunteers. The new race begins on January 25 at 2 p.m. at the Willow Community Center with a start line party. The race is a 300-mile Iditarod qualifier...