Mat-Su Valley Blog

The 64th annual Willow State Winter Carnival kicks off this weekend, with a jam-packed schedule of events celebrating the season. Known as the dog mushing capital of the world, Willow is a great weekend destination in The Mat-Su where visitors can take dog sledding tours and get a taste of the...

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...

Every year, more and more visitors are choosing to come to The Mat-Su Alaska after the summer season. I guess the secret's out; this place is absolutely unbelievable during the winter months! You might be wondering what would motivate so many people to brave the shorter days and colder temperatures...

We're keeping this blog updated every week so you can see what's going on at the 2025 Alaska State Fair. Here are the concerts happening this weekend at the Alaska State Fair's Borealis Theatre. Sean Paul - Thursday, Aug. 28 Zedd - Friday Aug. 29 Foreigner - Saturday, Aug. 30 Dwight Yoakam -...

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...

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...

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...

Here's an exciting holiday event for everyone from the avid cross-country skier to the casual trail enthusiast! On December 23 from 4-7p.m., the Mat-Su Ski Club is hosting a tour of beautifully decorated trees along the Pioneer Loop trail at the Government Peak Recreation Area. Famous for its world...

Many people don’t think of visiting the Mat-Su Valley in autumn. Peak visitor season for Alaska is June through August, but with less crowds and some beautiful weather still ahead, September feels like a local secret only Alaskans get to enjoy. The change in seasons means the long summer days of...

Even during the summer, you can still have a dog mushing experience during a visit to the Mat-Su Valley. From visiting with Iditarod champions to petting newborn huskies, Iditarod and dog mushing is a year-round event in Alaska. Dog mushing is Alaska's official state sport, but more than that, it's...