Category - Family friendly

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...
Every year, more and more visitors are choosing to come to Alaska's Mat-Su Valley 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...

Alaska State Fair

August 27, 2024 by Casey Ressler
We're keeping this blog updated every week so you can see what's going on at the 2024 Alaska State Fair! Here are the concerts happening this weekend at (7pm at the Borealis Theatre). Kolohe Kai - Thursday, Aug. 29 Theory of a Deadman - Friday Aug. 30 Whiskey Myers - Saturday, Aug. 31 Oliver...
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...
In 1984 President Reagan declared July to be National Ice Cream Month. He even went a step further and designated the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day. Sounds like a "sweet" idea to me! If you're a huge ice cream fan, you probably already have this holiday on your radar. If you're an...
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...

Live at 5

May 30, 2024 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 August 30, with new bands playing every Friday at 5 p.m. The...
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...

Bright Up The Night

November 14, 2023 by Casey Ressler
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...

Willow Winter Carnival

February 14, 2023 by Casey Ressler
The 61st annual Willow State Winter Carnival kicks off this weekend, with a jam-packed schedule of events celebrating the season. Traditionally, the Willow State Winter Carnival spans two weekends, and that's the case again in 2023. Events run Feb. 17-19 and then again on Feb. 24-26. On Friday, the...