Mat-Su Valley Blog

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...

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, more than half of...

This week, there's been a light dusting of snow in Hatcher Pass, but there is still time to enjoy a tour of the mine and try your luck at panning for gold. The road over the pass that connects Independence Mine to Willow was closed earlier this week by Alaska State Parks for the winter due to...

The second weekend of the 2022 Alaska State Fair kicks off Wednesday and runs through Monday, with all of your fair favorites waiting for you! The fair is not open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but for the second year in a row spans three weekends instead of the traditional 12-day run in the past....

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...

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., kids games will be taking place in the...

Every Friday throughout the summer, the Talkeetna Village Park 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 Sept. 2, with new bands playing every Friday...

Photo courtesy of Sooner Country Photography Some of the top professional bull riders in the country are coming to Palmer this Memorial Day weekend as part of a jam-packed lineup of rodeo events on the Alaska State Fairgrounds. The PRCA is back with the Xtreme Bulls tour, with some of the country's...

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Alaska State Parks, a special event is being planned for families at Independence Mine State Historical Park on Saturday, September 5. The Families to Parks program is designed to get families into state parks to enjoy the outdoors, learn about the...

For most visitors to Alaska, getting a glimpse of Denali is an amazing experience. For the most adventurous, climbing the 20,310-foot mountain is the reason they visit. But no matter if you are just stopping in Talkeetna for the afternoon or gearing up for an expedition into the Alaska Range, a stop...