Can't wait for the Alaska State Fair? No worries, the first-ever Mat-Su Summer Festival kicks off this weekend at Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer.

The event is being hosted by Mat-Su Events, who puts on shows around the Valley including the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show and, last year, a Mat-Su Fall Festival that took place when the Alaska State Fair was cancelled. The Summer Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, June 25-27, at Alaska Raceway Park and features live music, vendors, food trucks, carnival rides and even camping.

The festival is open noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $7 per day or $15 for the entire weekend.

The Summer Festival is a family-friendly event that features many of your favorite vendors from similar events like the Alaska State Fair and Friday Flings. There will also be a full complement of food trucks from around Alaska throughout the weekend. If you are looking for live music, the festival has a lineup that will keep you dancing for three days - concerts take place on the oval racetrack's infield area and features a beer garden. The lineup includes:

Friday - Cole Hard Country Band (5-6:30 p.m.), H3 (7-10 p.m.). Saturday - Simple Sounds (10:45-11:45 a.m.), JUNOSmile (Noon to 2 p.m.), Tripwire (2:30-4 p.m.), Past Our Prime (4:30-6 p.m.), The Connection Alaska (7-10 p.m.). Sunday - Aquafire (Noon-1 p.m.), Tamara and The Mr. Fits (1:30-2:30 p.m.) and Yachtly Crew (3-5 p.m.). All concerts are free with festival admission.

Camping is being offered on the Alaska Raceway Park grounds for $25. For more information about the festival, or to purchase admission and/or camping fees, visit matsusummerfest.com.