This weekend, spirits will be raised in Talkeetna in celebration of local art, culture, food and drink, as the first Raising Spirits event is hosted by the Denali Arts Council.

The festival features an afternoon of delicious local cocktails and spirits from Denali Brewing Company, Denali Spirits, Ursa Major Distilling, Fairbanks Distilling Company, Midnight Sun Brewing Company, and Anchorage Distillery. Chef Jerome Longo, former owner of the Wildflower Cafe in Talkeetna, will be featuring a palette of artisanal snacks. There will also be live music from local musicians, and an aerialist performance. Among the outdoor spirits garden will be ice luminaries, Nordic candles and toasty fires at the upscale event.

Original pieces from popular Alaska artists will also be part of a silent art auction. The entire afternoon is a fund-raiser for the Denali Arts Council, a local non-profit that creates and nurtures community-based opportunities for artistic expression in the Susitna Valley. The organization regularly hosts musical performances, live theater, community programming and family-friendly events in Talkeetna.

The event takes place from 4-7 p.m. on Feb. 24. For more information, or to purchase tickets, interested people can click HERE.