Mat-Su Valley Blog

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...

Downtown Wasilla is the place to be this Fourth of July, as it promises to be a sea of red, white and blue as the annual parade floats wind their way through the town. It's one of the largest parades you'll see each year, and there's plenty of fun to be had. The parade begins at 11 a.m. sharp and...

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...

Palmer's popular outdoor market, Friday Fling, returns every spring and continues through August in the downtown area. Each Friday, the downtown area turns into a makeshift farmer's market, food court and music venue, as Friday Fling takes shape. The market typically runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m....

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...

One of the surest signs that summer is finally here is the announcement that Settlers Bay Golf Course and Palmer Golf Course are both open for play. Settlers Bay Golf Course, 10 miles north of Wasilla, boasts "Alaska's best putting greens" and opens play on April 26. There are no temporary greens,...

There is simply no better way to get into the holiday spirit than a visit to Colony Christmas in downtown Palmer. The entire community comes together to make it one of the most memorable weekends on the calendar. From a parade of lights and fireworks to outdoor events and Santa Claus, Colony...

This Thanksgiving, ditch Black Friday and opt for Small Business Saturday, a national movement to support small businesses by holiday shoppers. Not only can you get your holiday shopping done, you're helping support friends and neighbors. Small Business Saturday is part of a national "Shop Small"...

At this time of year, the lovable cloven-hoofed residents of the Valley's own Musk Ox Farm in Palmer have already reestablished their full coats in preparation for the colder months ahead. Now that the Musk Ox Farm is open year round, you can visit this iconic place and see these animals in their...

This weekend is the final one for the 2023 Alaska State Fair, and even though it's going to be a little wet and blustery, it's time to head to Palmer for a weekend of fun! Headliner concerts for the final weekend include J. Boog on Thursday, Killswitch Engage on Friday, The String Cheese Incident on...