Mat-Su Valley Blog

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,...

Talkeetna is the place to be the first weekend in February, as the second-annual Talkeetna Ice Festival includes a packed schedule of fun events. The almost week-long event is sponsored by the Denali Arts Council. The carving begins on Wednesday, Feb. 1 in the Village Park, for novice and expert...

This weekend, a uniquely Alaskan event takes over downtown Talkeetna, as the famous Wilderness Woman competition and Talkeetna Bachelor Society Auction take place. The festivities actually begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, as the motorized parade of lights winds its way through Talkeetna, ushering...

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...

After a long and crazy winter, the weather is starting to turn, the snow is melting and our thoughts are naturally turning to summer adventures. Alaska summers seem to go way too fast, so we are making a checklist to make sure we get out and don't miss a thing this summer! With that in mind, here's...

March is a great month in Alaska - the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. There's no better place to visit in March than Talkeetna for fun events, great views and outdoor recreation. Trio Fatbike World Championships The 2022 Trio Fat Bike race is on! This year's event is set...

After a year with virtual participation, the wildly popular Oosik Classic Ski Race is back to an in-person event in Talkeetna in 2022! The Oosik is hosted by the Denali Nordic Ski Club and is one of the most fun and funky races in Alaska. The course changes every year, but there are three divisions...

Due to a landslide near Pretty Rocks, the Denali Park Road will be closed at Mile 43 of the 92-mile road this summer. While it won't be a usual summer in the park, there are a number of options available for visitors looking for a Denali experience. The Denali Highway connects Paxson and Cantwell...

This year, the famous Oosik Ski Race is going virtual, giving Nordic skiers an opportunity to participate anywhere in the world, with the same fun the Talkeetna race provides every March. Due to the pandemic, this year's race won't be held in person in Talkeetna. But that doesn't mean the spirit of...

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...