Mat-Su Valley Blog

The 2019 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially gets started Sunday afternoon in Willow, as 52 mushers depart for Nome, 1,100 grueling miles away. This is officially called the Iditarod "Restart" because there is a ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday, March 2. That day does not count in the...

This weekend is the final one for the 2019 Willow Winter Carnival, and it actually gets started later today. The Willow 300 Sled Dog Race begins at 11:30 a.m. on Willow Lake. Hosted by the Willow Dog Mushers Association, it is one of the state's premier middle-distance races and attracts a very...

The 58th Willow Winter Carnival gets under way this weekend, featuring a full three days of fun. The carnival continues next weekend as well, with most events taking place at the Willow Winter Carnival. The carnival gets started with a bang, quite literally. On Friday, there is a fireworks display...

The Nancy Lakes State Recreation Area is one of the crown jewels of the Alaska State Parks system and offers visitors a multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities, from canoeing and kayaking to fishing, birding, wildlife viewing and hiking. The area is located off the Parks Highway (Hwy. 3) near...

After a one-year hiatus, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially returns to Willow for the start this Sunday. Mushers will leave the starting line at 2 p.m., in two-minute intervals. For the mushers, this is the start of a 1,100-mile journey to Nome, with their teams of 16 huskies. This is the...

The Willow State Winter Carnival kicks off this weekend and continues again next weekend, with a packed schedule of events. The carnival is now in its 57th year and is a highlight on the winter calendar. The carnival kicks off with a literal bang on Friday night, as Gorilla Fireworks is putting on a...

This weekend, the 56th annual Willow Winter Carnival kicks off in the small Parks Highway community, beginning two consecutive weekends that feature quintessential Alaska events.This year's theme is "Year of the Fireweed." On Saturday, the Earl Norris Sled Dog Race kicks off the carnival in style....

Even though temperatures are hovering in the upper 70s, you can still have a dog mushing experience during your 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. The Iditarod Trail Headquarters is...