Mat-Su Valley Blog

The world's longest snowmobile race officially kicks off next week in Big Lake, as the Iron Dog roars to a start. Pro Class racers hit the trail starting on Saturday, Feb. 14, followed by the Expedition Class. Pro Class racers will line up at the starting chute and depart in 2-minute intervals, with...

The 64th annual Willow State Winter Carnival kicks off this weekend, with a jam-packed schedule of events celebrating the season. Known as the dog mushing capital of the world, Willow is a great weekend destination in The Mat-Su where visitors can take dog sledding tours and get a taste of the...

Communities across the United States have participated in Audubon's Christmas Bird Count for over a century. Wherever your travels take you during the holidays, there's likely a Christmas Bird Count you can participate in. This holds true in The Mat-Su. Conducted by the local Mat-Su Birders club,...

There is simply no better way to get into the holiday spirit than a visit to Colony Christmas in downtown Palmer. People in that community come 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 weekend, a uniquely Alaskan event takes place in downtown Talkeetna, as the famous Wilderness Woman competition and Talkeetna Bachelor Society Auction take place. This is part of the community's annual Talkeetna Winterfest. The festivities begin on Friday, Dec. 5, with a Christmas Tree...

One of the Valley's top Christmas traditions is back for another year, as the Bright Up the Night light display will open at the Alaska State Fair on Thanksgiving. The Bright Up the Night event at the fair consists of more than 70 holiday light displays across the fairgrounds. It's the largest...

At this time of year, we often get asked, "Is Hatcher Pass open, even though there's not much snow in Wasilla?" The answer is YES! And to be honest, it's a great time to visit one of Alaska's most scenic places. Hatcher Pass remains open year-round, although with a few caveats. The road that leads...

Every year ski enthusiasts purchase their season passes to the Skeetawk downhill ski area. It's that much fun! One of Skeetawk's challenges, as with any resort, has been occasional insufficient snow conditions. Even in a region like The Mat-Su, where great snow is a defining feature, sometimes a...

Every year, more and more visitors are choosing to come to The Mat-Su Alaska after the summer season. I guess the secret's out; this place is absolutely unbelievable during the winter months! You might be wondering what would motivate so many people to brave the shorter days and colder temperatures...

It's just like clockwork. Autumn colors return to The Mat-Su Alaska and the fall bird migration begins. As soon as snows appear in our Glacier View area, massive flocks of snow geese take to the skies and start heading southward. This is just one of many bird species that spend their summers in...