Mat-Su Valley Blog

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 Alaska's Mat-Su Valley. Conducted by the local Mat-Su...

Here's an exciting holiday event for everyone from the avid cross-country skier to the casual trail enthusiast! On December 23 from 4-7p.m., the Mat-Su Ski Club is hosting a tour of beautifully decorated trees along the Pioneer Loop trail at the Government Peak Recreation Area. Famous for its world...

This weekend, a uniquely Alaskan event takes in downtown Talkeetna, as the famous Wilderness Woman competition and Talkeetna Bachelor Society Auction take place. This is part of thecummunity's annual Talkeetna Winterfest. The festivities begin on Friday, Dec. 6, with a Christmas Tree decorating and...

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 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"...

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...

Happy Alaska Day! October 18 marks the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States. And it was a pretty good deal, too - just $7.2 million. The sale price was approximately 2 cents an acre and enlarged the United States by 586,000 square miles. Alaska was originally a...

A new sled dog race is coming to the Upper Susitna Valley this winter, as the Su Dog 300 makes its debut in January. The race is a 300-mile Iditarod qualifier that organizers say helps fill the void of mid-distance races in the Willow area, a community with strong historical roots in the dog mushing...

It's just like clockwork. As the snow finally reaches the lakes and fields of Mat-Su Valley's 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 Alaska and swing through the Valley on their...