What to do in Mat-Su (Jan. 29-Feb. 1): Carnival, music, saunas & farm show
If you’re looking for a quiet weekend, look elsewhere.
What you need to know:
- The Mat-Su region is packed with weekend events, ranging from lively happenings to low-key fun.
- High-energy options include a Queen singalong in Talkeetna, fireworks in Willow, and the WinterROMP music festival in Palmer.
- Mellow events include the Alaska Farm and Garden Show in Palmer and a sauna-focused wellness event at Meier Lake Resort in Wasilla.
- Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.
If you’re looking for a quiet weekend, look elsewhere. The Mat-Su will be proudly loud this weekend, with everything from a community singalong in Talkeetna to fireworks in Willow to a music festival in Palmer guaranteed to turn up the fun.
Luckily for the low-key crowd, there are also a couple of more relaxed offerings, including a farm and garden show in Palmer and a chilled-out sauna event complete with calming hot cocoa.
From the musical to the mellow, here are our picks for what to do in the Mat-Su this weekend:
Singalong to Queen in Talkeetna
The Sheldon Events Center in Talkeetna will be rockin’ Thursday at 7 p.m. for “We Will Choir You,” a singalong Choir! Choir! Choir! show presented by the Denali Arts Council. The event will feature songs by Queen and group singalongs led by directors Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for youth ages 7 to 17, and free for kids under 7. For more, visit denaliartscouncil.org.
Celebrate winter in Willow
The Willow Winter Carnival is in full swing this weekend. Stop by the Willow Community Center alongside Willow Lake for a 6 p.m. kickoff dinner Friday, followed by fireworks at 7:15 p.m., with a variety of community events planned all day Saturday and Sunday. Highlights Saturday include ski, bike, and skijor racing in the morning; homesteader games at noon; and sled dog racing at 4 p.m. Sunday is all about the sleds, with a variety of snowmachine-themed events planned. Visit waco-ak.org for a complete schedule.
Can you dig it?
Grab your garden overalls! The 2026 Alaska Farm and Garden Show will fill Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds with two days focused on farming in Alaska. There will be vendors, seminars, speeches, and information on everything related to sustainable living in the Last Frontier. Adult admission is $10 and good for both days; kids under 12 get in free. For more information, visit Mat-Su Sentinel's community calendar.
Catch a show at the Depot
The first-ever WinterROMP music festival will bring more than a half-dozen bands to the Palmer Train Depot for shows Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Performers at the Palmer Alehouse-sponsored event include Hope Social Club, Blackwater Railroad Company, Rosie Rush, Justin Morris and Company, Childish Tycoon, Ed Washington, and Steady Going. Tickets for the 21-and-older festival are $30 for each night or $50 for a two-day pass. Find more information in Mat-Su Sentinel's community events calendar.
Enjoy a hot Sunday in Wasilla.
Wrap up a long weekend with some relaxation Sunday in Wasilla, where Meier Lake Resort will host its first annual Community Sauna Fest from noon to 5 p.m. on Meier Lake. The free event will include hot saunas, cold plunges, an ice skating rink, hot cocoa, food, and more. Bring your own gear (towels, swimsuits, ice skates, and warm layers), and they’ll provide the heat. For more information, check out their Facebook flyer.
Want your event included in an upcoming edition of "What to do this weekend in Mat-Su?" Email contact@matsusentinel.com.
-- Matt Tunseth is a freelance reporter from Southcentral Alaska. Reach him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com