What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (April 3-5): Eggs, crafts and family fun
There's plenty of fun to be had around Mat-Su this weekend.
What you need to know:
- A variety of spring events are happening across the Mat-Su this weekend, including outdoor festivals, markets, performances and family-friendly activities.
- Highlights include Hatcherpalooza at Skeetawk, a vendor market in Palmer, “Willy Wonka: The Musical,” and multiple Easter-themed events.
- Many events are free or low-cost, offering opportunities for residents to get out, celebrate the season and connect with the community.
- Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.
Breakup is hard to do. Sloppy roads, icy mornings and the long, slushy slog into spring can make it seem like winter’s grip will never quite loosen.
Fortunately for Mat-Su residents, there are plenty of opportunities to loosen up in the days ahead. If you’re already registered for this weekend’s KRRBRRR run benefiting Mat-Su Sentinel (sorry, registration is closed), there’s still plenty to do, with a major springtime festival in Hatcher Pass, a big show in Palmer and even a few hidden Easter eggs to keep folks hopping in their Xtratufs from venue to venue.
From the wild to the Wonka, here are our picks for family fun in the Mat-Su this weekend:
Hit the slopes
On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Skeetawk Ski Area in Hatcher Pass will host Hatcherpalooza, the nonprofit’s annual family-friendly spring festival featuring an on-hill egg hunt (for a season pass), live music, food trucks, a beer garden, a mid-mountain skimo race, a slopestyle competition and more. The event is free, but lift rides still require a pass. Scheduled bands include Wiley Post from 12:30 to 2 p.m., Up a Mountain from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and The River Livers from 4:30 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
Get crafty
Celebrate local creativity at the monthly First Saturday Vendor Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Borough Gym (350 E. Dahlia Ave.) in Palmer. Organizers expect nearly 30 vendors, plus two food trucks at the daylong event featuring everything from stone and gem jewelry to leather goods, locally produced baked goods and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.
Treat yourself
It’s the final weekend of Valley Performing Arts’ 50th season and the last chance for audiences to catch “Willy Wonka: The Musical” at the Glenn Massay Theater (8295 E. College Drive) in Palmer. Featuring a cast of more than 50 local actors, the musical includes songs from the 1971 Gene Wilder film, plus originals written for the stage. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $27 for military members, seniors, students and children. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
Seize the eggs
Family fun is on the schedule in Houston on Sunday afternoon as the city, Houston Lions Club and Susitna Rotary host their annual Houston Easter egg hunt at the Houston fire station (Mile 57.5 Parks Highway). Families can expect free snacks, drinks, treats and more than 1,000 eggs stuffed with sweets and prizes, organizers said. There will also be prize giveaways, including candy, kites, baskets and even a few bikes donated by Walmart. The fun starts at 3 p.m.
Check your health
Stop by the Wasilla Community Health Fair Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fizical Therapy and Balance Center (650 N. Shoreline Drive) for free health screenings, low-cost blood tests and other health and wellness information. The event is co-sponsored by the Alaska Health Fair and will also include free balance assessments and mobile mammography on-site. To schedule a mammography appointment, call 907-278-0234. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
Meet the Easter Bunny
Get in on some early Easter action with Spunky Monkey’s third annual Easter party Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Spunky Monkey Alaska (449 W. Parks Highway) in Wasilla. There will be prize eggs at the door, free coffee and snacks, an Easter egg hunt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., free photos with the Easter Bunny starting at 1 p.m., and an Easter basket drawing. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
-- Matt Tunseth is a freelance writer from Southcentral Alaska. Email him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com.