What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (Feb. 5-8): Ice festival, hockey, music and art

What you need to know:

• Winter events across the Mat-Su: Despite winter lingering, the Mat-Su Valley offers a packed weekend lineup, including the Talkeetna Ice Festival, a major state prep hockey championship, a juried high school art show and multiple live music performances.
• Weekend highlights include the Hatcher Pass Information Center’s Cabin Fever Reliever fundraiser, the all-local 1st Saturday Vendor Market in Palmer and music in Palmer, Wasilla and Hatcher Pass.
• From outdoor ice carving and sports to arts, culture and live music, the weekend’s events cater to residents looking to stay active, creative and connected during cabin fever season.

• Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.

Winter’s grip may be loosening a bit as Groundhog Day passes and the shadows begin to come from just a bit higher in the sky. 

But cabin fever season isn’t over yet, and the local event schedule remains crowded with things to do and see across the region this weekend. There’s a literal cabin fever “reliever,” an icy winter festival, a major prep hockey tournament, an annual juried art show and a jam-packed slate of live music. 

Whether you’re feeling sporty or looking to cultivate some culture, we’ve got you covered with these picks for what to do this weekend across the Mat-Su:

North to the festival

Feeling festive? Talkeetna’s the place to be this weekend, with the Denali Arts Council’s 5th Annual 2026 Talkeetna Ice Festival offering four days of Susitna shenanigans. Preliminary events include community Jeopardy on Thursday at 7 p.m., and an art walk, fire spinners and a candlelit concert Friday evening. There are community events all day Saturday starting at noon, with ice carving in the Village Park, kick sled races on Main Street and a warm-up station (and chili cook-off) in the Sheldon Hangar. Sunday’s events include an ice carving workshop, the Frozen Basil Poker Ski and juggling in the hangar. For more info and a complete schedule of events, visit denaliartscouncil.org.

Drop the puck

The MTA Events Center in Palmer will be the center of the Alaska hockey world Thursday through Saturday as teams from across the state battle for the ASAA First National Cup Division II State Hockey Championship. Defending champion Palmer and 2024 winner Houston are both back in the eight-team bracket, along with Juneau, Delta, North Pole, Kodiak, Soldotna and Monroe Catholic. Games start at 11 a.m. Thursday and culminate with a championship game Saturday at 5 p.m. For more, visit asaa.org.

Rock for a good cause

The Super Saturated Sugar Strings will be the featured performers at this year’s Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center Cabin Fever Reliever, a fundraiser for the local nonprofit being held Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Palmer Senior Center. In addition to the tunes, there will be a charcuterie spread, local craft beverages, door prizes and more. All funds go toward the center’s avalanche forecasting and educational efforts. This event sometimes sells out, so it’s worth grabbing a ticket ahead of time.

Live music on tap across Mat-Su

Audiences can expect “a little bit of country, a little bit of blues and a lot of fun” when Harp Daddy meets Jesse James visits the Palmer Alehouse for the venue’s weekly Alehouse Unplugged series Thursday at 6 p.m. Shows are free, but seating is limited and those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult. Also playing around the Valley this weekend are Schaefer Mueller with Neon Highway, Friday at 9 p.m. at the Four Corners in Wasilla; the Jerry Wessling Band at 7 p.m. at the Silver Fox in Wasilla; and Wiley Post, Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Hatcher Pass Lodge.

Local artists on display

Check out work by some of the community’s most talented young artists Friday at the Palmer Museum of History and Art during Beyond the Classroom, a juried art exhibition and reception showcasing art by area high school students from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a free event and open to the public.

It’s 1st Saturday time

More than two dozen vendors will fill the Borough Gym in Palmer with everything from fermented foods to handmade D&D items on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the all-local 1st Saturday Vendor Market. This month’s Valentine’s Day theme is “Love Local, Shop Handmade” and includes 28 vendors as well as a food truck (or two). Free event. For more, visit the event page on Facebook.

Good night for stories (SOLD OUT)

Community members will share stories filled with joy, emotion, humor, resilience and adventure during the Mat-Su Sentinel’s Untold 2026: A Night of Storytelling, Friday at the Palmer Depot. 

This fundraising event in the spirit of Arctic Entries will feature 7-minute stories centered around a theme of “Things That Move Us,” along with drinks, snacks and both live and silent auctions. This year’s storytellers include Denise Statz, Ira Edwards, Brad Carper, Pat Durand, Michele Harmeling, Mikey Evans and Carly Schrek. All proceeds will benefit the Sentinel, your local nonprofit newsroom delivering independent, fact-based journalism and community connection to the Mat-Su.

-- Matt Tunseth is a freelance reporter from Southcentral Alaska. Reach him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com