What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (July 17-19): Arts festival, music, racing and van life
Ready for some weekend fun? Activities from Talkeetna to Palmer will keep you busy.
The personal-use fishing season is now in full swing on the Kenai Peninsula, which means plenty of Mat-Su locals will be packing up and heading elsewhere this weekend.
No fish? No problem. If you're planning to skip the highways and stick close to home this weekend, we've got you covered. Here are a parade of nonfishing things to do in the Valley this weekend:
Gather in the garden
The Palmer Museum of History and Art will join the Palmer Arts Council for its Arts in the Garden festival in downtown Palmer on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Formerly known as the Midsummer Art Faire, the free, family-friendly event will feature more than 50 artisan vendors, art demonstrations, workshops, and live entertainment. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel Community calendar.
Get your fiber fix
The Alaska Fiber Arts Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. The event will feature live fiber arts demonstrations, live animals, and other fiber-related activities. Admission is free and open to all ages. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
You oughta regatta
The annual Moose Nugget Regatta rowing races will be held Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Newcomb Park on Wasilla Lake. Watch as some of Alaska's top rowers and scullers vie for titles in the Masters, Novice, and Junior divisions on a 1,000-meter course. Spectator admission is free, and food will be available for purchase. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
Get a new look
Frontline Mission will host a community clothing giveaway and free hot dog lunch Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wasilla Lake Church of the Nazarene, 2001 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway in Wasilla. Clothing in all styles and sizes will be available at the free community event. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
Celebrate a legend
The Wasilla-Knik Historical Society will induct seven-time Iditarod finisher Burt Bomhoff into the Mushers' Hall of Fame during a free community picnic Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Knik Museum, 10556 S. Knik Goose Bay Road. Everyone is invited to the event, which will also include a raffle, a traditional sled dog mail delivery by Isaac Redington and an opportunity to tour the museum free of charge. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel community calendar.
Live the van life
Vans are encouraged, but all types of camping are welcome at the weekend-long Vanstock Festival, which runs Friday through Sunday at Boyd Bison Ranch in Palmer. The festival will feature music, art, vendors, an Indigenous market, a van and classic car show, tiny-living workshops, and more. Tickets must be purchased in advance and range from $65 for a one-day pass to $200 for the entire weekend. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit vanstock.org.
Catch some tunes
Vanstock doesn't have the market cornered on live music. Also happening this weekend: Palmer's free Friday Fling will feature Wasilla indie-pop trio Mantraluna from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and singer-guitarist Sergio Adam from 3 to 6 p.m. More information is available at palmerchamber.org.
The Palmer Alehouse free Summer Concert Series continues Friday with the faux-'70s sound of Abbalaska and Saturday with the yacht rock sounds of Yachtly Crew. Both shows begin at 7 p.m.
Talkeetna's free Live at Five series will host John Roberts y Pan Blanco from 5 to 7 p.m. at Talkeetna Village Park. For more information, visit denaliartscouncil.org. On Saturday, singer-songwriter Natalie Gelman will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. at Denali Brewing Co., 37083 Talkeetna Spur Road.
Seward’s Blackwater Railroad is playing an outdoor show at the Fairview Inn in Talkeetna Friday at 7 p.m. with support from Olympia, Washington’s Sunflower Season. Tickets are $20 for this 21+ show and available at blackwaterrailroad.com
Start your engines
Alaska Raceway Park is planning three days of events at its drag strip and oval track in Butte. On Friday, the track will host Rhythm N' Racin', a country music concert featuring Nashville recording artist Caylee Hammack with special guest Hope Cassity. On Saturday, there will be NASCAR/INEX races, and the weekend wraps up Sunday with NHRA drag racing. Tickets are $35 for the concert or $50 for a weekend package. For more information, visit raceak.com.
There's also dirt-track racing Saturday at Capitol Speedway, Mile 75.5 Parks Highway in Willow. Gates open at 4 p.m., with racing beginning at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand tickets are $15, children ages 6-13 are $5, and children younger than 6 are admitted free. For more information, visit capitolspeedway.org.
-- Matt Tunseth is a freelance writer from Southcentral Alaska. Email him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com.