What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (July 23-26): Palmer Pride, ball games and a pike derby

What you need to know:

• The Mat-Su has a packed weekend of events, including Local Media Night with the Mat-Su Miners, the Big Lake Pike Fishing Derby, the Palmer Museum Summer Wine Walk, multiple concerts, Celebrate Palmer, Alaska Recovery Fest and the Willow Garden Tour.
• Free and low-cost activities include Celebrate Palmer's new Kid Zone, Friday Fling, Live at Five in Talkeetna, a community tie-dye party, kids' activities at the fishing derby and the self-guided Willow Garden Tour.
• Baseball, live music, fishing, local history, gardening and recovery-focused events offer something for all ages from Thursday through Sunday in Palmer, Wasilla, Big Lake, Talkeetna and Willow.
• Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.

A journalism-themed homestand for the local baseball team highlights an "Extra! Extra!" busy weekend in the Mat-Su, where sports, music, arts and entertainment will be making headlines. 

There's also gardening, games and plenty of good, clean fun for all — plus some messy stuff, too. From Palmer, to Wasilla, to Willow, here's the scoop on what to do this weekend across the region:

Sentinel Night at the ballpark

Though we don't condone arguing balls and strikes, there are few things more American than free speech and baseball. Those cherished institutions will team up Thursday at Hermon Brothers Field when the Mat-Su Miners take on the Anchorage Bucs at 6 p.m. on a night when Mat-Su Sentinel readers receive free admission to the ballpark.

Look for volunteers handing out free tickets outside the stadium at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. Once inside, find mid-game raffles and an opportunity to talk with members of the Sentinel team about local news. 

The event kicks off a stretch of seven home games in five days for the Miners, who play the Peninsula Oilers on Friday at 6 p.m., the Bucs on Saturday at 4 p.m., and back-to-back doubleheaders Sunday and Monday at 4 p.m. against the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks and Anchorage Glacier Pilots. The final home game of the season is July 30. For a complete schedule, visit matsuminers.com.

Gotta catch 'em all (seriously).

Reel in prizes, including a 20-horsepower outboard motor and $500 cash, at the 2nd Annual Big Lake Pike Fishing Derby on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Burkshore Marina. There will be cash prizes for the longest pike and the most pike caught in adult and youth divisions. Other prizes include a halibut charter, fishing rods, gift cards and more.

Entry is $30 for anglers 15 and older and $10 for younger participants. There will be cooking demonstrations, kids' activities and prizes at the marina, which will offer free boat launches during the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce fundraiser. Coolers are encouraged to keep fish cold.

Pike are considered an invasive species in Big Lake. There is no limit, and the fish must be killed before being retained or returned to the water. Bean's Cafe will accept donations from anglers who don't want to keep their catch. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Walk the wine

Unwind after a busy summer at the annual Palmer Museum of History and Art Summer Wine Walk on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Palmer. The 21-and-older event is a fundraiser for the museum and will feature a stroll through the city's historic downtown with curated wine-tasting stops at eight businesses. Tickets are $75, though designated drivers may register for free. Find tickets and more information on the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.

Summer concerts continue

Check out a band — or five — at recurring concert venues in Palmer and Talkeetna.

On Thursday, the Palmer Alehouse Summer Concert Series will feature The Jephries with guests Madeline & the Brothers Smith. On Friday, the downtown Palmer venue will host Power Play, and on Saturday, The Denali Cooks come to town. All shows start at 7 p.m. For tickets or more information, visit palmeralehouse.com.

Also Friday, Palmer's free Friday Fling music series will host Jesse James during the weekly community market from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Palmer Pavilion downtown. For more information, visit palmerchamber.org.

Finally, Talkeetna's free Live at Five concert series returns Friday with a performance by High Costa Living from 5 to 7 p.m. at Talkeetna Village Park. For more information, visit denaliartscouncil.org.

Something for Palmer enthusiasts

Concerts and markets aren't all that's happening in downtown Palmer. Also Friday, from 3 to 6 p.m., look for Celebrate Palmer and the new Celebrate Palmer Kid Zone at the Palmer Train Depot.

The annual event, formerly known as Palmer Pride, began in the late 1980s after a group of Palmer residents returned from the All-America City competition feeling particularly proud of the city. This year, the free, family-friendly event will feature yard games, a bubble house, a visit from Bluey, and plenty of toys and activities, along with the traditional free hot dogs and vegetables courtesy of the City of Palmer.

For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Dyeing to meet you

Grab those old T-shirts and head to 203 Kombucha, 105 S. Valley Way in Palmer, on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. for a free community tie-dye party. All supplies, including dye, rubber bands and gloves, will be provided. Participants only need to bring the clothing they'd like to dye. T-shirts also will be available for purchase. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Good, clean fun

Celebrate sobriety with a weekend of substance-free, family-friendly events during Alaska Recovery Fest, Thursday through Sunday at Joe and Charlie's Community Center, 3650 W. Parks Highway, on Wasilla Lake.

The event will include live music, recovery speakers, volleyball, cornhole, lake access and plenty of food. Adult passes are $15 per day or $20 for the weekend. Teen passes are $5 per day or $10 for the weekend. Passes also are available for tent sites and RV camping. Children are admitted free but must be supervised at all times by an adult.

For tickets, more information and a complete schedule, visit the website.

Tour of beauty

Visit some of the Valley's most spectacular gardens during the Willow Garden Club's 41st Annual Garden Tour on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants can pick up maps for the free, self-guided event beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Willow Community Center before visiting five gardens in the area. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook or read the Sentinel's story about the event.

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