What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (July 9-12): Music, markets and mountains

What you need to know:

• The Mat-Su is packed with summer events this weekend, led by the fourth annual HatcherRomp Festival, featuring two days of live music, food vendors and outdoor fun at Skeetawk Ski Area in Hatcher Pass.
• Community events include the grand opening of the Gateway Visitor Center in Palmer, the Romp Run 5K and several farmers markets across the borough.
• Live music will fill the region with free concerts in Talkeetna, Natalie Gelman's Mat-Su tour, Chepo's 40th anniversary celebration featuring David Lee Murphy and the Palmer Alehouse Summer Concert Series.

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

It’s time to turn up the volume on the sounds of summer.

Music will echo across the Matanuska and Susitna valleys during a loud and proud weekend of entertainment highlighted by one of the summer’s most anticipated festivals, the grand opening of a new visitor center, a musical anniversary bash and an ear-splitting car show. Here are nine things to see and do during a busy and booming weekend in the Mat-Su.

Get ready to romp

Nearly 30 artists are expected to take the stage during two days of music and mountain vibes Friday and Saturday at the fourth annual HatcherRomp Festival at Skeetawk Ski Area in Hatcher Pass. The brainchild of Blackwater Railroad’s Tyson Davis, the festival has expanded to two days and features vendors, food trucks and music from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday. There’s no camping on-site, but shuttles will be available to nearby areas. Passes are $40 for Friday, $50 for Saturday or $75 for the weekend. Children younger than 12 get in free. For more information, visit Mat-Su Sentinel’s community calendar.

Pay a visit home

Check out the Mat-Su’s newest attraction during the Gateway Visitor Center grand opening celebration Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at the new 9,400-square-foot facility at 2764 S. East Matanuska Spur Road in Palmer. The $8.4 million center near the Parks-Glenn interchange opened to daily visitors in June but will host a public celebration welcoming the community with light appetizers by Turkey Red. For more information, visit thematsualaska.com or read the Sentinel’s story about the facility.

Head for the mountains

With a course laid out on the hills of Skeetawk Ski Area, the newest entry on the Alaska running calendar is no fun run. The Romp Run 5K will send participants on a pair of steep loops around Skeetawk’s Altitude and Meadow Loop trails. The race, held in conjunction with the HatcherRomp Festival, starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, but participants must sign up by 11:59 p.m. Friday. It’s a fundraiser for the Noatak Cross Country Team. Entry is $40 and includes a 20% discount on festival tickets. For more information, visit Mat-Su Sentinel’s community calendar.

Listen to the sounds of the Susitna

Fairbanks-based acoustic jammers Fireweed Fiddle will take the stage for the latest installment of the Denali Arts Council’s Live at Five music series at 5 p.m. Friday at Talkeetna Village Park in Talkeetna. The free, family-friendly concerts run through Labor Day weekend and are open to all. For more information and a complete list of this summer’s artists, visit denaliartscouncil.org.

Play the market

Area farmers markets are in full bloom. This weekend’s public markets include Palmer’s Friday Fling from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the downtown Palmer Pavilion; the Wasilla Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the Valley Performing Arts parking lot, 251 W. Swanson Ave.; the Willow Farmers Market from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Willow Community Center, Mile 69.5 Parks Highway, in Willow; the Hatcher Pass Community Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Fishhook Bar and Grill, 9231 N. Palmer Fishhook Road, in Palmer; and the Moonstone Farmers Market from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Moonstone Farm, 2141 S. Church St., in Palmer. Find a full list in this Mat-Su Sentinel story.

Meet a mountain mama

Singer-songwriter Natalie Gelman is playing a flurry of free shows in the Mat-Su on her way to Salmonfest in August during her "Mountain Mama Tour." Catch her Friday at 6 p.m. at the Fishhook Bar and Grill, 9231 N. Palmer Fishhook Road, in Palmer; Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Bearpaw River Brewing, 240 E. Railroad Ave., in Wasilla; or Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. for an outdoor beer garden show at Burnt Toast, 33900 Parks Highway, in Willow. For more information, visit nataliegelman.com.

Celebrate with Chepo’s

There’s no cover charge to celebrate Chepo’s 40th anniversary Friday at 6 p.m. at the iconic local Mexican restaurant, 3001 Sun Mountain Ave. in Wasilla. Country singer David Lee Murphy will perform, along with the Ken Peltier Band. Learn more on their Facebook page.

Peruse the Palmer music scene

A summer of sound continues at the Palmer Alehouse, where the popular Summer Concert Series has a full slate in the coming days. On Thursday, the downtown venue will host a HatcherRomp kickoff concert featuring Sunflower Season, the Justin Morris Company and Fine, Great. Ketchikan’s Dude Mountain is the featured performer Friday, with Fireweed Fiddle taking the stage Saturday. All shows are from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit palmeralehouse.com.

How low can you go? 

Feel the vibrations of earth-shaking bass speakers Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Alaska Raceway Park (5599 S. Race Way) in the Butte during Boom the Bass, one of the loudest events on the summertime entertainment schedule. The "decibel drag race” and car show event will feature competitions between some of the best car audio systems in Alaska. For more information, visit Mat-Su Sentinel’s community calendar.

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