What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (Oct. 16-18): Spooks, sports and stage shows

What you need to know:

• This weekend includes performances of “Jekyll & Hyde” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” along with haunted attractions, trick-or-treating and a Halloween-themed literary salon.
• Other weekend highlights include two state high school football championship games in Wasilla, live music across the Valley, the Alaska Outdoorsman Banquet and a holiday bazaar featuring 100 local vendors.
• Additional activities include a book signing with bestselling Alaska author Marc Cameron, a guided hike up Lazy Mountain and a free community health fair offering screenings and wellness information at the Wasilla senior center.
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The biggest challenge for folks looking for weekend entertainment might not be finding things to do — it’ll be finding enough time to do them. 

There are dueling theatrical productions, a pair of state championship games, multiple Halloween-themed events, music galore, a big banquet, healthy living events and even a chance to meet a famous author. 

From stages and pages to beats and treats, here are 10 ways to spend the upcoming weekend in Mat-Su:

Drama (and more drama)

Watch split personalities take center stage at the Valley Performing Arts production of “Jekyll & Hyde the Musical,” which opens Friday at the community theater (251 W. Swanson Ave.) in Wasilla. Showtimes for the adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic about a doctor fighting an inner demon are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1. Tickets are $25 for adults or $22 for military members, seniors and children. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.

Get into the holiday spirit at “How the Grinch Stole Christmas! the Musical” Friday through Sunday at the Glenn Massay Theater (8295 E. College Drive) in Palmer. The musical is based on the classic Dr. Seuss tale about a Grinch who learns the true meaning of Christmas. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 8. Tickets are $26 for adults or $24 for students, seniors, children, military members and staff. For more information, visit glennmassaytheater.com.

Famous face

Meet one of Alaska’s most widely read authors Saturday from 2-5 p.m. during a book signing with Marc Cameron at Fireside Books (720 S. Alaska St.) in Palmer. Cameron is a New York Times bestselling author from Eagle River who is widely known for his Jack Ryan series, which is part of the Tom Clancy estate. His latest novel, “Backtrack,” follows the adventures of U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter in Alaska. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.

Get your salon on

Share your spookiest Halloween stories at the Palmer Arts Council’s October Literary Salon Sunday at 3 p.m. at Palmer Brewing Company (650 E. Steel Loop) in Palmer. Discuss horror stories and the role they play in the human psyche with bookseller Rebecca Massey during this free, salon-style conversational event. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.

Spooky and sweet

Halloween-themed events abound this weekend, with everything from sweets to scares on the agenda. Here’s a rundown:

• Ken’s Garden Center (4121 Dimond Way) in Wasilla will hold a free, family-friendly trick-or-treat event Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The Museum of Alaska (3800 W. Museum Drive) in Wasilla hosts Nightmare at the Museum, a fun and frightening haunted adventure every Friday and Saturday night through Halloween. Tickets are $13.
• The Haunted Forest at Alvin’s Alley (4052 N. Alvin’s Alley Way) in Wasilla runs Fridays through Sundays from 6-11 p.m. through Halloween. Tickets are $10-$15 each.

Hunting for prizes

Win prizes, dine with friends and share stories with other outdoor enthusiasts at the 2026 Alaska Outdoorsman Banquet Saturday from 5-10 p.m. at the Menard Center (1001 S. Clapp St.) in Wasilla. Enjoy a full-course dinner and get a chance to win raffle prizes ranging from firearms and gear to a new Jeep. Tickets are $100 each. For more information, visit the event page.

Nothing lazy about it

Stretch those legs on a guided hike up Lazy Mountain in Palmer Saturday at 10 a.m. Presented by Revel Treks and Tours, the Third Saturday event will take hikers on a trek up more than 3,000 vertical feet in about 2 miles each way. It’s free for newcomers and Adventure Club members or $15 for returning hikers. For more information or to register, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.

Stomp those feet

Check out live music at a number of venues this week, including:

• Schaeffer Mueller will play a solo show Saturday at 6 p.m. at Susitna Brewing (5120 S. Big Lake Road) in Big Lake. It’s free and open to all ages.
• Jerry Wessling will be all over the Valley this weekend, with shows planned for Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. at the Mug-Shot Saloon (251 W. Parks Highway) in Wasilla and Sunday from 6-9 p.m. at Susitna Brewing in Big Lake.
• Cold Country will perform at the Hatcher Pass Lodge Saturday from 4-7 p.m.

Championship weekend

Check out some of Alaska’s top athletes when Wasilla High hosts the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Division II and III state football championship games Saturday. At noon, Kenai Central will face Homer for the Division III crown, with Soldotna taking on Lathrop at 4 p.m. for the Division II title. For more information, visit asaa.org.

Shop till you drop

It’s the final weekend for the 2026 Holiday Bazaar at Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. Check out arts and crafts, food, gift ideas and more from 100 local vendors at the event, which runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.

For your health

Take charge of your health and wellness during a free community health fair Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. facility (1301 S. Century Circle) in Wasilla. The fair will offer no-cost health screenings, wellness information, bloodwork and mammograms (by appointment). For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.