What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (Oct. 9-11): Frights, fall fun and football fever
From the spooky to the cozy, there's plenty to do around Mat-Su this weekend.
What you need to know:
- Mat-Su residents can enjoy haunted attractions, reindeer farm activities and hands-on potato harvesting this weekend in Wasilla and Palmer.
- The weekend also features holiday bazaars, a Palmer art studio tour, live music and a masquerade party in Talkeetna.
- Wasilla hosts the state flag football championships, while Colony and Redington open the state football playoffs with home games Friday.
- Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.
The coming weekend offers a cornucopia of fall festivities for Valley residents, from boot-stomping music in Talkeetna to hands-on harvesting in Palmer. There’s football just about everywhere, arts and crafts galore, a reindeer romp and a couple haunted houses that promise to bring the “boo!” to the Mat-Su.
From farmland to football, here’s seven ways to enjoy the fun:
Be afraid
Fancy a fright? There’s a multitude of monster mashes happening through Halloween and perhaps none bigger than the 10-acres of horror underway at The Haunted Forest at Alvin’s Alley (4052 N. Alvin’s Alley) opening this weekend in Wasilla. On Fridays through Sundays from 6-11:30 p.m. through Halloween, visitors can brave a haunted homestead featuring dead miners, forest spirits, an abandoned cemetery, legendary beasts and other spooky scenes. There will also be drinks and merch in the gift shop. Suitable for families but parental discretion is advised. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at thehauntedforestak.com.
Also this weekend, check out a haunted train and shoot “zombies” at the Museum of Alaska’s Nightmare at the Museum, running Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9 p.m. at the Museum located at 3800 W. Museum Drive in Wasilla. See more information.
‘Tis the season (almost)
Kick off the holiday bazaar season with one of the Mat-Su’s biggest at the 100-vendor Alaska State Fair Holiday Bazaar Saturday and Sunday at the Hoskins and Raven halls at the fairgrounds in Palmer. Check out local art, crafts, gift ideas, food and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the free bazaar, which also runs Oct. 17-18. Find more information.
Art in the heart of Palmer
Take a self-guided tour of Palmer’s arts scene with the Palmer Arts Council Fall Studio Tour Saturday from 5-9 p.m. in downtown Palmer. For $30 (or $20 for PAC members), participants will receive a map of participating locations to visit at their leisure – with beverages and appetizers to enjoy along the way. The tour of 10 studios and downtown businesses will conclude with a party at Lekker (105 S. Valley Way). For tickets and a list of participating artists and businesses visit palmerarts.org.
Can you dig it?
Enjoy an immersive agricultural experience and take home some grub at the Rebarchek Farm Harvest Day Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at the Rebarchek Agricultural Park located adjacent to the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. For $5 per group, participants can dig their own potatoes and check out agricultural exhibits at the historic colony-era property. For more information visit alaskastatefair.org.
Oh, deer
Reindeer aren’t just for Christmas. Follow the herd to Family Fun at the Reindeer Farm Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Williams Reindeer Farm in the Butte (5561 Bodenburg Loop). There will be a pumpkin patch, spooky walk, hay maze, games and more in the scenic farm setting at the base of Bodenburg Butte. The event will also be held Oct. 17 and 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 16 and 23 from 1-5 p.m. Find more information.
All aboard!
Dance the night away with Blackwater Railroad during the Denali Arts Council’s 26th Annual Take Back the Town masquerade party Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Sheldon Community Arts Center (22249 South D Street) in Talkeetna. This year’s theme is “A Masquerade Beneath the Sea.” The public concert is $20 and follows the council’s member’s only board election and brisket dinner. For more information, visit denaliartscouncil.org.
Other music picks:
- See grunge/punk/pop/indie/metal cover rock trio Samsonite at the Fishhook Bar and Grill Saturday from 6-10 p.m.
- Check out solo blues artist Loop Alley at the Hatcher Pass Lodge Friday from 4-7 p.m.
Flagged
Cheer on some of Alaska’s best athletes Thursday-Saturday at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Flag Football Championships at Wasilla High School. Local qualifier Colony will battle seven Alaska schools for the title, with a winner crowned following Saturday’s championship game. The state football playoffs also get underway this weekend, with Colony hosting Service at 7 p.m. Friday in the Division I playoffs and Redington hosting Homer at 6 p.m. Friday in Division III. For more information visit asaa.org.