What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (Sept. 11-13): Remembering 9/11, a trail race and drag racing

What you need to know:

• The Mat-Su weekend lineup includes several events commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, including remembrance ceremonies, a flag retirement and a community celebration.
• Other outdoor and family activities include the Talkeetna Trail Race, NAMIWalks Alaska in the Valley and the final weekend of racing at Alaska Raceway Park.
• Entertainment options include The Phantom Tollbooth at Valley Performing Arts and live performances by Nervis Rex and H3 at the Palmer Alehouse.
• Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.

That went fast! The state fair is over, the salmon have spawned out and summer is slowly coming to an end. With some events moving indoors as fall arrives,, there’s still plenty to do both inside and out around the Mat-Su. 

Among the events happening this weekend are memorials for the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, a couple of chances to stretch your legs, some hot-rod action, a little live music and the second-to-last weekend for a local stage production. From remembering to racing, here are a few ways to spend your weekend in the Valley:

Remember Sept. 11

Though the events remain fresh in the public consciousness, a quarter-century has now passed since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In addition to killing thousands of innocent civilians, the attacks also claimed hundreds of firefighters, police officers and other first responders. Several events this weekend in the Mat-Su are intended to help remember and honor those who lost their lives that day. They include:

• Central Mat-Su Fire Department will hold an early morning remembrance for the 343 firefighters killed in the line of duty on Sept. 11. The ceremony at Station 6-1 in Wasilla will begin at 5:30 a.m. Alaska time — when the first plane struck the World Trade Center — and include moments of silence to mark when each tower fell. Firefighters will place 343 American flags on display during the ceremony, which the public is welcome to observe. A display will also be set up at Station 6-5 in Wasilla beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, when Boy Scouts will place 343 FDNY and 8 EMS remembrance flags. The public is welcome to help place flags at the event.
• Wasilla VFW Post 9365 will hold a flag retirement ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday at the post, 301 E. Lake View Ave. in Wasilla.
• Sept. 11 is designated Patriot Day, and the Friends of the Palmer Public Library plan to party with Celebrate America!, a free community “evening of honor, remembrances and celebration” from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Palmer Train Depot downtown. There will be a performance by the Mat-Su Concert Band, a presentation by the Colony High color guard, light refreshments and more. For more information, visit the Mat-Su Sentinel calendar.
• The musical Come From Away is running at the Glenn Massay at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. The production is based on the true story of what happened in remote Gander, Newfoundland, on Sept. 11, 2001, when a series of passenger jets were forced to land there following the terrorist attacks. For more information, visit the Facebook page.

Trails for tots

Stretch those legs and lend a hand to the children of Talkeetna during the 2026 Talkeetna Trail Race on Saturday. Formerly known as the “Bun to Bun” race, the fundraiser for the Talkeetna Elementary PTA starts at the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge and features a 25-kilometer tour of the area’s four-wheeler, single-track and hiking trails.

There will also be shorter 10K and 5K events. The 25K starts at 10 a.m., followed by the 10K at 11 a.m. and the 5K at noon. Registration is $90 for the 25K, $60 for the 10K or $30 for the 5K. Kids under 13 can enter the 5K for free. For more information or to register, visit the event page on Facebook.

Phantom pick

It’s the second of three weekends for the Valley Performing Arts production The Phantom Tollbooth.

Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the theater, 251 W. Swanson Ave. in Wasilla. Tickets are $25 for adults or $22 for military members, students and seniors. For more information, visit vpaalaska.org.

Wellness walk

There’s still time to register for (or donate to) the 2026 NAMIWalks Alaska in the Valley event set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Iditapark in Wasilla.

The annual 1.1-mile walk is a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to helping people affected by mental illness. For more information, visit namiwalks.org/alaska.

Weekend wheels

Alaska Raceway Park in the Butte is taking it to the streets to conclude its 2026 summer season. On Friday, the drag strip and racing oval near mile 10.4 of the Old Glenn Highway will host Drag & Drift Street Night, an evening of both drag racing and drifting at the facility.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Adult tickets are $14, military and senior tickets are $11, and tickets for kids ages 11-15 are $9. Younger kids get in free. For more information, visit raceak.com.

An Alehouse autumn

After a three-week silence, the Palmer Alehouse will restart its summer concert series Friday with a performance by Alaska ska stalwarts Nervis Rex at the alehouse’s outdoor venue in downtown Palmer. The music continues Saturday, when crowd-pleasing reggae band H3 takes the stage for the third time this summer. Both shows start at 7 p.m. For more information, visit palmeralehouse.com.

-- Contact Mat-Su Sentinel at contact@matsusentinel.com

This story was updated Sept. 10 to clarify the start time and public participation expectations at the fire station events.