Events & festivals in the Mat-SU

As if you needed more reasons to visit, we have ‘em. You’d fit right into our vibrant community celebrations. Scroll through the Mat-Su event calendar below to make the most of your time here.

Featured Events

A festive parade scene at night featuring Santa Claus on a tractor, surrounded by cheering crowds and illuminated by bright Christmas lights in Mat-Su, Alaska

Colony Christmas

Experience the magic of Colony Christmas in Palmer, Alaska. Discover holiday parades, artisan markets, and fireworks in the heart of The Mat-Su.

A team of sled dogs pulling a sled across a snowy landscape with a musher guiding them in Mat-Su, Alaska

Iditarod

Welcome to the official start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race®. Mush on over for an inside look at this legendary competition.

Alaska State Fair

This is the highlight of every Alaskan summer and the state’s largest event. Enjoy live music, craveable fair food, and epic contests.

A rally truck jumps high into the air, kicking up a large cloud of dust in Mat-Su, Alaska

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Annual Events

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A panoramic view of a vast landscape with a river meandering through a valley, surrounded by colorful autumn trees and distant snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky in Mat-Su, Alaska

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