Tag: Social Connection Event

R.O.C.K. Mat-Su and Community Partners are set to host a R.O.C.K. Mat-Su Community Baby Shower in Talkeetna. This event is for Mat-Su families who are expecting or have an infant up to a year old.

Every year we give away up to 200 gift bags that include approximately $100+ worth of baby essentials to help give the family the best start possible.

Additionally, we offer prize giveaways for participation in different activities, such as car seats, gifts for new big brothers or sisters, book sets, or a certificate for a massage or haircut.
Each year, the event evolves as the creative minds of partners find new and exciting ways to meet the three goals of the Community Baby Shower. This year, we are adapting in response to the pandemic and will be moving from our traditional two-hour event in April to a month-long schedule of events throughout June. Events will be posted on R.O.C.K. Mat-Su’s website, Facebook, and on the Connect Mat-Su’s Social Calendar.

To spread awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month and community resources, R.O.C.K. Mat-Su and Community Partners are hosting a Community Connection Carnival!

We will have carnival-themed, family-friendly activities with prizes and it’s FREE for the whole family to attend!

*Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Community Connection Carnival starts at 12:00 pm and ends at 2:00 pm.

We hope to see you there!

Join us!

R.O.C.K. Mat-Su is hosting a rally on April 5, 2024, to raise awareness and kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The rally will take place on the corner of Parks Hwy. and Crusey St. on both the McDonald’s and Newcomb Park side from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.

This is a nationwide effort to raise public awareness about and take a stand against child abuse and neglect. It is a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities who work together to prevent child abuse and neglect and to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families.

Can’t attend the rally? Here are other suggestions:

– Wear blue on April 5th. Take a selfie and post it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the following hashtags: #CAPAlaska, #GoBlueAlaska, #rockmatsu

– Send out an email to everyone at work, friends, and family, encouraging them to wear blue

– Create a sign and join us!

We must abide by the State of Alaska’s right-of-way guidelines.

• Stay off the train track side of Parks Hwy as there is no sidewalk and the tracks are close by and it is unknown if snow berms are present on that side of the highway, instead stay on the sidewalk side of Parks Hwy.

• Do not interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

• Do not leave any signs or banners behind after the rally is done.

• Do not park any vehicles along the highway or right of way for the rally.

• No selling or commerce in the State of Alaska right of way.

Experience the Magic of Winter at the 2024 Winter Carnival & Makers Market! Come enjoy food trucks, carnival rides, sports demonstrations, dog sled rides, a caribou petting zoo and more at the Winter Carnival! This event is free & open to the public, and will feature an Indigenous/Northern Makers’ Market.

Experience the Magic of Winter at the 2024 Winter Carnival & Makers Market! Come enjoy food trucks, carnival rides, sports demonstrations, dog sled rides, a caribou petting zoo and more at the Winter Carnival! This event is free & open to the public, and will feature an Indigenous/Northern Makers’ Market.

LAST Home Game! FREE EVENT!
Come watch The Denali Destroyers take on Ptarmageddon. Doors open at 6pm. Wheels roll at 7pm. Free event thanks to Country Cutts. Limited seating available, bring your own camp chair for opening seating. Or see about a table by contacting a DDRD Players limited tables available.

The 3rd Annual Talkeetna Ice Festival will be the best one yet! Starting Wednesday, January 31st with the Ice Carving Competition, this year’s event has expanded and includes an incredible 5 days of activities and events for the whole family to enjoy!

As part of the Ice Festival activities, the Talkeetna Art Walk will be Friday, February 2nd, from 3pm to 6pm with over a dozen participating businesses. The Art Walk ends at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar with a fire spinning show and free concert featuring Talkeetna favorite band, Ice Jam.

Saturday, February 3rd, the fun continues in downtown Talkeetna. Vote on your favorite sculpture, enjoy ice carving demonstrations, kids games, the Dog Keg Pull, tandem ski race, and more!

Sunday, February 4th we will round out the Talkeetna Ice Festival with the Frozen Basil Poker Ski Race. This is a fun, all ages ski ‘race’. There will also be a pond hockey style hockey tournament at the Jack MacDonald Ice Rink at Talkeetna Elementary School.

The Clean Air Challenge Turns 40!
Join us for an unforgettable weekend as we celebrate our 40th anniversary of the Clean Air Challenge taking place on May 11, 2024! This event offers four, fully supported ride lengths: 100-mile, 60-mile, 26-mile, and a fun 10-mile route. Take in the amazing views as you ride down the Talkeetna Spur Road and up the breathtaking Parks Highway. Upon your return enjoy live music, games, beer from Denali Brewing, and unbelievable views from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge deck!

Our mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through research, education, and advocacy. The dollars our riders raise are making a difference every day!

Register now, build your teams, and start working towards our amazing fundraising incentives, including overnight stays at the Lodge.

Come join us as we celebrate the start of the running season with the Valley Thaw Out races! The MatSu Running Club, with the support of AKtive Soles, is excited to host this spring race series for the third year. The Valley Thaw Out Races offers a little something for everyone… a 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon distances and a kids 1K fun run! Grab your friends, family, and cohorts and sign up to run some spring miles together!

THE COURSE:

All races will start and finish at Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm on Bodenburg Loop. Runners for all events will start from Pyrah’s and turn left onto Bodenburg Loop Rd.

5K: Course will be an out and back on Bodenburg Loop. (Ages 7+)

10K: Runners will head out on Bodenburg Loop until they reach the Glenn Highway, they will then turn RIGHT onto the bike path and run down to the next Bodenburg Loop Rd where they will turn RIGHT again and follow the road back to Pyrah’s. (Ages 7+)

Half Marathon: Runners will head out on Bodenburg Loop until they reach the Glenn Highway, they will then turn LEFT onto the bike path and continue on the bike path until the turnaround by Virginia Ave. From the turnaround they will take the bike path to the SECOND Bodenburg Loop Rd where they will turn RIGHT and follow the road back to Pyrah’s. (Ages 10+)

Kid’s 1K Fun: A fun loop around the beautiful farmlands of Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm. (Ages 7 & under. Adult/Older sibling may chaperone runner.)

COURSE RESTRICTIONS:

We will NOT be closing traffic to Bodenburg Loop Road. Runners will run on the shoulder against traffic. The 5K and 10K are open to children 7 and over, the Half is open to children 10 and over. YOU are responsible for ensuring that your child understands the rules of the road. Any child under the age of 10 MUST have an adult running with them for the duration of the race. Race volunteers will assist with any crossings and blind corners. Due to these conditions there will be NO strollers or dogs allowed the course. Failure to adhere to these regulations WILL result in a disqualification and/or removal from the race.

START TIMES:

Half Marathon: 10:00AM

10K: 10:30AM

5K: 11:00AM

Kids 1K: 11:30AM

BIB PICKUP:

Thursday, April 25: 5:00-7:00pm at AKtive Soles Performance Footwear Wasilla, (984 N Meridian Pl, Suite D, Wasilla, AK)

Saturday, April 27: 9:00-9:30am at registration tent at Pyrah’s (4350 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK)

Yes, you may pick up your friend’s bib. No, you may not exchange your shirt size.

RACE SWAG:

All 5K/10K/Half finishers will receive:

– 2024 Race Shirt

– Finisher’s Medal

– VTOR Sticker

*NOTE: The last day to register and be guaranteed a shirt and size is Saturday, March 30, 2024.

Kid’s finishers will receive:

– Finisher’s Token

– VTOR Sticker

(Kid’s shirts are available for purchase after registration.)

REGISTRATION POLICY:

Registration will open on January 1, 2024 at 6:00am and close on April 20, 2024 at midnight. Due to the cost of putting on events like this there will be NO refunds or deferments allowed. (Please consider purchasing race insurance at checkout if this is a concern for you.) There is NO day of race registration.

The Valley Thaw Out Races is a fundraising event for the MatSu Running Club, a non-profit running club in the Matanuska Susitna Valley. Race proceeds go directly to the club in support of their mission to help new and seasoned runners meet personal goals, create community, and increase the joy and satisfaction of running