5 THINGS TO DO IN MAT-SU: Feb. 16, 2018

1) Mat-Su Polar Plunge

WASILLA— This Saturday is the annual Mat-Su Polar Plunge hosted by the Mat-Su Sertoma Club. This fundraising event goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Everett’s Mat-Su Resort. Watch brave jumpers plunge into freezing Wasilla Lake. The Polar Plunge rallies the community under the common goal of raising funds for a great cause: supporting local charities with a focus on the hearing health in the community. Countless colorful characters campaign into the freezing waters— from Bat-Man to Princess Elsa. Some people even make their own costumes. Although costumes aren’t required, they’ve become a staple of the Mat-Su Plunge experience. The audience loves seeing what people come up with and dressing up tends to make things more fun. Come watch, donate and support the Mat-Su Sertoma Club’s efforts for the community.

For more information, visit: www.matsuhearing.org.

2) Valley Arts Alliance Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show

PALMER — The Valley Arts Alliance is back for their annual Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show at the Palmer Train Depot. This creative extravaganza will have two showings, one at 3 p.m. and at the other at 7 p.m. Artists utilize an array of items, whatever they can get their hands on: clocks, frills, tarps, duct tape, metal, and a countless options of other repurposed items to create one-of-a-kind fashions for the stage.

Artists are encouraged to go full throttle with ingenuity and unconventionality for this show. You never know what you’ll see when you come to see the spectacle of ideas and craftsmanship. Each year has different theme, and each participant has the opportunity pair the music of their choice for walk. Admission is $15. Visit: www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com for more information.

3) Rumble in the Valley

PALMER — The Denali Destroyer Dolls (DDD) are rolling through a new venue this Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m. Come see live roller derby at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. DDD will compete against the visiting Boom Town Derby Dames. Meet the players and find a good spot before the wheels get rolling and the action starts at 7 p.m. Tickets: $10 for pre-purchase and $12 at the door. Open festival style seating. Reserve a table online at denalidestroyers.org or find your favorite DDD player to pre-purchase tickets.

4) Knik Game Day

WASILLA —This Sunday, the Knik Bar is hosting a Game Day for the whole family. Starting at 12 p.m., groups and families can compete in Knik Family Feud. There will be a hearty lunch available for $15. Come spend the afternoon playing with your team and eating chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn and strawberry shortcake. The first 10 people to sign up will make the 2 teams.

5) Supper and Solidarity

“Please join us for conversation, good food, and the ability to share your ideas about what we can do to make our home safe, sustainable, and community-directed!”

WASILLA — Grab some warm clothes and join Food Not Bombs for their Supper and Solidarity meetings every Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.. They meet at the Wasilla Lake Park to share food and to have a discuss problems specifically in the Mat-Su “and what we can do to fix them!" According to the Food Not Bombs’ mission statement, they strive to “strengthen the organizing skills of activists volunteering in the peace, social justice and environmental movements by invite participants to share and seek knowledge in the areas of social change, economic justice, peace, generosity, diversity, responsibility and a sustainable future."

For more information, visit: www.foodnotbombs.net.