5 things to do in the Mat-Su: Weekend of Dec. 8

1) Desserts & Dancing at the Depot

“This will be a family friendly, fun, and yummy event, sure to become a new favorite tradition at Colony Christmas!”

PALMER- This Sunday, a new Colony Christmas event will be featured in the Palmer Train Depot from 4 to 6 p.m. Sweet teeth and fancy feet rejoice, the Desserts and Dancing event calls for the public to bring their homemade dessert items for the chance to win $100 cash in the People’s Choice award. The Braided River band will strum along to get people on their toes and cut some rug. There are no rules or forms to fill out for dessert entries. Contestants can enter their items between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Serious dancers are advised to bring their best dancing shoes. Admission is free of charge. This is event will be hosted by the Palmer City Chamber, the City of Palmer and Algone. Algone is a multidisciplinary medical facility that specializes in interventional pain treatment, opioid dependency therapy, regenerative medicine, and physical therapy. Braided river is a Valley based band that plays classic rock numbers, as well as their own original songs. They describe their style as Americana, Alternative Country, Rock, and Blues. For more information about Colony Christmas and the full schedule of events, visit: www.palmerchamber.org

2) Mat-Su Community Chorus - Holiday Favorites Concert

“Please come celebrate the season with your community chorus; hear and sing popular holiday favorites that are sure to deliver good “tidings of comfort and joy” for all.”

PALMER- This Sunday, the Mat-Su Community Chorus will perform their Holiday Favorites Concert from 4 to 6 p.m. at the St. John Lutheran Church. The Chorus welcomes anyone from the public to attend their festive performance. This event is intended to coincide with the annual Colony Christmas celebration. Expect to hear memorable tunes sang in harmony with holiday spirit. The Chorus has been around since the 1970’s and has amassed a strong core of dedicated members. They are a non-profit organization and are always accepting donations. Their IRS tax deductible number is 01-0930462.

According to their website, “the Mat-Su Community Chorus is a dedicated and talented group of singers – men and women of all ages and abilities – who perform SATB choral selections throughout the year within the Mat-Su Valley of Southcentral Alaska.”

Admission is $5 and seniors and children under 18 are free. The St John Lutheran Church is located at 440 East Elmwood Avenue in downtown Palmer. For more information, contact Phyllis Kircher at 907-745-1459 or matsucomchorus@gmail.com. You can also learn more by visiting the Mat-Su Community Chorus website at www.matsucommunitychorus.org

3) Colony Christmas Nativity event

“You won’t believe you’re in Palmer!”

PALMER — This weekend, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be joining the series of Colony Christmas events with their Nativity event. It will take place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Palmer Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 560 West Bogard Road (formerly West Arctic Avenue). There will be hundreds of nativities from around the world on display by strolling through the various, themed rooms. Local musicians and groups will perform live Christmas music throughout the two days. According to the event description, the Colony Christmas Nativity display is a nondenominational event, and all are welcome.

Each year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints undergoes exotic transformations as they feature over 1000 nativities. Using assorted decoration methods, like rock walls crafted from paper, old fashioned store fronts, thousands of lights, and so on, each room has a theme like “Under the Christmas Tree” or “Light” or a “Children’s Room.” This year, there will be a live nativity showcased throughout the weekend.

Internationally-themed nativities span all over the word, from Mexico, Peru, France, Israel, China, South America and Russia. The Colony Middle School Hand Bell Ensemble, the Colony Calypso Steele Drum Ensemble, Colony High Jazz Band, Palmer High Jazz Choir, Palmer High Jazz Band, The Singers Company, Birchtree Charter School, a guitar ensemble and many soloists will play live on stage. On Sunday, from 6 to 7 p.m., the choir and orchestra from the Messiah performance will make a special appearance.

Any churches or groups in the community who would like to create a display or participate musically are welcome to participate in the Nativity event. For information, contact Sue Phillips at 907-841-7587.

4) Alaskan Nutcracker

“Come celebrate the season with the sights and sounds of the magical Alaskan Nutcracker!”

PALMER- Sonja’s Studio of Dance will be dancing all weekend in the holiday classic with a “truly Alaskan twist” for the Alaskan Nutcracker. The ballet dancers will take to the stage at the Glenn Massay Theater on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m. The 125 year old ballet became a staple of the holiday season and Sonja’s Dance Studio aims to capture the original magic with their own take on it. After countless hours of preparation, the dancers are sure to perform notable feats to entertain audiences from Friday to Sunday. It’s time to unveil the fruit of their labor. The studio has been around for about 20 years and during that time, they’ve made a lasting impression in the Valley. They have a diverse curriculum. According to their website, all of the activites are desgined to empower each student with refined skill and dedication.

“At Sonja’s Studio of Dance, Cheer, Tumbling and Giggletime, we give each student the opportunity to participate in, and experience a course of study that will benefit them physically, challenge them mentally, provide self-confidence, teach self-discipline, build character, and allow personal expression in a healthy manner. Students that experience the sheer joy of self achievement develop a sense of self confidence and esteem for themselves that will spur them onward in all of their life endeavors.” – via Sonja’s Studio of Dance website

The Glenn Massay Theater is next to the Mat-Su College and is located at 8295 East College Drive, Palmer. Admission for the Alaskan Nutcracker is $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors. Reserved Seating. Tickets are available online at www.glennmassaytheater.com or by calling 907-746-9300. For more information about Sonja’s Studio of Dance, visit www.sonjasstudioofdance.com

5) Holiday Open House at the Matanuska Experiment Farm

PALMER- The Matanuska Experiment Farm is hosting a Holiday Open House this Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. There will be an assortment of entertaining activities and winter games, including a tree-lighting event. There will be locally made items and Alaska-grown products from available from various vendors. 4-H members will also be selling various goods. The event is a celebration of the holidays and for the University of Alaska Fairbanks centennial. Holiday treats and warm drinks will be provided. This event is meant for the whole family. The tree lighting ceremony will start at 6 p.m.

The Holiday Open House will be free of charge. The Matanuska Experiment Farm is located at 1509 South Georgeson Drive. For more information, call the Cooperative Extension office in Palmer at 907-745-3360.