5 things to do in the Mat-Su: Weekend of Oct. 13

Soles In The Backcountry awards party

PALMER — It's time to celebrate all the adventures accomplished over the summer with Active Soles Performance Footwear. Youth and adults alike have chronicled their adventures, and Active Soles is hosting its annual Soles In The Backcountry Awards Party Saturday at the Palmer Moose Lodge, located at 1136 South Cobb St., to commemorate those accomplishments. The Jerry Wessling Band will perform, and Fox Run Lodge will provide meals.

Admission is $5 per person. The doors will be open at 5 p.m. Music begins at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony starts at 7:30. Everyone will share stories and media from their adventures, with music and drinks to follow. Active Soles will be raffling off prizes from Palmer businesses.

Fall Family Fun at the Reindeer Farm

PALMER— This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Williams Reindeer Farm is hosting its annual Fall Family Fun event. It’s a family focused day of rustic activities and elements of Halloween. Visitors can tour the farm on the Reindeer tours with a special appearance by Rockey the baby moose. There will be tractor rides, pony rides, a hay maze, reindeer train, games for kids including potato launching, and even a haunted house. Food will be available for purchase. There will also be pumpkins available for purchase for $15 each. There will be opportunities for family photos in the pumpkin patch with prices ranging from $7 to $15. Professional photographer Diane Kris of Luminescence Photography will be providing the family photos. Horse drawn wagon rides are $5 per person or $20 for a family. The Carhartt Brothers will perform live music at the event.

Tickets are $11 at the door and $10 online. Ages 2 and under are free. Included in the price: Reindeer Tours, Tractor pulled wagon ride, Spooky walk (Haunted house for kids), Pony rides, Hay Maze Reindeer train, Games for kids, Potato launching, and Hay play. Visitors are asked to dress for the Weather. Online sales close at 10 a.m. on the day of the event. Online tickets can be purchased at www.reindeerfarm.com/fall-family-fun.html

This is a repeating event that will appear again on the following two Saturdays, Oct. 21, and Oct. 28. The Williams Reindeer Farm is located at 5561 South Bodenburg Loop.

Farm and geology hike

PALMER — Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. is the Farm and Geology Hike at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. Hikers will have the chance to observe the fleeting fall scenery as they embark on a guided hike with local experts educating them about natural science pertaining to the and information regarding other activities around the farm- both instructive and recreational. Farm Director, Dr. Susanna Pearlstein and retired Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Scientist Joe Moore will lead the hike. The hike is said to be approximately three miles round-trip and will take about two hours to complete. It is intended for all ages.

According to the event page, “there will also be an informal discussion of the outstanding glacial landforms and soil features that occur on the Farm and adjacent lands. Hear about the living, breathing world surrounding you, including beneath your feet!”

The hike is free and open to the public and begins 11 a.m. “rain or shine.” The farm is located at 1509 S Georgeson Dr. (off of Trunk Road, near the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center). For more information, call 746-9450.

The Alaska Home Companion

WASILLA — The Alaska Home Companion is back for its sixth season at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry. Labeled a frontier variety show, the Valley Arts Alliance crafted an original homage to the “golden age of radio,” with a live radio broadcast containing skits, music and storytelling. The set-up is akin to the inspirational source: National Public Radio’s “Prairie Home Companion.”

Performers will get on stage — most in costume — and entertain audiences with stories, dances, acts and music. Radio Free Palmer (on 89.5 FM) will broadcast the performances. It may be a radio-themed event, but there will be plenty to see at the museum.

In previous episodes, audiences heard tales spun by The Roving Reporter, Guy d’North and The Sommelier, in addition to news from Lake Willowa and Mukluk Radio. According to the event page, “Alaska Home Companion will feature interesting stories by Alaskans about the best, the worst, and the silliest of everyday living in Alaska.”

The show starts at 7 p.m. There will be cash bar open during the event. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door. The museum is located at 3800 W. Museum Drive. For more information, visit ValleyArtsAlliance.com.

The Valley Arts Alliance is planning an encore episode, broadcast live from the Sutton Public Library, on Nov. 18.

Alaska Day dinner

WASILLA — The Wasilla Knik Historical Society (WKHS) is hosting its annual Alaska Day Dinner at the Elks Club Lodge by Finger Lake on Saturday. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the festivities begin at 6 p.m. The event is a celebration of the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States in 1867. There will be discussions and educational opportunities about Alaska history and heritage. Laurel Bill, author of “Aunt Phil’s Trunk,” will be the guest speaker. Bill won the 2016 Literary Classics International award for Best Nonfiction Series & Best Historical Nonfiction.

Tickets are $45 in advance from a WKHS board member, or call 907-376-2005, and pick up your tickets at the door.

This marks 210 years since Alaska became a U.S Territory. Alaska became a state in 1959. According to the event page, “this is the place to be for those who are interested in sharing our Valley's history.”