Around the Valley: Nov. 27

Festival of Trees begins Nov. 27

Mat-Su Special Santa will hold its Festival of Trees fundraiser beginning Nov. 27 and running through Dec. 12. Decorated trees will be on display at numerous local businesses through Dec. 10, then displayed at the Palmer Depot on Dec. 11 and 12. Each tree has a theme and participants can win prizes to win the tree and its goodies. For a chance to win a “Scenic Adventure to Seward,” contestants must visit every tree by Dec. 9 and stamped at each location. A drawing will be held at 3 p.m. on Dec. 12.

VPA holiday show upcoming

Valley Performing Arts will perform the holiday comedy ‘Fruitcakes’ weekends from Nov. 27 through Dec. 20 at the theater, located at 251 W. Swanson Avenue in Wasilla. The play is “a moving story of alienation, understanding and reconciliation, just in time for the holidays,” according to a VPA press release. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. For more information, visit valleyperformingarts.org or call 373-0195.

Soup tasting, book signing at Fireside

On Saturday, Nov. 28 (in conjunction with “Small Business Saturday”), Fireside Books will host Anchorage author Laurie Constantino for a book-signing and soup tasting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both Constantino’s book, “Tastes Like Home: Mediterranean Cooking In Alaska,” and Barbara Abdeni Massaad’s “Soup for Syria: Building Peace through Food” — in which Constantino is featured — will be on display and available for purchase.

Colony High hosts annual Christmas Bazaar

The 21st annual Colony High School Christmas Bazaar and Close-Up fundraiser runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the school on Saturday, Nov. 28. About 200 vendors will sell local, handmade and chain products (such as Pampered Chef appliances) in the large gym, commons and hallways during the one-day only event.

Country Cutts to host fireworks show Saturday

Country Cutts hair salon will host its annual fireworks show and Thanksgiving celebration this Saturday, Nov. 28 at 432 S. Alaska St. in downtown Palmer. Fireworks begin at 7:19 p.m.

Madrigal feast offers dinner, show at Palmer High

The Palmer High School music department will present a musical comedy called “The Viking, the Jester and the Warrior Women” this week during their annual madrigal feast fundraiser at the United Protestant Presbyterian Church in Palmer. Shows are at 7 p.m. Dec. 2-5, though dinner will not be served at the Dec. 2 show.

Tickets are $25 per person, $40 per couple, and are available in advance at palmermusicbooster.org. Call 907-775-3933 for same-day purchases.

Dom Flemons to play at Vagabond Blues

Folk artist Dom Flemons of The Carolina Chocolate Drops will play live at the Sydney Laurence Theatre in Anchorage on Friday, Dec. 4 and at Vagabond Blues in Palmer on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. each day.

Children under age 9 are discouraged from attending the multi-instrumentalist’s performances. Tickets for the Palmer show are available at bit.ly/1MS3lHl

Big Lake Lions plan bazaar

The Big Lake Lions will hold their annual Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 5 and 6 at the EastLake Mall in Big Lake. Times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6. There will be baked goods, arts and crafts, jewelry, woodworking, knitted items, quilts, scarves, candles, fudge, goat’s milk and much more. Santa will also be on hand at the Clothing Closet. For more information, call Carrielee Dunphy at 892-8687.

Christmas concert at St. John

Canotra Artica, under the direction of Andrea Lang, will present its annual Christmas concert, “All in the Spirit of Christmas,” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. For more information, call 315-4904.

Butte Elementary to host bazaar

On Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Butte Elementary PTA will host the Homespun Holiday Bazaar at the school, which is located at 4006 S. Butte Road. The Homespun Holiday Bazaar is a gathering of vendors with hand crafted items (Christmas items, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, blankets, clothes, food, hats, mittens, scarves, toys, household items, etc.) and direct selling companies (i.e. Avon, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, etc.). Santa will be on hand from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and reindeer and a sleigh will be on hand from noon to 2 p.m. Throughout the day there is musical entertainment provided by students and local talent, a Gift Basket Silent Auction, a Book Fair and a concession stand from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 746-0504.

Pioneer Peak plans bazaar

Pioneer Peak Elementary will hold a holiday bazaar at the school (1959 N. Trunk Road) on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Over 70 vendors will be on hand and there will be lots of holiday gifts and ideas. Free.

Church to host Christmas bazaar

Trinity Lutheran Church, located at mile 2.2 Palmer-Wasilla Highway, will hold a Christmas bazaar and bake sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. This 12^th annual bazaar will feature handcrafted items, woodworking, jellies, cookies and more. Proceeds benefit local charities.

Dancers to perform ‘Alaskan Nutcracker’

In conjunction with the Colony Christmas celebration, Sonja’s Studio of Dance will perform ‘The Alaskan Nutcracker’ at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11 and at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Glenn Massay Theater on the Mat-Su College campus in Palmer. The production is based on the classic tale, but with an Alaskan twist. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and available online at glennmassaytheater.com or by calling 746-9300.

Book launch of memoirs at Fireside

Jessie Jennings will present the memoirs of her husband, Wasilla author Arthur “Art” Jennings, at Fireside Books in Palmer on Friday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. The manuscript of the book, titled, “Life’s Lessons: Memoirs of Sex and Lies, Love and Death,” was completed shortly before the author’s death, and was published by Czar Struck LLC, thanks to his wife and editor, East High School teacher Ron Coleman.

Northern Lights Valley Knitters meet Dec. 13

The Northern Lights Valley Knitters will host its monthly meeting from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 865 N. Seward Meridian Pkwy. in Wasilla.

Colony Christmas is Dec. 11-13

Palmer’s 80th annual Colony Christmas weekend is Friday through Sunday, Dec. 11-13. Events include a cookie contest, gingerbread contest, “smoosh” race, Christmas lights competition, parade of lights, K9 weight pull, four different craft fairs and the triathlon. A free shuttle will be available to and from certain events on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For a complete schedule of events, visit palmerchamber.org/events/colony-christmas .

Colony Christmas Triathlon is Dec. 13

The 2015 Colony Christmas Triathlon, sponsored by the Mat-Su Health Foundation, begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Alaska Club in Palmer. Entry fees are $35 per person, $50 for two-person teams, and $60 for three-person teams. Triathlon is a 5k run, 500-yard swim and 10k bike. Bikes may be swapped for cross-country skis in the event of heavy snowfall/coverage.

For more information, visit palmerchamber.org or contact the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce at 745-2880 or director@palmerchamber.org.

Join Mat-Su ‘Toastmasters

Toastmasters is a self-paced program offering flexibility while allowing unlimited personal growth and self-improvement. Toastmasters helps you learn clear communication and helps build self-confidence. If you have received our letter in the mail and come to our meeting, we will treat you to a free breakfast. Mat-Su Toastmasters meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Tuesdays at the Primrose Retirement Center, 889 N. Elkhorn, Wasilla. For more information, call Linda at 232-0624 or Cheryl at 354 5702.

Airfare assistance offered for cancer patients

ConocoPhillips and BP Alaska will expand Corporate Angel Network’s mission by providing free air transportation for cancer patients traveling to treatment between Anchorage and Fairbanks. ConocoPhillips Alaska and BP are offering empty seats to cancer patients and family members on their Monday and Thursday scheduled flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Call Corporate Angel Network at 866-328-1313 to register within three weeks of a specific appointment.

Full Gospel Fellowship Luncheon meets Thursdays at the Trout House Restaurant in the Community Room in Wasilla. For more information, contact 315-1118 or visit corpangelnetwork.org.

Sunrise Rotary meets Tuesdays

Wasilla Sunrise Rotary meets at 7 a.m., Tuesdays. The group has a new meeting place,

the Meridian Point Building, 865 Seward Meridian Parkway. For more information, visit wasillasunriserotary.com.

Palmer Lions meet Tuesdays

Palmer Lions Club meets at noon, Tuesdays at the Moose Lodge No. 793, 1136 South Cobb St. in Palmer. For more information, call 761-3750.

Palmer Toastmasters meet Tuesdays

Palmer Toastmasters meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at the MTA Building in Palmer. For more information, call 907-539-7111, or visit palmer.toastmastersclubs.org.

Wasilla Lions Club meets Tuesdays

Wasilla Lions Club meets the second and third Tuesdaysfrom 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Wasilla Senior Center, 1301 S. Century Circle in Wasilla. Those wishing to join and current members are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Sam Carranza at 907-252-8589.

Wasilla Rotary Club meets Wednesdays

Wasilla Rotary meets at noon, Wednesdays at the Hacienda Mexican Restaurant by Fred Meyer, at 1781 E Palmer-Wasilla Highway in Wasilla.

Cribbage tourney on Thursdays

Play a nine-game cribbage tournament at 6 p.m., Thursday evenings at North Bowl along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. For more information, call 315-4398.

Big Lake yoga Thursdays

Yoga class is from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursdays at the Big Lake Lions Rec Center. Instructed by Anita Hartman, RYT, PT. Suggested donation of $10 per class, bring your own mat. Call Anita 907-227-0640.

Join Mat-Su Youth Orchestra

Youths are invited to join the Mat-Su Youth Orchestra, a multi-age youth orchestra community group. Cost is $25 a year. For more information, contact 373-6763 or levesque@mtaonline.net.

Job Corps seeks interview, business attire for students

The Alaska Job Corps “Career Closet” seeks donations of men’s business casual and interview attire and women’s small and medium career and interview attire. Donations can be dropped off at the front desk on the Alaska Job Corps Campus. Assisting students with clothing for entry into careers is appreciated.

Apply for Alaska Job Corps Center training Wednesdays

The Job Corps Center offers free career technical training for people ages 16-24. Orientations are at 2 p.m., Wednesdays at the Alaska Job Corps Center, 800 E. Lynn Martin Drive in Palmer. Bring two pay stubs, or proof of public assistance, and proof of citizenship, and a social security card. For information, contact 907-562-6200, 800-733-5627, or alaska.jobcorps.gov.