Big fun planned all around the Mat-Su this weekend

MAT-SU — There’s a lot to do in the Mat-Su this weekend.

The fun includes Mat-Su Plunge, Winterfest, Iron Dog, Winter Family Fun Day, a bridal show and a new event called “Blessing of the Musher.” Oh yeah, and the ASAA state hockey tournament is in Wasilla through Saturday at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports.

It’s almost too much fun for one weekend. Here’s a look at some of what’s on tap:

The trail class of Iron Dog begins at 10 a.m., Feb. 14. After teams are off, sponsors and vendors will set up for Saturday events and the start of the Pro Class race on Sunday at 11:05 a.m. Visit irondog.org.

Saturday begins with the 10th annual Mat-Su Plunge at Wasilla Lake Resort on Wasilla Lake. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and plungers take the leap at noon.

Time it right and you can watch your questionably sane friends and neighbors abandon reason and jump into Wasilla Lake to raise money for local charities and still make it to Winter Family Fun Day at Reflections Lake. Dress warm and enjoy traditional wintertime fun like cross-country skiing, with equipment provided free by REI, and ice-skating — if ice conditions allow. The event is from 10:30 am to 3 p.m., Feb. 15 at Reflections Lake, Mile 30.5, Glenn Highway.

Volunteers have made several upgrades to facilities here, including bathrooms and a new covered picnic pavilion.

Or, there’s another option. The third annual Big Lake Winterfest celebration is Feb. 15-16 in Big Lake. In past years, events have been planned mostly out on Big Lake, but this year organizers say events are planned around Big Lake and Houston.

Winterfest includes live music by the Valley band Big Fungus, a beer garden on the lake, snowshoe races, snowmachine races, dog sled events, the annual Bunny Boot Bling Contest, food and other vendors.

Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center, 12235 W. Birch Rd. in Houston, is getting in on the fun with an “Owlentine’s Day” celebration from noon to 2 p.m., Feb. 15. This is a great opportunity to meet the education owls and tour the new center, which is closed to the public most of the year. For more information, call 892-2927.

Sunday is the start of the Iron Dog pro class race and a new event described as a “Blessing of the Musher,” planned at 10 a.m., at Sunny Knik Chapel at Mile 14, Knik-Goose Bay Road. Organizers have invited Iditarod and Jr. Iditarod mushers to attend the ceremony and will serve a free meal for mushers after the blessing.

3rd annual Winterfest details

If you plan to attend Winterfest in Big Lake, here are a few more details, including how to get there on the lake’s icy roads.

For folks familiar with Big Lake’s ice road network, Winterfest is set up in tents at the intersection of Ice 5 and Burkeshore Ice. Access the ice roads on Big Lake via South Shore Campground or Burkeshore Ice roads.

Two full days of events are planned during Winterfest, including some returning favorites like the Bunny Boot Bling contest and live music by Big Fungus.

Winterfest coordinator Ina Mueller said there also are a few new events this year, including helicopter rides, the helicopter hover challenge, a frozen T-shirt contest, a fireworks show and canine weight pull.

The Alaska K-9 Weight Pull Association will stage at the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center, 2942 Lions Cir., off South Big Lake Road.

Saturday ends with a fireworks show at 7 p.m. in a tribute to Big Lake WinterFest co-founder Scott Mueller, who was killed in a plane crash last summer. That will be followed by a Wish Lantern Launch. Lanterns are $5 each and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Big Lake Food Pantry.

For more information, visit Biglakewinterfest.com.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268

or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.