Iditarod Days brings family fun to Valley

Have you noticed the last light of day lingering in the western sky until nearly 7 p.m. now? February may signal the end of winter's darkest days, but it hardly means the end of winter.

Elsewhere in the country, winter-weary folks may greet February with a sense of relief that spring is imminent. Here in Alaska, we know better. Recent warm weather notwithstanding, not only do we harbor no illusions about spring being just around the corner, our celebration of winter gets kicked into high gear.

Last weekend, the 46th annual State Winter Carnival in Willow finished up its midwinter run of fun and games for area families. This weekend, Iron Dog, the annual snowmachine marathon, gets under way. Three weeks later, the same trail system will go to the dogs, as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race revs up.

Although it has been rare in recent years that the Iditarod restart has been held in Wasilla, the city is still the race's home. To highlight and celebrate that, the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce mounts its Iditarod Days event each year in the days leading up to Iditarod weekend.

Long a staple of the chamber's yearly repertoire, Iditarod Days is shaping up to be more festive than ever this year. What was once a week-long affair has been stretched to 10 days of events around the community, with activities for the whole family.

For the second year running, the centerpiece of the lineup is the Musher's Ball, an &#8220Alaska-formal” event scheduled this year for Saturday, March 3, at Settlers Bay Lodge. Honorary hosts this year are Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd. Past race winners also will be present, along with many of this year's mushers.

Residents interested in attending the Musher's Ball should get their tickets quickly, as the supply is limited. Tickets can be purchased at the chamber office, on Railroad Avenue in Wasilla, or online, at the Iditarod Days official Web site, www.iditarod

days.com. The $65 price tag includes dinner and live music.

The Web site also has a comprehensive list of events for all 10 days worth of festivities.

Folks who call the Valley home already know the year-round benefits of living here. With so much to look forward to, the thought of several more weeks of winter is not so much to bear.