Mat-Su events April 13 to 15

Wine tasting and travel auction is tonight

20th annual Wine Tasting and Travel Auction ExTRAVELganza is at 6:30 p.m., April 13 at Evangelo's Restaurant in Wasilla. Tickets are $35. For more information, or tickets, call 746-5032.

Willow Community Health Fair is Saturday

Willow Community Health Fair sponsored by the Willow Health Organization is from 9 a.m. to noon, April 14 at the Willow Community Center, Mile 69.7 Parks Hwy. The fair includes blood pressure checks, vision and hearing screenings, lots of great exhibitors, health educators, high-quality, low-cost blood tests, including a 27-test panel chemistry hematology profile (includes CBC, CMP, and lipids) for $45, thyroid TSH for $30, prostate PSA, $25, Vitamin D, $50, and A1c, $25. Drink lots of water and fast eight to 12 hours for the chemistry test. Please help by bringing a stamp for your results that will be mailed to you. For more information, contact Alaska Health Fair Inc. at (907) 278-0234 or visit alaskahealthfair.org.

‘Gala Live and Silent Auction Dinner’ is Saturday

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School's fifth annual Gala Live and Silent Auction Dinner is at 5:30 p.m., April 14 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Complex in Wasilla. The menu for the black-tie optional evening includes prime rib dinner, dessert bar, beer and wine cash bar. Tickets are $50 per person, adults only. Purchased tickets at the school in Wasilla at 260 E. Nelson Ave. Wasilla or by phone at 376-0883. Corporate table prices are available.

‘Artists helping Artists’ is Saturday

Bagels Alaska on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway will host an Artists Helping Artists art show benefit and silent auction from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., April 14. Art pieces will continue to hang throughout the month of April. The show is a fundraiser for fellow artist Talya Johnson whose son underwent brain surgery out-of-state, and they have no insurance. People may drop off art donations for the fundraiser through April 7 at Town Square Art Gallery in Wasilla. Bagel Alaska also will stay open later to accommodate this show and will donate a portion of food sales to the fundraiser.

Baby and Children's Fair is Saturday

Mat-Su Regional Hospital’s annual Baby and Children's Fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 14.

Celebrate America Saturday

A Conservative Patriots Group Celebrating America event is from 1 to 3:30 p.m., April 14 at Wasilla Lake Park. The celebration includes music by the “Andrew Sisters,” and swing dancing in the park.

Teen author to sign books Saturday in Willow

Willow teen author and Houston High student Isla Jacobs will sign copies of her book at 1 p.m., April 14 at the Willow Public Library as part of its National Library Week Celebration. For more information, contact 495-7323.

Craft fair is Saturday

Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. Crafts Fair is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 14 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 15 at 1301 S. Century Circle, Wasilla. The sale includes quilt raffle, great crafts, great fun.

Democratic Presidential Preferential Caucus is Saturday

Mat-Su Democrats in districts 13, 14, 15, 16 will have the chance to voice their support for the reelection of President Barack Obama April 14. The event will take place in the old Wasilla movie theater, 2430 East Parks Highway. District 15s option: Caucus in Talkeetna's Twister Creek Restaurant. Only Democrats may vote. Those wishing to register as a Democrat may do so the morning of the caucus. For more information, contact Gini King-Taylor at ginikt@gmail.com, or 373-5074 or visit matsudemocrats.org.

Pancake breakfast fundraiser is Saturday

A local running and distance-walking group, the Valley Renegades are having a pancake breakfast and silent auction fundraiser from 9 a.m. to noon, April 14 at the Pioneer Baptist Church. Cost is a $5 donation with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association. Pioneer Baptist is located off Pittman Road at the corner of Meadow Lakes Loop and Theodore.

‘Hawk Watch’ is this weekend

Anchorage Audubon and Mat-Su Birders will host a weekend Hawk Watch April 14 and 15 at about Mile 119, Glenn Highway, east of Palmer. A barbecue grill and potluck picnic is planned for April 15. For more information, visit matsubirders.org or anchorageaudubon.org.

Learn about autism April 15, 18

Learn more about autism and local autism resources at Dairy Queen in Palmer, from noon to 3 p.m., April 15, or from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 18. For more information, contact Betsy Woodin at bwoodin@nwresource.org, or 376-4678, or visit acrf.org.

Big Lake Ice Classic ends Sunday

Big Lake Ice Classic continues through April 15. Guess when the van will fall through the ice for a chance to win big money. Tickets are available at Steve's Food Boy and at the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce Office.

Celebrate poetry at the Palmer library Sunday

The Friends of the Palmer Public Library and the Palmer Arts Council are sponsoring "Celebrate Poetry Month" at the Palmer Public Library at 2 p.m., April 15. Featured will be local poets Gretchen Diemer, Julie LeMay, Paul Morley and Regional Poetry OutLoud winners Tong, Thao, Jill Hazlitt, and Whitney Winders. Refreshments and conversation will follow this free program.

Alaska Chamber Singers perform in Talkeetna Sunday

Alaska Chamber Singers will perform in Talkeetna at 4 p.m., April 15. Cost is $6 for Denali Arts Council members and general admission is $8. For more information, visit alaskachambersingers.org.