Midwinter festivities part

of Valley allure

To most of the rest of the country, the start of February means Groundhog Day and the hints of spring that go along with it. Here in the North Country, we know better.

Not only do we harbor no illusions about the imminence of spring, our celebration of winter gets kicked into high gear. There's the State Winter Carnival in Willow, Iron Dog, Iditarod and a host of related events. This year, the celebration is more festive than ever.

Iditarod Days has long been a staple of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce's annual schedule. The week-long lineup of events around the community brings activities for the whole family.

The centerpiece of this year's lineup is something new, and the chamber is pulling out all the stops to make it a first-rate function for the Valley and guests. On March 4, the eve of the official Iditarod start, the chamber is hosting its inaugural Musher's Ball. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski will be the guest of honor, and longtime Iditarod artist Jon Van Zyle and his wife, Jona, will serve as the festival king and queen. Past race winners will also be present, along with many of this year's mushers.

The ball is part of a chamber initiative to increase awareness of Wasilla as the home of the Iditarod - to both locals and visitors. Invitations to the event have been sent to out-of-state Iditarod volunteers and Iditarod Trail Committee members who will be in state for the Last Great Race.

By giving visitors and race fans who might otherwise spend that Saturday night in Anchorage a reason to come out to the Valley, the chamber is continuing its effort to beef up the local economic impact of the Iditarod.

Residents interested in attending the Musher's Ball should get their tickets quickly, as the supply is limited. Call 376-1299 to purchase tickets or for more event information. The $40 price tag includes appetizers and live music. Door prizes, a silent auction and a fireworks display will also be part of the evening's festivities.

Folks who call the Valley home already know the year-round benefits of living here. Showing it off to visitors is part of the fun. And with so much to look forward to, the thought of several more weeks of winter is not so much to bear.