Saturday’s event, the first of many Government Peak Music Festivals

HATCHER PASS — The Mat-Su Valley’s answer to the Kenai’s Salmonfest — formerly known as Salmonstock — rocked Hatcher Pass on Saturday, as hundreds gathered for the first Government Peak Music Festival.

The brainchild of Chris Jones, the vice chairman of the board of the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, the event brought in three bands for the featured outdoor stage, and featured four more in the indoor chalet.

“It’s going beyond my expectations,” Jones said of the fund-raiser for the foundation and its work to preserve area trails. “All of these proceeds go to trails all these folks use.”

Spectators set up lawn chairs in the flat and grassy stage area beneath a beer garden above. And especially once the headline act — the Denali Cooks took the stage, many were up dancing about.

The Carhartt Brothers opened the festival on the main stage at 4 p.m., followed by Braided River and the Denali Cooks.

In the Chalet, the Nashville Trio was followed by Aurora Davidson, John French, Tyson James and John Cook.

Jones said he was lucky to be able to book the Denali Cooks on such short notice, having only conceived the idea in April. He’s already preparing for next year’s festival, and making plans to make the event even bigger.

“I went to Salmonfest and the Girdwood Forest Fair listening for next year,” he said. “I agree, this is the way to go. People enjoy music out here (more than in a bar), you just have to contend with the weather.”

Jones said he’d like to eventually expand the festival so that the acts in the chalet could have outdoor stages of their own in the back, but that could be a while yet.

“Our limitation is parking,” Jones said. “I don’t think it will happen next year, but it’s in the thinking.”