Anchorage Daily News

TODAY

COMMUNITY

Palmer Friday Fling, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., downtown. Food, plants and crafts for sale at weekly summer festival. (355-9415, fridayfling@mtaonline.net)

Governor's Picnic, 4-8 p.m., Iditarod Park, Nelson and Lucille streets, Wasilla. Military appreciation ceremony starts at 6 p.m.; free food, children's games, prizes, and meet Gov. Sarah Palin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of statehood. Free. (376-1299)

Mat-Su Miners vs. Peninsula Oilers, 4 p.m., Hermon Brothers Field, Alaska State Fair grounds, Palmer. $2-$5 (www.matsuminers.org)

Rafter H trail riding clinic, through Sunday, McCormick Arena, Moffitt Road off Palmer-Fishhook, Palmer. Contact Nathan Horsman, 775-3974, nathan@rafterhtraining.com.

ON THE TOWN

Meg Hutchinson house concert, 7-10 p.m., Whole Wheat Radio, Talkeetna. Acoustic songwriter performs in intimate setting, $10 donation. (www.wholewheatradio.org)

Charlotte's Web, 7 p.m., St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 323 N. Alaska St., Palmer. Students in Palmer Arts Council theater camp perform classic tale; free, donations appreciation. (745-7735)

Evil Ted and the Thick Pink Antiseptic, 8 p.m., Make-a-Scene, 290 N. Yenlo St., Wasilla. Punk concert, $10. (373-2698, www.makeasceneak.com)

BackAcres Band, 9:30 p.m., The Houston Lodge, 16966 W. Parks Highway. No cover. (892-6802)

SATURDAY

COMMUNITY

Great Alaskan Flea Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Alaska State Fair grounds purple parking lot, Palmer. Free admission, free parking at weekly event. (Louie@Calandri.com)

Summer family fun day on Reflections Lake, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mile 30.6 Glenn Highway, Knik River Access exit. Canoeing, rafting, swimming, nature lectures and demonstrations, picnicking and more; free lemonade and cookies. Sponsored by Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats. (373-7484, www.palmerhayflats.org)

Willow Garden Tour, 10 a.m., Call for directions and details on five gardens, including Les Brake's Coyote Garden. Donations requested to benefit Alaska Botanical Garden and Willow Garden Club. (770-3692, www.alaskabg.org)

Garden and Art Festival, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., Alaska State Fair grounds, Palmer. Workshops and demonstrations, food, entertainment, garden guru Ciscoe Morris from Seattle and garden-related vendors, $5, 12 and under free. (www. alaskastatefair.org, www.ciscoe.com)

Auditions, 11 a.m., Valley Performing Arts, 251 W. Swanson Ave., Wasilla. "Love, Sex and the IRS" seeks cast of eight -- three women and five men -- for comedy farce set for autumn. Details online: www.valleyperformingarts.org.

Summer hike series, 1 p.m., Spring Creek Farm, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer. Free guided hikes whose difficulty increases as the summer progresses; call or e-mail for locations. RSVP (746-2795, tinahanke@gmail.com)

Mat-Su Miners vs. Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks, 4 p.m., Hermon Brothers Field, Alaska State Fair grounds, Palmer. $2-$5 (www.matsuminers.org)

ON THE TOWN

North Star Speedway, gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 6:30 p.m., North Star Speedway, 2151 Jensen Road, Palmer. Kids Day bike races from 5:30-6:30 p.m.; face painting and pit and treat after the races. $5-$10, under 10 free. (746-OVAL)

Jared Woods, 7 p.m., Make-a-Scene, 290 N. Yenlo St., Wasilla. Indie musician performs, $10. (373-2698, www.makeasceneak.com)

SUNDAY

COMMUNITY

Great Alaskan Flea Market, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Alaska State Fair grounds purple parking lot, Palmer. Free admission, free parking to weekly event. (Louie@Calandri.com)

Coyote Garden Tour, noon- 5 p.m. Sunday. Call for directions and details. $7.50 donation requested to benefit Alaska Botanical Garden and Willow Garden Club. (770-3692, www.alaskabg.org)

Knik Museum social picnic, noon- 5 p.m., Mile 13.9 Knik-Goose Bay Road, Wasilla. Wasilla-Knik Historical Society sponsors picnic with special events; bring a dish for the potluck, drinks provided. (376-5679, 376-7755)

Auditions, 1 p.m., Valley Performing Arts, 251 W. Swanson Ave., Wasilla. "Love, Sex and the IRS" seeks cast of eight -- three women and five men -- for comedy farce set for autumn. Details online: www.valleyperformingarts.org.

ON THE TOWN

Light the Night benefit concert, 6-10 p.m., Palmer Depot, 610 S. Valley Way. Local musicians perform in fundraiser for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. $10 (373-1528)

Mat-Su Miners vs. Anchorage Bucs, 7 p.m., Hermon Brothers Field, Alaska State Fair grounds, Palmer. $2-$5 (745-6401, www.matsuminers.org)

MONDAY

COMMUNITY

Super Hero camp, 1:30-3:30 p.m. through July 24, Babcock Fine Arts Building, 5700 E. Pilgrim Court, Wasilla. Fire the imaginations of 4- to 7-year-olds with classes, crafts and tumbling. $100 (357-3933)

Borealis Dancers, 6 p.m. Call for location. For ages 9 and older. (Georgie, 746-6504)

Mat-Su College Community Band, 7-9 p.m., Wasilla High School band room. New members welcome. (746-0994)

TUESDAY

COMMUNITY

Mat-Su Valley Toastmasters Club, 7:30 a.m., Windbreak Cafe, Parks Highway, Wasilla. Guests welcome. (Dennis Moore, 746-6558; Mary Kvalheim, 376-4752)

Nature walk and talk, 10:30- 11:30 a.m., Spring Creek Farm, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer. For ages 5 and older accompanied by adult; walk, then snack and story time, free. (746-2795)

Caught in the Web! summer reading program for third-graders and up, 1 p.m., Palmer library, 655 S. Valley Way. Activities and crafts; free. (745-4690)

Youth Yoga at the Yurt, 1 p.m., Spring Creek Farm, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer. Monthly yoga series for ages 4 and older; $30 for four weeks. (746-2795)

Mat Valley String Orchestra, 6:30- 8:30 p.m., United Protestant Presbyterian Church, 713 S. Denali St., Palmer. High school skill level. (Kent McMartin, 376-2850; Fred Harding, 745-1430)

ON THE TOWN

Mat-Su Miners vs. AIA Fire, 6 p.m., Hermon Brothers Field, Alaska State Fair grounds, Palmer. $2-$5 (745-6401, www.matsuminers.org)

WEDNESDAY

COMMUNITY

Turf for Tots, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex, 1001 E. Mack Drive. Let your toddlers run free on the turf court. $5 per child, $40 for 10-punch admission. (357-9100)

Community buffet lunch, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Pioneer Lodge, Mile 71.7 Parks Highway, Willow. For all ages. Guest speakers and social time. Sponsored by Willow Area Seniors. $8. (495-5222)

Wasilla Farmers Market, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m., Old Town Site behind the Dorothy Page Museum, 323 N. Main St. (LeRoi, 376-5679)

"Be Credit Savvy" workshop for teens, 1-2 p.m., Palmer library, 655 S. Valley Way. Free. (745-4690)

Come Outside and Play! 1:30- 3:30 p.m., Spring Creek Farm, 6404 N. Lossing Road, Palmer. Spring Creek Outdoor Adventures sponsors play time with a healthy snack. No preregistration. $2 (746-2795)

ON THE TOWN

Mat-Su Miners vs. AIA Fire, 6 p.m., Hermon Brothers Field, Alaska State Fair grounds, Palmer. $2-$5 (745-6401, www.matsuminers.org)

Rachel's Challenge, 7-8 p.m., Alaska Job Corps Center gymnasium, 800 E. Lynn Martin Dr., Palmer. Be challenged by the life of Rachel Scott, who died in the Columbine High School tragedy in 1999, free. (861-8800)

Alaska Barrel Racers Association racing, 8 p.m., Saddle Up Arena, 5402 Cooper off Old Glenn Highway. (688-4080)

THURSDAY

COMMUNITY

"Eensy, Weensy Spider" summer reading program for age 4 through third grade, 10:30 a.m., Palmer library, 655 S. Valley Way. Preregister to parade your pet dressed as an insect; insects welcome too. Free. (745-4690)

Roping practice, 7 p.m., McCormick Arena, Moffit Road off Palmer-Fishhook. Horse riders learn skills. Contact Nathan Horsman, 775-3974 or nathan@rafterhtraining.com.

ON THE TOWN

Mat-Su Miners vs. Glacier Pilots, 6 p.m., Hermon Brothers Field, Alaska State Fair grounds, Palmer. Free admission. (745-6401, www.matsuminers.org)

COMING UP

Fireweed Festival, July 26-27, Trapper Creek Community Park, Mile 115.2 Parks Highway. Annual festival highlighted by children's activities and crafters, plus music, food and art. Free (733-7377)

Make-a-Scene! Music Fest, noon, July 26, 290 N. Yenlo St., Wasilla. Local musicians perform on three stages, art walk, children's and teen activities; free. (373-2698, www.makeasceneak.com) HOT PICKS FOR THE WEEKEND

• Chow down with the governor. Palmer and Wasilla chambers of commerce share organizing duties for this year's Governor's picnic from 4-8 p.m. today at the Iditarod Park at the intersection of Nelson and Lucille streets in Wasilla. A military appreciation ceremony starts at 6 p.m.; there will be free food, children's games, prizes and a chance to meet Gov. Sarah Palin in celebration of the 50th anniversary of statehood. Info: 376-1299.

• Summer family fun day. Stop by Reflections Lake from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday to try out canoeing, rafting, swimming (if you dare), hear nature lectures and watch demonstrations. The free fun is sponsored by the Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats. Bring a lunch but free lemonade and cookies will be provided. The lake is located at Mile 30.6 of the Glenn Highway; to get there, take the Knik River Access exit and follow the signs. Info: 373-7484, www.palmerhayflats.org.

• Alaska Garden and Art Festival. The annual green-thumb get-together is held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Alaska State Fair grounds in Palmer. Enjoy workshops and demonstrations, food, entertainment, hear garden guru Ciscoe Morris from Seattle and shop from garden-related vendors. Admission is $5, 12 and under are free. Info: www. alaskastatefair.org, www.ciscoe.com.

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