Contributed by Emily Sparks
The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, in collaboration with more than a dozen local businesses and nonprofits, will host the third annual Frost Fest: Winter Resource Expo on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11am–3pm at the Palmer Train Depot. This year, the event also includes a canned food drive and pet-friendly 5K/10K.
Highlights include info tables with local organizations sharing resources on winter recreation, trails, classes and more; interactive activities for all ages; gear demos on winter activities; and door prizes and giveaways from local businesses and nonprofits.
New for 2026: Canned food drive. Bring canned goods to support the Palmer Food Bank and members of our community during the hardest months of the year. Those who donate will be entered for a door prize.
New for 2026: Fast and Furriest pet-friendly 5K/10K sponsored by AKtive Soles and Tier 1. Details and registration info are available at AKtive Soles.
“Winter in the Mat-Su can seem long and discouraging, but it is a season full of beauty and adventure,” says Taylor Raftery, executive director of the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation. “Frost Fest is a time to bring people together, let families know what resources are available to make the winter a season to look forward to, and encourage opportunities for connection in the community.”
Revel Treks and Tours is coordinating the event in collaboration with the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation. For the most up-to-date event details, visit the event page on Facebook. The event is sponsored by the Mat-Su Health Foundation.
In 2025, the 
Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation awarded more than $700,000 in grants to 14 local organizations. In addition to its grantmaking program, the foundation works with land managers, including Alaska State Parks, to apply for, manage and match federal and foundation grants. These projects leverage community donations to generate million-dollar investments in the Mat-Su, such as the Curry Ridge Connector Project and the preservation of Independence Mine State Historical Park.
To date, the foundation has invested more than $3.7 million in grants across the Mat-Su Borough. Over the next five years, the foundation plans to invest an additional $2.5 million to develop sustainable trails and regional parks.
For more info, contact Kierre Childers, Revel Treks and Tours event coordinator, at info@revelak.com or (907) 903-1664; or Taylor Raftery, Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation executive director, at traftery@matsutrails.org or (907) 795-2235.
Event Info: Third Annual Frost Fest: Winter Resource Expo; Saturday, Oct. 3, 11am–3pm; Palmer Train Depot; canned food drive; Fast and Furriest pet-friendly 5K/10K; event details on Facebook.
