It started as a few Matson employees gathered on the side of Campbell Creek Trail to watch sled dog teams race by during the Iditarod Ceremonial Start in Anchorage. Fast-forward more than 20 years later, and it’s likely one of the biggest Iditarod celebrations you’ll find in Anchorage.

In the early days of Matson’s trailside picnic, one of its mechanics, Al Palma, volunteered to groom the Iditarod trail and realized he could easily carve out a little spot for himself, coworkers and their families to enjoy the race. For the first few years, the picnic brought together a handful of Alaskans who enjoyed watching the start of The Last Great Race from a prime location.

As time went on, the trailside picnic grew up with Anchorage. Employees brought snacks and hauled in fire pits and camping chairs to add to the event. Eventually, it became a full-blown trailside barbeque. There were a few years when the group would find a new building on the previous year’s location and would have to scout the trail for another optimal viewing area. Even as the site changed, the picnic steadily grew. Fire pits fashioned from old wheels gave way to heating units and pop-up tents; employees’ children who started attending as babies learned to work the grill and sling hot dogs themselves.

“People would come by and ask us if the food was for sale, so we would just share it,” said Lee Fisher, gatehouse and equipment control manager. The team started bringing out more and more food so they could share with the whole community. Today, they give out a total of 1,049 hot dogs – one for every mile of the trail.

“It’s all volunteer work on the employee side,” noted Ken Walkins, chassis shop foreman. “It’s a lot of hours and a lot of work, but it’s a fun way to serve the community.”

These days, employees decorate the spot with big banners and signs for the mushers to see. Mushers often stop for a few photos and a hot dog before getting back to their sleds and onto the trail. The industrial-sized barbeque is hauled out around 7 a.m., as setup starts bright and early. Anyone attending can expect to leave with a few free Matson giveaways – at this event, the dog accessories do best.

The picnic also serves as a reunion for Matson employees, with the Iditarod at its center. Many employees have families that come into town from the Lower 48 (Lee Fisher’s parents fly up for it every year) and Dutch Harbor employees and their families make the trip to Anchorage, too.

Matson also sponsors a number of IditaRider seats each year, and a few lucky employees always have the chance to win a spot. Last year, Ken was able to go, and the experience was unforgettable.

“It was quiet, calm and all you could hear was the pitter-patter of the dogs’ feet,” he reminisced.

“By the end of the trail, 11 miles, you’ve already figured out the personality of each of those dogs if you’re paying attention,” said Laurie Larson, human resources administrative assistant, who revels in her IditaRider experience. “After Tudor Road, you get on the trail system and you have a chance to enjoy the silence and pay attention to the dogs. I couldn’t believe how peaceful it felt. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was surprised. I had a smile on my face the whole time. I got to see the mushers stop, check on their dogs and talk to them. Their dogs are really their whole life, they love them.”

In the 60s and 70s, Laurie used to come see the dogs race downtown, and later would sit on the hillside behind the railroad to watch the fireworks at night. The race holds a special place in her heart, since her great uncle, Darrell Reynolds, ran the first Iditarod in 1973.

Like most Alaskans, Matson’s employees have a strong connection with the Iditarod and were proud to see their company become a corporate sponsor in 2003 and later on a sponsor of mushers Aliy Zirkle and Allen Moore, who run SP Kennel, in 2015.

“Aliy Zirkle and Allen Moore are two of the nicest people you will ever meet,” said Claudia Russell, director of finance and administration. “We couldn’t have asked for better mushers to sponsor. They’re community oriented, and Aliy has won the award for best veterinary care time. It’s a wonderful fit.”

This year, Matson employees are prepping for the 2020 picnic and ready to welcome friends, family and anyone from the community who stops by. Matson has found a permanent home for its cherished event on the ANTHC campus, right on the Campbell Creek Trail. Eddie Walton, director of railbelt logistics and a -year employee proclaimed, “We had our biggest turnout last year. It sounds like this year is going to be even bigger.”

Those wishing to join can find this year’s picnic at 4000 Ambassador Drive in Anchorage from 10 a.m. to noon.