PASCO — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin landed Wednesday night in Pasco.

She plans to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with relatives in the Tri-Cities. She spoke Wednesday night to a gathering of friends and media after arriving on a private jet.

“It’s kind of surreal. But it’s really good to be back in the Tri-Cities to reconnect with the roots,” she said.

The former Alaska governor’s last visit with family here was about a year ago, she said during an impromptu news conference as she held her son Trig and her daughter Piper stood next to her.

Her husband, Todd, stayed at home “fixing the roof,” she said.

She said she is looking forward to spending time with relatives in the Tri-Cities. “I like the wonderful chaos of the family (at Thanksgiving),” she said.

Palin plans to have dinner at the Richland home of her aunt Katie Johnson, a sister of Palin’s mother.

Palin’s grandparents, Clem and Helen Sheeran, came to Richland in 1943 so he could work at the Hanford nuclear reservation.

Palin detailed her Thanksgiving plans on Wednesday on Twitter.

“Much 2 b thankful 4 as Americans, most free people on earth! More opportunity 4 happiness/health/prosperity thx to our liberating Constitution,” she wrote.

She was expected to be in the Turkey Trot fun run in Columbia Park this morning, a 5K run that benefits the Red Cross.

She also has a book signing planned at the Richland Hastings store from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday.