Ready for holiday magic? Palmer prepares to host annual small-town festival

Palmer residents and businesses may still need to pick up the pieces after this month's major windstorm battered the downtown area – but nothing can stop Colony Christmas.

Palmer’s annual transformation into a small-town winter wonderland is set for Dec. 12-14, with an explosive slate of community events surrounding the signature Saturday night parade and fireworks show.

“We have things happening all weekend long,” said Kelly Shoemake, executive director of the Palmer Chamber of Commerce.

For nearly three decades, the annual Christmastime celebration has been a bright spot for generations of Mat-Su residents during the year’s darkest days. This year will be no different, with events catering to everyone from the young (there’s a visit from Santa Claus) to the young at heart (a beer-themed community fun run).

“We try to make it as easy as possible for people to get involved,” Shoemake said.

Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper said that when he first moved to the community 30 years ago, he “didn’t have a clue what this small-town stuff was all about.”

He was quickly clued in to the unifying power of events like Colony Christmas.

“It’s absolutely amazing how things like this bring everybody together,” he said.

Cooper said his favorite part of the celebration is the parade, which this year will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. through the streets of downtown Palmer. There will be hot cocoa available and plenty of other goodies for the kids.

“I love watching the kids get excited for the parade,” he said.

The fireworks show begins at 7 p.m., immediately after the parade. The Palmer Public Library parking lot will be closed off for the lighting of the pyrotechnics, which Shoemake said should be easily visible “anywhere downtown.”

Saturday will be a busy day in Palmer, with the popular “Running of the Beers” community run set for 4 p.m. at Bleeding Heart Brewery. The event is expected to draw hundreds of runners and walkers—many in costume—to the roughly 3-mile course.

Other highlights of the festival include hayrides, a festival of trees, a three-day holiday market, and visits from Santa and his reindeer Saturday and Sunday at the Borough Gym and the Palmer Depot building; a beverage contest between downtown businesses; a cribbage tournament; and lots more.

Many events are completely free, although some include a fee. There will also be Christmas-themed events and sales at individual businesses downtown all weekend during the festival, which aims to put the spotlight on the city’s historic and picturesque district.

“It means a lot to the community and the businesses in downtown Palmer,” she said.

A full schedule of events can be found at the chamber’s website, palmerchamber.org. There, Shoemake said, people can find details, event descriptions, maps and information on how to sign up to participate.

“Everything you need to know about Colony Christmas is on there.”

-- Matt Tunseth is a freelance reporter from Southcentral Alaska. Reach him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com