2024 Colony Days festival this weekend

PALMER — The 2024 Colony Days three day festival is returning to downtown Palmer Friday, June 7 to Sunday June 9.

This annual festival is hosted by the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce and features a wide variety of events, activities, and local vendor shopping opportunities.

“It's a big event," Palmer Chamber Board President Kelly McKay-Dolfi said. “This year's gonna be phenomenal. It's gonna be great and we're really looking forward to it.”

This year's Colony Days festival will feature many free family friendly events and activities thanks to local nonprofits. McKay-Dolfi said the Chamber is extremely grateful for the large outpouring of support.

“They're really stepping up and giving back to the community,” McKay-Dolfi said.

There's numerous new and returning events and activities such as a chili cook off, a silent disco dance party, caricatures, a petting zoo, Vintage Car Rally, egg toss, and Alaska Native Market.

“There's really something for everyone," McKay-Dolfi said.

Colony Days’ pinnacle event is the community parade. According to McKay-Dolfi, there will be about 70 floats in this year’s parade, making it one of the largest ones ever held. She noted that Big Cabbage Radio will be livestreaming the parade for those who cannot attend in person.

“It's pretty cool," McKay-Dolfi said.

Colony Days is a highly attended and anticipated event cherished by many community members. It draws visitors from across the Valley and beyond to celebrate Palmer's history as an agricultural colony that eventually evolved into the city it is today. McKay-Dolfi said they're anticipating around 5,000 visitors over the weekend.

“It just keeps the tradition alive. It's been happening for many, many years. It's just the centerpiece of the town. It celebrates what the town was built on," McKay-Dolfi said. “There's a lot of people that look forward to this. I can't remember a Colony Days that wasn't well attended. To me, that shows how much the community wants it to happen.”

The theme for this year's Colony Days is “Harvest of Gold.”

For more information about the 2024 Colony Days festival, including a full schedule of events, visit palmerchamber.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com