5 Friday Flings left for the season

WASILLA — There’s just five more Friday Flings left. Downtown Palmer’s iconic, summer marketplace is wrapping up Sept. 11.

Friday Fling started later this year due to COVID-19, so it’s ending later as well, according to Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ailis Vann. She said they wanted to have a full season so they made sure to add those postponed weeks at the end.

“I think things have been really great. We’ve had great attendance every week, and people are excited to have something to do. People have sent us emails and stuff, just thanking us for having the market because it makes things seem almost normal for them,” Vann said.

Throughout the summer, there’s been two different musical sets at each Friday Fling. Vann noted that this coming Fling will feature two sets but the remaining Flings will just have one afternoon set from 4 to 6 p.m.

Overall, vendors have been reporting good numbers over the summer, according to Vann. She said that vendors have been pleasantly surprised by their turnouts in spite of the circumstances.

“They’re positive. The thing I hear most from vendors is that they’re surprised at their sales,” Vann said. “They’re exceeding their expectations is what they’ve been saying. They weren’t thinking things were going to be as good as they have been.”

Vann said that other businesses around town have also been reporting higher sales thanks to the weekly influx of people at Friday Fling. Vann said Friday Fling is a longtime annual tradition many look forward to, and it helps stimulate Palmer’s economy.

“People want to keep and support our local economy going,” Vann said.

Vann said the Chamber is currently working out different ideas for upcoming activities and markets to bring the community together in the coming months, but they won’t announce anything until September.

She said they may feature an exclusively agricultural market with local farmers in October, noting that people should keep visiting Palmer in the meantime.

“I just encourage people to shop local and keep supporting our local businesses,” Vann said.

For more information, search Friday Flings on Facebook or visit palmerchamber.org.

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