Annual Colony Christmas celebration this weekend

Colony Christmas rings in the holidays this weekend in Downtown Palmer with a variety of festive activities and markets hosted by local businesses. The annual tradition brings together the community for a fun-filled weekend that keeps the small-town feel alive.

“I love everything about Colony Christmas, but what I love the most is the community,” Palmer Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kelley Shoemake said. “Watching the kids come out for the parade and watching the fireworks, seeing the families and the community enjoying that and having that small town community feel, is amazing.”

The festivities begin on Friday with ornament making, a Festival of Lights and multiple bazaars and markets across town. Saturday morning begins with a hearty breakfast cooked by the Palmer Lions Club at the Palmer Moose Lodge, followed by more bazaars and markets, craft making, hayrides, visits with Santa, a gingerbread house competition, caroling, concerts and more. The Running of the Beers at Bleeding Heart Brewery remains a favorite to watch in the afternoon and ice skating will be hosted at the MTA Center.

The Colony Christmas Parade starts at 5 p.m. with a variety of lighted displays, fun parade floats, music and more. A fireworks display will be held afterwards to cap off the evening.

“The highlight of Colony Christmas,” Shoemake said.

A cribbage tournament will be underway on Sunday at the Palmer Bar while more markets, a gift wrapping fundraiser and visits with Santa and his reindeer continue to bring holiday cheer to downtown.

“Everyone’s really excited. We have some really great members that are hosting some incredible events,” Shoemake said.

The Colony Christmas celebration is one that many downtown businesses look forward to every year. It gives the community the chance to find their final gifts to wrap and place under the tree while supporting their friends and neighbors that own and operate their businesses in Palmer.

“There’s nowhere else in the Valley that has that small town community feel,” Shoemake said.

A full list of activities, times and locations can be found at: https://www.eventeny.com/events/colony-christmas-2025-18675