Colony Christmas brings holiday cheer to Palmer

PALMER — Christmas is two weeks away, but the celebrations start now.

The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Colony Christmas” weekend is here, with the festivities beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, and concluding at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13. Mat-Su Senior Services will offer free shuttle rides to many events on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (For route information, call the chamber of commerce at 745-2880 or the senior center at 745-5454.)

“I’ve never really seen a Christmas celebration quite like this,” said chamber executive director Ralph Renzi, a recent transplant from Idaho.

Renzi, a four-year Alaska resident, said the weekend event is one of a couple throughout the year that offers numerous shopping opportunities, be it at craft bazaars or small businesses in town.

“It’s a great time for local merchants to put their best foot forward and show the rest of the state what Palmer has to offer,” he said.

Denise Statz from NonEssentials said Colony Christmas provides one of her biggest profits of the year with all the traffic that comes through.

“It’s enormously valuable,” she said.

That’s also true for Valley crafters. Shoppers can stop by the Palmer Depot and the United Protestant Presbyterian Church both Friday and Saturday — and at Mat-Su Senior Services and the borough gym on Saturday — for their homemade gift needs.

Mayor Delena Johnson said she’s been in awe of the sheer number of bazaar vendors out for the event on more than one occasion.

“Even if you don’t go look at every little booth it’s fascinating to see how many people are out there making things and selling things,” she said.

Johnson said Colony Christmas is one of her favorite events of the year.

“It builds that community spirit that people talk about Palmer having,” she said.

Perhaps that’s why there are so many open houses over the weekend.

On Friday, Barickman and Associates, First National Bank of Alaska and Tammy Bruce with Edward Jones will open their doors in the late morning, with the Palmer Museum hosting a reception and wine tasting that evening (and a daytime open house on Saturday). The Colony House Museum will also host an open house on Saturday.

Younger Colony Christmas-goers can enjoy festive movies at the Palmer Moose Lodge Friday night, go see “An Alaskan Nutcracker” at the Glenn Massay Theater, or ride by the lit-up topiaries on the Alaska State Fairgrounds, which are open to all for the next three weekends from 4 to 9 p.m.

Fair marketing director Dean Phipps said the fair typically hosts an open house this weekend (last year Governor Bill Walker read Christmas stories to kids there), but decided to mix things up with a drive-through “Bright Up the Night” display of bedazzled animal sculptures. By creating an exhibit people can cruise by in their car, the Fair also ensures that everyone keeps moving and can get back to other Colony Christmas activities as quickly as they’d like.

“We didn’t want to take away from events happening downtown,” Phipps said.

In the years that he personally has been downtown for the weekend, Phipps had fond memories of the Parade of Lights (begins Saturday at 5 p.m.) and supporting the Palmer High School girls’ basketball team at their annual fundraiser (Friday at the school’s gym from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.).

Perhaps his most vivid memory, however, is the Palmer Winter Triathlon he chose to do when it was 20 below outside.

Phipps couldn’t recall the year, but remembered having to ride his bike to the starting line from home because his truck wouldn’t start. Then, as he and former Palmer High athletic director Mike Janecek neared the finish before the transition to the Palmer pool, they slid across a patch of ice and “crashed and burned” together, he said.

“I remember just having a good time being in a semi-warm pool after that,” Phipps said.

Though he was tentative about signing up again, he praised Palmer residents’ propensity for getting out and having fun during Colony Christmas, no matter the temperature.

“I love the fact that people don’t let cold weather and the elements dictate what they’re gonna do,” he said.

But there’s plenty to do inside as well during Colony Christmas.

Sandra Peterson with the City of Palmer manager’s office said the cookie-decorating contest they’re hosting at the Colony Inn on Saturday with the Palmer Police Department has been a big hit in the past.

“It amazes me how much interest in this little community there is in a cookie contest, it’s such an old fashioned thing to do,” she said.

For a complete schedule of events, visit palmerchamber.org/events/colony-christmas.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.