Colony Christmas marks 75 years of celebrating as a community

One of the season’s premier family events happens this weekend all around the Palmer area.

Colony Christmas events began Thursday, marking the 75th anniversary of the Colonists’ first Christmas celebration after their arrival in the Matanuska Valley.

Overall, it’s a family celebration that focuses on bringing the community together to celebrate, according to Jillyan Hendrickson, director for the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce. She said most of the dozens and dozens of events and activities planned during the four days of fun also are free.

In fact, she said the only events that require tickets were the Avalanche game Thursday night, the Holiday Ball from 7:30 to midnight Friday, and the Harlem Globetrotters All-Stars at 2 p.m. Saturday.

For Hendrickson, she said one of the highlights this year is a new event called the “Smoosh Race,” from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

She said she came across the idea when she was doing some online research about events that other communities have during their festivals. On YouTube, she saw a video a Minnesota community posted from its smoosh race and she was hooked. It’s online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYNaqRji_ro.

The idea is that teams of four strap their feet to 8-foot lengths of 2 x 4s and they have to “ski” 25 yards as a group, then turn around and go back to the starting line.

“The trick is they actually have to turn around as a group,” Hendrickson said.

She said co-ed, all ages and themed teams are welcome to compete for the prize money. Teams will compete in heats to decide who wins the first-place prize of $75, the second-place prize of $50, and the third-place prize of $25.

For more information or to register your smoosh team, call 745-2880 or send an e-mail to director@palmerchamber.org. Entry forms for the parade, triathlon, gingerbread house, cookie contest and smooch race also are online at palmerchamber.org.

Contact Heather A. Resz at heather.resz@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.