Dancin' in the streets

Valley Life editor

Simple Country Pleasures returned to downtown Palmer last weekend, as one of the most popular community celebrations took center stage -- and South Alaska Way, the Palmer Depot and assorted parking lots around town.

From pie-eating contests to a landscaper's market, Colony Days brought thousands into the downtown area for fun in the hot sun. Countless people lined South Alaska Way for the annual parade, which was bigger than ever before.

"We come every year. The parade is something the kids look forward to," said Wasilla resident Justine Hauck. "I love the small-town feel of Colony Days. We're having fun. I bet I've run into five or six people that I haven't seen in years."

The first-ever bed race began early Saturday with a team from the Palmer Rotary piloting their bed on wheels down the street in a hurry. After stuffing a pillow at the main intersection in Palmer, the team pushed the bed toward the finish line on South Alaska Way.

Those wearing nothing but their underwear in the competition were thankful for the warm sunny day.

The parade then made its way through the downtown district, to the delight of the kids lining the street in search of candy.

"The parade is my favorite part," said 5-year-old Tommy Greshner. "I wished the fire trucks would have done their sirens, though. I liked getting candy, too."

Throughout the day, a landscaper's market and outdoor arts and crafts sale took place on a blocked-off street. For many kids, though, the bike rodeo was the biggest hit of the two-day festival.

Hundreds of children took advantage of the first-ever Colony Days Bike Rodeo, sponsored by the Palmer Police Department. There, participants were instructed about bike safety and the importance of wearing helmets. They could even get a bike helmet for free, and donations were accepted by the Palmer Police Department for helmets as well.

There was a rodeo course for kids to zip their bikes around, with orange cones and pylons there to make things a bit more difficult. After finishing the course, many participants had a smile on their face, wanting to do the course again and again.

"This is cool," said 7-year-old Ayden Chadd after riding through a figure-eight setup on the pavement. "This is really cool."

Food vendors made sure nobody went away hungry, and the first pie-eating contest was another culinary draw of the festival. While KMBQ owner John Klapperich chowed down, Palmer Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gene Jansen took a more "Martha Stewart" approach to his pie.

There was no shortage of entertainment during Colony Days, either.

Throughout the afternoon, music blared from around the downtown area, coming from the Mat-Su Community Band, Just Playin' Jazz and the Greatlanders, among other bands.

The whole festival had a very family feel to it, visitors said. That's part of the draw of the event.

"This is why we come," Hauck said as she pointed to her young daughter who was eating kettle corn, while a giant balloon animal hat rested on her head. "She's having a blast."