Locals celebrate Halloween in downtown Palmer

PALMER — Downtown Palmer’s main shopping district bustled with colorful characters and ghoulish guests Friday evening.

Local families walked around town with their cheerful children to visit with local firefighters and participating businesses, all nabbing free candy during the Palmer Chamber’s Trick or Treat in the Street event.

“I think it’s amazing,” Whimsy Gift Shop manager Alexandrea Doty said. “There’s a lot of amazing costumes. It’s not all the same thing.”

Doty was born and raised in Palmer. She said that she really appreciated having a local opportunity like this for local families and business owners alike.

“It brings out people and they get to see all the little shops around here. It really broadens people’s experience,” Doty said.

According to Doty, Palmer’s walkable downtown area was an ideal location for this event.

“It’s such a great small town feel... It’s just small enough where you go back and forth you actually get some exercise,” she said with a laugh.

Hannah Robins brought her 3-year-old son Caspian to the event. Caspian said he was pretty excited for the candy.

“This is the best hall event we’ve been to with the kids in a really long time… It’s something that our family has been missing for a very long time. It’s a great morale lifter,” Robins said.

Like most parents, Robins’ favorite part of Halloween shines through her children. She said it was clear the kids and their parents at the event appreciated the opportunity.

“Just seeing excitement in their kids’ eyes when they pick out their costumes. They like acting it out and all that. It’s really cute. It makes me think of back when I was a kid, and the magic of Halloween. You could be anybody,” Robins said.

Palmer Fire and Rescue Captain Richard Washer was one of several firefighters handing out candy and taking pictures with children in front of their flickering fire truck parked near the Palmer Museum of History and Art. He said that he enjoyed seeing all the different costumes and all the giddy little faces light up when they get their candy or see one of their friends.

“I think it’s great the city of Palmer gave everyone an opportunity to come out and trick or treat. It’s been a very difficult year for everyone; and it’s a great turnout. Everybody’s been cooped up at home, ready to get out and mingle,” Washer said.

Washer has been with Palmer Fire and Rescue for over 17 years. The firefighters are typically a staple of downtown Palmer’s Halloween festivities. He said events like these helps them raise awareness for the volunteer driven department with 50 volunteers and only two paid positions. He said they’re always seekingt volunteers, and they provide all the training and gear.

“It gives everybody an opportunity to see what they’ve invested in,” Washer said.

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