Palmer Chamber announces historic name change to annual Colony Days celebration

WASILLA — One of downtown Palmer’s most iconic and cherished community events has a new name.

The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce announced that the annual Colony Days summer celebration is going to be called The Braided River Festival.

According to Palmer Chamber Executive Director Ailis Vann, the well known event will still include the same activities, but with a new look.

“After decades of successfully hosting one of the summer’s largest festivals in the Valley, we felt it was important to rebrand it to reflect what it has grown into, a celebration of the many aspects of what makes Palmer unique,” Vann said. “A braided river is made up of smaller rivers, creeks, and tributaries that come together to form one large, powerful force. For decades, the Palmer Chamber has also grown into a larger force thanks to the support of our community partners. It also speaks to the natural beauty of the Palmer area, including the Matanuska and Knik Rivers.”

The original Mat-Su colonists started the Colony Days tradition 86 years ago to celebrate the fruits of their labor.

The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce has been overseeing the event for years, maintaining the three-day, indoor and outdoor celebration that features a parade, food trucks, vendor booths, family activities, music, and other opportunities to highlight local businesses in Palmer.

According to Vann, the conversation for the name change started several years ago when community members approached the Palmer Chamber to express concerns with the name.

She said that resulted in further discussion about how the event had changed and grown over the years. She said the Palmer Chamber consulted with residents, stakeholders, and organizations to determine potential name options that represented the evolution of the event.

“Eventually, our leadership determined this was an appropriate time to rebrand the event,” Vann said. “The event and its favorite features will remain largely the same. We’re hoping to continue to grow and evolve the event, adding activities that continue to tell the story of the history of the land, people, and groups that have grown Palmer into what it is today. Our membership will be part of the continued evolution of this event, and we invite them to engage and be part of the growth.”

The Braided River Festival is scheduled for June 10 through June 12. For information, visit palmerchamber.org.

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