Palmer Chamber creates new Halloween event to support Mat-Su Special Santa

WASILLA — The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce recently announced their plans to hold an all new Halloween event with downtown businesses Oct. 30.

“It’s a brand new thing. We’ve never done it before; so it just depends on how much I can get the word out and get people excited about it,” Vann said.

The event dubbed, Trick or Treat Street was created as a response to the annual Halloween Hollow normally held at the Alaska State Fairgrounds being canceled, according to Vann.

She said the chamber felt urged to find a way to make up for the cancellation since that event serves as a major fundraiser for the Mat-Su Special Santa program.

Local businesses across the downtown shopping district have been invited to give out candy as local families make their way from one store to the other the day before Halloween. Vann said that 10 have already signed on and expects more to follow suit.

“So it gets people in town to walk through Palmer, but also gives people a nice, safe opportunity and option for trick or treating,” Vann said.

According to Vann, a handful of businesses said they would be unable to participate in the event, but were willing to donate candy for the cause. She said that she’s hoping to have around 50 participants, but she’s unsure of what the final number will be. She said they’ll post the final list of participating businesses on their website.

“We’re excited about it. We love doing new things. We’re gonna have candy in our office to hand out, so we’ll get to be a stop along the way… My assistant and I are already talking about what we’re gonna dress up as,” Vann said with a laugh.

After Halloween, the next big event in Palmer is the annual Small Business Saturday series of events held by local business owners with the support of the chamber in November. After that, the chamber is putting on one of the biggest downtown events of the year, Colony Christmas.

Vann said the chamber is moving forward with Colony Christmas as planned, with the indoor craft market as the only subject left to figure out. She said the parade and other familiar events and activities are still happening. She said chamber members are still planning out the event and they will announce their final decisions in November.

For more information, visit palmerchamber.org.

To learn more about the Mat-Su Special Santa program, visit their Facebook page or call 761-3770.

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