Palmer outdoors

Celebrate, recreate and socialize in the great Palmer outdoors this weekend. There are a number of annual events this week, which have not been “Corona Canceled.” There is logic why these events can happen safely; the sole reason is because they happen outside—in the fresh air—along with an abundance of cautionary measures. It is up to individuals to physically distance themselves at these events. It’s been a hard lesson this year, but I have recently learned that it is perfectly okay to be “on the sidelines” of events, instead of right smack-dab in the middle. The periphery is not my chosen location normally, but it is fine right now and safer in a critical time of social distancing. I also pick less crowded times and less crowded locations, by choice. If you are concerned about the Corona spread, please remember that you can make a personal choice to be safe at outside events.

Saturday Midsummer Garden Fair in Palmer—This is truthfully the epicenter of our summer— when the Midsummer Palmer Garden Fair is held on the large green quad between the Museum and the big white Mat Su Borough building. Its a good size park area and tents can be spread out and physically distanced from one another. You will see at least 50 vendors, 10 groups of musicians, various performance art, flowers, plants, quilts, along with pony rides, art, photography and crafts. The Alaskakiters will also be out flying their astonishing kites in our Palmer atmosphere.

Saturday Palmer Renaissance Peony Painters—Look for my own artist group, right beside the Museum and across from the library. It’s a smaller set-up this year, but our Palmer Moonstone Farms Peonies are big and dramatic. Stop by and say hi to me, Barbara Hunt, the one-armed Palmer peony portrait painter! Once again, we will have a collective community art project for your artistic signature.

Midsummer Sipping Garden—This happens on Saturday afternoon in the exquisite Palmer Showcase Garden at the Midsummer Garden and Art Faire. Enjoy four different wine pours and 400 different flowers and your single job is to drink it all in. This is event is sponsored by our Palmer Museum.

Friday Fling—At the Pavilion and street-side is food, sales, and camaraderie. The noon hour is the most packed so think about coming during the off times. It is totally pleasant and not crowded if you stay on the sidelines. There is also beauty, lively music and a collective Palmer ambiance of good summer cheer. Physical distance between booths will be increased this week to allow for more air flow and less congestion.

Friday Swing—Friday is the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce’s annual Best Ball Golf Tournament at the most beautiful Palmer Golf Course, of course.

Friday Wine Walk in Palmer—This is Friday night and tickets are required. There might be a handful of tickets left. No doubt there will be a full array of additional precautions this year, but basically this is when people visit various Palmer shops and sample different well-selected wine varieties.

Sunday Car Show—in Palmer at Country Cutts in Palmer. Sunday July 12th from Noon to 3:00pm at 432 S. Alaska St. This is a 49th State Street Rodders event. There will be great trophies, food trucks and door prizes. This show has been rescheduled from June 28th. The organizers say, “Please Social distance, wear face masks and avoid hand shakes. Remember many of our members are classics like their cars and we want to protect them too.”

Horses at Equestrian Center—Clever Horse training and Advanced Horsemanship clinics this weekend at Saddleup Arena Equestrian Park in the Butte.

Music at the Palmer Ale House—The Summer Concert series continues with Eternal Cowboys, The Stack, and Tyson Cole and Cole Hard Country Band.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She created the Palmer Renaissance Painters and runs the Palmer Paintbrush Jam. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Her “Palmer Buzz Community Calendar” is available at Palmer shops and the Palmer museum. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222