SIPPING FOR SANTA

PALMER — A summer garden fair fund-raiser organized in two month’s time for a Christmas charity, and presided over by elves and cabbage fairies might sound like potential crop failure.

Not when it is organized by Mari Jo Parks for the Mat-Su Special Santa Program.

The MidSummer Garden & Art Faire on Saturday in Palmer drew droves to the lawns that stretch from the depot to the Mat-Su Borough building to the Palmer Museum and Visitors Center.

Children’s theater, art, a tea party, children’s activities — including a special pretend farmers’ market — music and vendors gave fair-goers plenty of activities from which to choose. Three venues of entertainment and a slate of educational talks, discussions and demonstrations catered to a wide variety of interests, from making over an old pair of shoes to learning how to photograph flowers.

And spreading the joy of gardening all around the event were the famous Alaska State Fair Cabbage Fairies.

It drew attendees from Anchorage, Big Lake and Wasilla — even some visitors from Switzerland.

“I think it’s great there are opportunities for different crafts to come out, and to have a whimsy about it is a real plus,” said Terri Westphal, who lives near Meadow Lakes. She and her 5-year-old daughter, Nina, sipped “tea” at the Garden a Party, then made the rounds of the other activities and booths.

“It’s just been really fun,” Westphal said.

Parks said she was told Saturday’s event was the first use of the “village green” in 42 years.

Longtime Valley arts advocate Grant Olson said he’d never seen the like.

“It really lends itself well,” Olson said, looking over the long stretch of vendors winding through the normally open lawns. “Hopefully we’ll see more of this.”

Parks said the event wouldn’t have pulled together so quickly but for the efforts of some very dedicated volunteers, including committee members Brenda Arney, Bridgette Preston, Brooke Heppinstall and Denise Staatz.

Did it turn out as Parks envisioned?

“Even better,” beamed Parks, the “chief elf organizer.”

Arney, the assistant chief elf, agreed. “So much better.”

To learn more about the Special Santa program, or to donate or volunteer, people may visit specialsanta.org.