‘Something for everyone:’ Colony Days ready to roll this weekend in Palmer

PALMER — Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Director Ralph Renzi said not even the Valley “old-timers” seem to know when the first Palmer Colony Days celebration was put on the books. He does know that this year’s Colony Days’ offerings will have something for everyone.

Palmer Colony Days kicks off Friday morning and by the time things wrap up Sunday evening, it will have served up more than 60 events. Everything from transforming rocks into ladybugs to rodeos, classic cars and motorcycles, to salmon and rhubarb cooking contests are on the three-day celebration schedule of events.

Renzi said there are no new events on the docket but added the celebration has amassed a pretty solid selection of activities. Things are slated to kick off at 9 a.m. with the Palmer Scramble Golf Tournament which benefits the Palmer Moose hockey program. All three days, daily schedule is crammed with activities through early evening.

Other noteworthy opening day activities include a moose hide tanning camp, an Alaska Electric Bike Expo, the extremely popular bed races, the Colony Days Classic Road Rally, and the junior rodeo.

A full day of events Saturday kicks off with an 8 a.m. rummage sale for the early riser. The Palmer Lions hosts its annual breakfast buffet starting at 9 a.m. For those who enjoy antique farming equipment and tractors, the Antique Power Club of Alaska will show off all day while the Palmer Depot will host model train displays inside as well as the ongoing restoration work on Engine 557 outside.

Other activities include a community picnic, Palmer farming history display at the Palmer Museum, an American Cancer Society hotdog lunch fundraiser, Protect Your Child ID kits, kite-making, a vintage motorcycle show, a blood drive, Salmon’ Salmon cooking contest, children’s seed planting, a family-oriented bicycle scavenger hunt, and lady bug rocking painting and live lady bug release party.

The two large events for Saturday are the 11 a.m. Colony Days parade through downtown and the 2017 Alaska Champions Tour Rodeo starting at 5 p.m. at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. A Cowboy ball and barbeque at the fairground’s farm exhibit building (Big Ag Barn) wraps up the event’s longest day.

Sunday’s offerings include plenty for the recreational athlete. The Bill Mitchell 5k Fun Run/Walk gets things started at 11 a.m. At noon, the First To Four Tennis Tournament begins at the Palmer tennis courts. The 2017 Alaska Champions Tour Rodeo is back on the docket starting at 2 p.m.

Plenty of other offerings are scheduled all three days including assorted live entertainment, kids’ games, crazy hair booths, vendor’s market, pony rides, outdoor food courts, kite-flying demonstrations, Palmer and Lynden Transportation museum displays, and sidewalk chalk art contests.

“There are lots of events the whole family can participate in,” said Renzi.

Renzi said the entire weekend couldn’t be without two main entities—volunteers and sponsors. Volunteers, he said, take care of organizing and running the weekend’s various events. Without sponsors, he added, there’s no way the city could afford to undertake the festival. Renzi said Colony Days has a big economic impact on the city as well.

“I think it’s a big boom to the local businesses. There is a lot of foot traffic in our brick and mortar stores,” Renzi said.

For more information on any associated entry fees and deadlines, or for more information on the event, visit the Palmer Chamber of Commerce website at http://palmerchamber.org/events/colony-days.html .

The following is a complete schedule of events for this year’s Colony Days.

Friday, June 9

9 am: Palmer Scramble Golf Tourney.

9 am–6 pm Moose Hide Tanning Camp, Presented by Palmer Museum of History & Art / Chickaloon Village, Palmer Museum & Visitor Center 723 S. Valley Way.

10 am–5 pm: Groundwork: Palmer Farming History presented by Palmer Museum of History & Art Palmer Museum & Visitor Center.

10 am–6 pm: Mat-Su Seahawks Cheer Dunk Tank presented by Alaska South Central Pop Warner Cheer

Palmer Library parking pot, 655 S. Valley Way.

11 am–6 pm: Colony Days Vendor Market presented by Palmer Economic Development Authority

Pavilion, parking lot-S. Valley Way.

11 am–6 pm: Kids’ Games, presented by Palmer High School football, sponsored by Usibelli Coal Mine, Palmer Library parking lot.

11 am–6 pm: Alaskiters Kite Flying Demonstration presented by Alaskiters Club, Palmer Borough Ball Fields.

11 am–6 pm: Crazy Hair Booth presented by Palmer Lady Moose Soccer, Palmer Library parking lot.

11am – 6 pm: Colony Days Information Booth, downtown festival area.

11 am--6 pm: Pony Wheel Rides and Bungee Trampoline Bounce, Palmer Library parking lot.

11 am–close: Lynden Transportation Museum, Downtown Festival Area.

11 am–close: Outdoor Food Court, Friday Fling Area.

11:30 am–1:30 pm: Live Entertainment at Friday Fling – Carhartt Brothers, Friday Fling Stage.

Noon–3 pm: Free Rhubarb Pick-Up for Rhubarb Revival--contestants only, information booth.

Noon–5 pm: Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest, presented by Fireside Books, Palmer Depot.

Noon–5 pm: PMGAF Garden Container Silent Auction, Palmer Museum of History and Art–723 S. Valley Way.

Noon--close: Klondike Mike’s 3rd Annual Anniversary Party, craft show, raffle and $2 root beer floats;

Klondike Mike’s & Main Street Grill, 820 S. Colony Way.

2 pm–6 pm: Alaska Electric Bike Expo presented by Alaska eBike, E. Elmwood by the Library Parking Lot.

4 pm: Community and local sports legends bed races presented by MEA & Q99.7 and sponsored by MVFCU, S. Valley Way-Elmwood Ave.

6 pm–8:30 pm: DJ music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s; Main Street–S. Colony Way.

6 pm–8:30 pm: Colony Days Classic Car Rally sponsored by Alaska USA, Main Street–S. Colony Way.

6 pm: Free Junior Rodeo—an all-age kids free event hosted by Lithia Ram of South Anchorage,

Alaska State Fairgrounds’ grandstands. Sign-up 4-5:30 pm.

Saturday, June 10

8 am--3 pm: St. John youth-rummage sale, 440 E. Elmwood Ave.

9 am--11 am: Palmer Lions breakfast buffet, Alaska Bible College – 248 E. Elmwood Ave.

9 am–5 pm: Display of Antique Farm Tractors and Equipment presented by Antique Power Club of Alaska, Palmer Depot side parking lot.

9 am–5 pm: Home Ownership Done Right presented by NeighborWorks Alaska, Palmer Library parking lot.

9 am–5 pm: Tent city market, Colony House Museum, 316 E Elmwood Ave.

10 am–4 pm: Colony House Museum open house, Colony House Museum.

10 am–4 pm: Mooselip model railroad display presented by Marty Quaas, Palmer Depot.

10 am–4 pm: Engine 557 presented by Engine 557 Restoration Company, Palmer Depot.

10 am–5 pm: Groundwork: Palmer Farming History presented by Palmer Museum of History & Art,

Palmer Museum and Visitor Center.

10 am–6 pm: Alaskiters kite flying demonstration, presented by Alaskiters, Palmer Borough ballfields.

10 am–6 pm: Colony Days vendor market presented by Palmer Economic Development Authority, pavilion, parking lot and S. Valley Way.

10 am–6 pm: Mat-Su Seahawks cheer dunk tank presented by Alaska South Central Pop Warner Cheer,

Palmer Library parking lot.

10 am–6 pm: Colony Days information booth, downtown festival area.

10 am–Close: Lynden Transportation Museum, downtown festival area.

10 am–Close: Outdoor food court, downtown festival area.

11 am--5 pm: Open Studio presented by Artists Uncorked, 832 S. Colony Way, Suite 200.

11 am: Hot dog fundraiser for the American Cancer Society presented by First National Bank Alaska,

Palmer Library parking lot.

11 am: Colony Days parade sponsored by MTA, Downtown Palmer.

Noon–2 pm: Palmer Police Department bike safety exhibits, Palmer Library parking lot.

Noon–3 pm: Protect Your Child ID kits presented by Alaska Investigation Agency LLC and sponsored by First National Bank Alaska, Palmer Library parking lot.

Noon–3 pm: free root beer floats presented by Palmer Moose Lodge, 1136 South Cobb Street.

Noon–4 pm: Colony Days Kite Making presented by Northwind Kites and Games and sponsored by Midnight Sun Oncology, “The Quad” behind Colony Inn.

Noon–5pm: Alaska Vintage Motorcycle Show presented by Erik Christensen State Farm, “The Quad” behind Colony Inn.

Noon–5 pm: PMGAF garden container silent auction, Palmer Museum of History and Art.

Noon–6 pm: Pedal Tractors presented by Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm, Wells Fargo parking lot.

Noon–6 pm: Kids’ Games presented by Palmer High School football and sponsored by Usibelli Coal Mine,

Palmer Library parking lot.

Noon–6 pm: Pony wheel rides and bungee trampoline bounce, Palmer Library parking lot.

Noon–6 pm: Crazy Hair Booth presented by Palmer Lady Moose Soccer, Palmer Library parking lot.

Noon–6 pm: Alaska Electric Bike Expo presented by Alaska eBike, E. Elmwood the library parking lot.

Noon–Close: Klondike Mike’s 3rd Annual Anniversary Party, craft show, raffle and $2 root beer floats;

Klondike Mike’s and Main Street Grill, 820 S. Colony Way.

12:30 pm–2:30 pm: St. John Community Picnic, St. John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood Ave.

12:30 pm–5 pm: Colony Days blood drive presented by Blood Bank of Alaska, E. Elmwood Ave.

1 pm: Tractor Pull by Antique Power Club of Alaska sponsored by Country Legends 100.9, S. Colony Way (Behind Just Sew–579 S. Alaska St.)

1 pm–2:30 pm: Slammin’ Salmon Contest sponsored by Valley Radiation Therapy Center, “People’s Choice” public vote 1-2 p.m., Palmer Depot.

1 pm–4 pm: free reindeer petting sponsored by Dr. K’s Pediatric Dentistry, Wells Fargo Parking Lot, 705 S. Bailey St.

1 pm–4 pm: Ride the Reindeer Train sponsored by Dr. K’s Pediatric Dentistry, In the Quad.

1 pm–4 pm: Free kids’ activities presented by CCS Early Head Start and sponsored by Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Palmer Library parking lot.

1 pm–4 pm: My Fair flower kits presented by Alaska State Fair, Palmer Museum of History and Art grounds.

1 pm–5 pm: live entertainment – Denali Cooks, sponsored by IBEW Local 1547, Friday Fling Stage.

1 pm–5 pm: CPR demonstration presented by UAA School of Nursing, Palmer Library parking lot.

1:30 pm: Egg toss presented by Midnight Sun Yoga Center, S. Valley Way-Elmwood Ave.

1:30 pm: Alley Cat Bicycle Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Mat-Su Health Foundation, Backcountry Bike and Ski, 132 W. Arctic Ave.

2 pm: Build a free birdhouse presented by Denali Peak Correspondence and Home School,

“The Quad” behind Colony Inn.

2 pm: Kiwanis Moose Poop Palooza Drop, St. John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood Ave.

2 pm– 4 pm: Lady bug rock painting, coloring and lady bug release party—release party at 3 pm. sponsored by BP, small pavilion.

5 pm: 2017 Rodeo Alaska Champions Tour Rodeo sponsored by Lithia Ram of South Anchorage,

Alaska State Fairgrounds’ grandstands-gates open at 4 pm.

6:30 pm–8:30 pm: Couples Paint Party presented by Artists Uncorked, 832 S. Colony Way.

7 pm–11 pm: Cowboy Ball and barbeque presented by Alaska State Fair Inc., Alaska State Fairgrounds’ farm exhibits building (Big Ag Barn).

Sunday, June 11

10 am–6 pm: Alaskiters kite flying demonstrations presented by Alaskiters, Palmer Borough ballfields.

11 am: Bill Mitchell 5k Fun Run/Walk presented by MTA, MTA Events Center, 1317 S. Kerry Weiland Ct.

11 am–3 pm: Kids’ Games presented by Palmer High School football sponsored by Usibelli Coal Mine

Palmer Library parking lot.

11 am–3 pm: Mat-Su Seahawks Cheer Dunk Tank presented by Alaska South Central Pop Warner Cheer,

Palmer Library parking lot.

11 am–3 pm: Pony wheel rides and bungee trampoline bounce, Palmer Library parking lot.

11 am–3 pm: Crazy Hair Booth presented by Palmer Lady Moose Soccer, Palmer Library parking lot.

11 am–4 pm: Colony Days Vendor Market presented by Palmer Economic Development Authority,

pavilion, parking lot and S. Valley Way.

11 am–4 pm: Outdoor Food Court, downtown festival area.

Noon: First To Four Tennis Tournament – Juniors, presented by Mat-Su Tennis Association,

Palmer tennis courts, corner of Gulkana and E. Elmwood Ave.

1 pm– 3pm: Rhubarb Revival Cooking Contest presented by Alaska USA and sponsored by Cruz Company, small pavilion.

1 pm–5 pm: live entertainment–Earth 2 Travolta sponsored by Northern Industrial Training, Friday Fling Stage.

2 pm: 2017 Alaska Champions Tour Rodeo sponsored by Lithia Ram of South Anchorage, Alaska State Fairgrounds’ grandstands. Gates open at noon.

3:30 pm: Cupcakes-N-Canvas presented by Artist Uncorked, 832 S. Colony Way, Suite 200.