There's no place like Colony Christmas for the holidays

PALMER — It’s the time of year again. The city of Palmer is priming up to bustle like the North Pole this weekend during the annual Colony Christmas celebration, hosted by the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce.

“People dress up, it seems like there’s a lot of Santa hats out, everyone’s in a good mood… All the lights and wonderful things around town make me feel good and happy. It’ll be fun. We’ve got some new events that I think will draw people in even more,” Palmer Chamber Executive Director Ailis Vann said.

There are several new events and features on the schedule joining the familiar holiday favorites this year. Local business owners, nonprofits, service groups and other organizations around town put on a spectrum of festive events for Colony Christmas goers.

Colony Christmas festivities start at 10 a.m. Friday and wrap up Sunday evening. Vann said there will be plenty of things for the whole family to do throughout each day, jam-packed with activities, contests, holiday shopping, contests, and donation opportunities.

Vann said that Colony Christmas goers will be able to write down their wishes and put them on the Palmer Wishing Wall.

“Hopefully all their wished come true,” Vann said.

The Parade of Lights through downtown Palmer will kick off at 5 p.m. Saturday evening. The annual fireworks begin right after the parade.

Anchorage dance band Boogie Shoes will perform live at the HoHoHoDown at 6 p.m. at the MTA event tent.

Vann said the chamber brought back a Colony Christmas classic, the cookie contest. Anyone interested in signing up early can do so by visiting the chamber’s website or Facebook page.

Vann said Colony Christmas runs in conjunction with Shop Palmer so people have the chance to win as much as $1,000.

The chamber is hosting a toy drive with the Palmer Museum of History and Art. The public is invited to donate new toys at least $5 at the museum. Donors receive coupons to participating businesses.

The Palmer Lion’s Club will host their annual pancake breakfast Saturday starting 8:30 a.m. After breakfast, the Alaska Celtic Pipe and Drums Band will perform at the Palmer Public Library at 2 p.m. The cookie contest judging begins at 1 p.m.

The entirety of the iconic Palmer water tower will be lit up this year, according to Vann. She said the pillars will have lights wrapped around them this year, completing the holiday ensemble.

Vann said the chamber created a special page just for Colony Christmas news and updates for the public.

For a full schedule of Colony Christmas events, visit palmerchamber.org/colony-christmas

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