This is the big holiday week

Palmer lights up this week in so many ways. It is the yearly Colony Christmas Celebration and it is unique and crazy and total fun. Santa comes to town in many ways and versions. There will be reindeers, horses, dogs, and many, many people.

So Exactly What are the Options?—Well the choices are many and there is no reason in the world to not participate in this holiday festival. It is inclusive of everyone and full of joy and lights.

A Few Options For You—You can run with the Beers! You can dance with the Santas! You can do smoosh races. You can light up your bike or your dog and take them into town. You can do the Mitten Money Scramble. You can join the Cribbage Competition. You can judge and maybe sample from the Cookie Competitions. You can dress up and skate at the outside rink in costume or festival attire. You can watch merry movies at the Moose. You can enter the Cornhole Tourney. You can visit the holidays at the farms. You can watch the littles on the Reindeer Train. You can pet and selfie a reindeer. You can visit the garden of lights or wander in the festival of trees. You can listen to stories. You can join others for Christmas caroling around town. You can attend the live Nativity scene or participate. You can go to warming stations. You can enter, sample or help judge the gingerbread house subdivision. You can go to the Palmer Radio Open House. You can have hot drinks with snowmen! You can listen to the local orchestra play Sounds of Christmas. You can enter a coloring contest. You can visit the Colony House Museum. You can take your little to Moose Crafts at Peak on Main. You can see the community Christmas Tree lighting. You can listen to Celtic pipes and drums. You can indulge in food truck fare or local restaurant offerings. You can build snow men and drink cocoa. You can attend the Palmer Parade of Lights. You can go on a hayride and then have a steak dinner. You can cheer the lighting of the Palmer Water Tower. You can visit the giant gingerbread tiny home. You can listen to the Cantora Arctica Women’s choir concert. You can listen to the Community Chorus Concert. You can listen to the awesome handbell music. You can create a T shirt. You can attend the numerous Arts and Crafts Fairs. You can observe the hundreds of incredible nativity scenes displayed. You can paint Christmas trees and have your face painted. You can make beautiful Colony Christmas Cranes.

Specific locations and times of all the many events is listed on brochures available all over town. Or check out the Palmer Chamber Website or go directly to this link.

The Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook page also has the full schedule ready for your use.

Or—You can just wander around and say hey to friends. You can watch people and kids play in the holiday spirit. You can drop some jingle in the Red Kettles. It’s all good.

Thank you—The Palmer Chamber of Commerce is the ringleader for this wonderful event. They invest so much time in preparation for this big one. The shop keepers, city, neighbors, and businesses help to sponsor this fabulous event. Make sure you thank them for hosting this holiday in Palmer. There are so many facets of this event and so many volunteers. A huge thank you goes out to all the organizers and supporters.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. 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. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222