“It’s like stepping back in time!”, a young shopper exclaimed. She and a bunch of college friends drove the 40 miles from Anchorage to Palmer to check out the 3-day Colony Christmas Festival for the first time.
Every year, that old-fashioned, hometown ambience enchants the crowds who descend upon main Street in Palmer to shop stores and admire the handiwork of local artisans at the crafts fairs. And then there is Santa with real reindeer, a live nativity scene, and a short footrace called "The Running of the Beers" (as much fun as you can possibly imagine at -10 below). There's cookie decorating, gingerbread houses and live music and after dusk (5pm) a parade of lights. And if that wasn’t enough excitement for kids and adults alike, there’s quite an impressive fireworks display following the parade at evening’s end.
As local Realtors who live here too, this annual event is the highlight of the year, and we can’t say enough about it! It’s always been a big hit with local resident, but seems to be capture attention a little farther and wider every year.
As far as events go, there are some wonderful things that Palmer has going for it that help to make the Colony Christmas Festival the big success that it is. For instance, there are no parking hassles, except maybe finding a place to park. But Palmer has no parking meters to plug. That means attendees can park in just about any legal spot without having to worry about finding a ticket on their windshield.
My Favorite Cornhole Tournament Participants
Walkability is another big plus. Downtown Palmer is cozy. It’s only a ¼ of a mile in any direction. All of the festival’s main attractions, from the craft show venues to the gift shops to historic tours and the parade route are all in very close proximity to each other. The scene is one where shoppers, some with kids in tow, walk up and down the sidewalks and criss-cross back and forth across the street. Some shops offer free hot coffee and cider to warm customers.
An annual event organized by the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, the Colony Christmas Festival is traditionally the second weekend of December: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My Favorite Realty sponsors the cornhole tournament and the Christmas Cookie Contest. If you’re looking for a home in Palmer, we’d be happy to assist you. Give us a call at (907) 746-HOME.
