“Four score and seven years ago...”
November marks the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. Fireside Books will be celebrating Saturday, November 23 with trivial contests, civil war costume contests, and recitation contests. Start memorizing now!
Colony Christmas is an old fashioned three-day celebration of Christmaas past and present in Palmer that features horse-drawn sleigh rides, reindeer, gingerbread houses, and holiday carolers. As part of the celebration, on Saturday, December 14, 2013 the Valley Arts Alliance will be producing their 6th Annual Ice Castles on the Green!
Ice Castles on the Green consists of
unique winter ice sculptures created by some of the Valley’s best artists. Our sculptures will be constructed behind the Dahlia Street Market on the Palmer Green, the area in Palmer also known as the “quad” or “square” located between the Borough Office, the Colony Inn, and the Dahlia Street Market.
The Dahlia Street Market was built in the mid-1930’s as the colony’s Trading Post and Post Office. Palmer’s Mayor DeLena Johnson and her husband Steve purchased the abandoned building a few years ago and
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Back door breakfast 7am Tuesdays thru Friday. Speedy breakfast, pastries and coffee to grab before work or play.
Quick new lunches ready and waiting
Tuesdays Wine Flights and small plates 3-6pm
Visiting Chefs Daily specials
Sunday Brunch with mimosas 9am-2pm November 17th and 24th, December 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.
The Fair plans to host a Christmas Open House at Raven Hall on Sunday, December 15 from 1 – 4 p.m.
Next Door to the Borough Building and Behind the Palmer Library
This will be a family-friendly event open to everyone in the community. Hobo Jim and Ken Peltier will cohost the event, which will feature
Christmas-inspired music and special guests, including Santa Claus and his reindeer and elves!
We’ll also have refreshments, photo opportunities with our spectacular holiday lighting as a backdrop, buggy/sleigh rides around the fairgrounds (weather permitting), special children’s activities and more.
> Watch our website, alaskastatefair.org, for more information in early December.
The Palmer Church on the Rock is offering free face-painting and balloon animals on December 14, 2013 from noon to 4pm at the Eagle Hotel for the Palmer Colony Christmas.
We provided both of these booths at the Colony Days Event and it was great fun!
Paintings for Under
Valley Fine Arts Association Presents 100 Paintings for under $100 during Colony Christmas Dec. 13-14 at Madd Matters Gallery. All paintings are original works done by local artists. Bring the kids for some artistic fun!
VFAA is a non-profit group in which members encourage fellow artists through workshops, demonstrations, paint-togethers, and art shows. We encourage new members to join us whether seasoned or just beginning.
> Check out our website valleyfineartassociation.org for all pertinent information.
December 6th & 14th
Friday 12/6, from 6-8 pm:
Mixer: Meet and Greet & Client
Appreciation, hors d’oeuvres and in- shop sales with new up-cycled design pieces for preview. Meet Charity of Alaska Chicks Co, Faith of The Vintage Poppy, Laura of Love Nugget Designs, Dale from The Upholstery Gallery, and our newest addition, Ginger of Ginger’s Junk.
restored it to glory. Now it hosts Palmer’s famous restaurant “Rusty’s” (where everyone is invited in for a “warm up” on Saturday afternoon during the Ice Castles on the Green).
Saturday 12/14, 11-4 pm: All children are invited to partake in the 4th annual Sugar Cookie Decorating Workshop, a free activity in conjunction with Colony Christmas.
Our centerpiece this year will be an ice sculpture based on the glass pyramids at the Louvre in Paris. We have other remarkable ice sculptures lined up, but we’re always looking for other talented artists to help us create unique ice sculptures at Ice Castles on the Green! So bring your own ice, in any shape or form, and help us build!
Most of the ice sculpting will occur from 2 to 4pm, but visit us any time and watch the ice sculptures take shape! At 4pm we’ll have a drawing for an “artsy” prize. Tickets are FREE, and will be distributed throughout the day. And at 4:30, the Mat-Su Community Chorus will be caroling in the midst of our ice sculptures.
> So join us (and join in) on December 14 as we create another wonderful Ice Castles on the Green!
Are there visions of sugarplums little one’s head?
If so, change the sugar plums cookies with icing and join on Saturday, December 14th, for the annual Colony Christmas Activity.
Teresa Roy, owner , began for the younger crowd four say “Thank You” to the community children in creating an instantly of their own to enjoy.
The location at 840 S Colony excellent warm up station should smell authentically
Approximately 300 sugar participant, were colorfully last year.
> With all the fun in the nearby that this year will exceed all
sugarplums dancing in your plums to freshly baked sugar join the crew at Cover Ups 14th, from 11 am to 4 pm, Christmas Cookie Decorating
the popular, free event four years ago as a way to community and to engage instantly gratifying creation
Colony Way is also an and visual treat. It wonderful as well. cookies, one per colorfully and artistically created
nearby area, it is with hope all our wishes.
ENJOY FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE TO MANY EVENTS
ON SATURDAY FROM 11 AM – 4 PM
COURTESY OF MAT-SU SENIOR SERVICES AND PIONEER EQUIPMENT
> Thursday, Dec. 12 <
10 am-6 pm “Light Up A Life” Hospice Tree
Koslosky’s Center - 642 S Alaska Street
> Friday, Dec. 13 <
All Day View the Community Christmas Tree
Sponsored by Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union East end of Evergreen Ave at the Library
10 am – 6 pm Gingerbread Houses
Sponsored by Alaska USA FCU
Pioneer Home, 250 E Fireweed
Various Downtown Businesses
Look for a list at the Pioneer home
10 am – 6 pm “Light Up A Life” Hospice Tree
7 pm The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Lazy Mountain Bible Church 16005 E. Shawn Dr.
8 pm – Midnight Holiday Ball Benefiting United Way of Mat-Su Raven Hall - Alaska State Fairgrounds, Glenn Highway
> Saturday, Dec. 14 <
All Day View the Community Christmas Tree
Sponsored by MVFCU At the Library
9 am – 11 am Lions Club Pancake Breakfast
Salvation Army, 209 W Evergreen Avenue
10 am – 3 pm Festival of Trees Drawings held at 2 pm
Benefits the Special Santa Program
Sponsored by Ohana Media Group Palmer Depot
10 am – 4 pm Craft Bazaar
Koslosky’s Center - 642 S Alaska Street
11 am – 7 pm Christmas Bazaar Downtown Palmer Plaza
Noon – 7 pm Arts & Craft Fair
Sponsored by The Greatlander Palmer Depot
6 pm – 8 pm “Twas the Night Before Colony Christmas”
Reception & Wine Tasting
Palmer Museum of History & Art, 723 S Valley Way
7 pm Annual Service of Remembrance
Legacy Kehl’s Palmer Chapel
209 S. Alaska St
Mat-Su Seniors Services (Palmer Sr. Ctr), 1132 S Chugach St
10 am – 4 pm Palmer Museum of History and Art Open 723 S Valley Way
10 am – 4 pm Kids Activity Events & Warm-Up Station
Frost a Christmas Cookie Cover-Ups, 840 S Colony Way
10 am – 4:45 pm Information Booth Palmer Depot
10 am – 5 pm Cookies, Cider, Movies & Cartoons
Palmer Museum of History & Art
>
10 am – 6 pm Gingerbread Houses
Sponsored by Alaska USA FCU Pioneer Home, 250 E Fireweed Avenue
10 am – 6 pm Colony House Museum Open House
Presented by the Palmer Historical Society
10 am – 6 pm Snow Bike Demo – Free HalfHour Test Rides All-Day Store Sale
Backcountry Bike & Ski, 132 W Arctic Ave
10 am – 7 pm Arts & Craft Fair
Sponsored by The Greatlander Palmer Depot
10 am – 7 pm Arts & Crafts Fair Borough Gym, 350 E Dahlia Avenue
10 am – 7 pm Information Booth
Borough Gym Foyer, 350 E Dahlia Ave
10 am – 7 pm “Light Up A Life” Hospice Tree Koslosky’s Center - 642 S Alaska Street
11 am – 2 pm Cookie Contest Sponsored by MEA Eagle Hotel, 918 S. Colony Way
11 am – 2 pm Warming Station Free Hot Chocolate & Kids Movies
Presented by Greg & Sherri Shepard – Jack White Real Estate
Palmer Library, 655 S Valley Way
11 am – 3 pm Kids Puck Shoot with Prizes Hot Chocolate, Popcorn, Extra Parking NAPA, 217 E Arctic Ave
11 am – 3 pm Denali Destroyer Dolls Holiday Hair
Downtown Palmer Plaza – 550 S Alaska St
11 am – 3 pm Photos with Santa Sponsored by IBEW Local 1547
Downtown Palmer Plaza Deli – 550 S Alaska St
Presented by Northern Lights Adventures
Palmer Museum of History & Art 723 S Valley Way
11 am – 4 pm Make a FREE Fused Glass Ornament or Suncatcher
Presented by Half Moon Creek 439 W. Elmwood Ave
11 am – 4 pm Free Pony Wheel Rides
Sponsored by Capstone Family Medicine, Eye Clinic and Urgent Care
Friday Fling parking lot across from the Palmer Museum
11 am – 4 pm Bike-Themed Sleigh Photo Station Backcountry Bike & Ski, 132 W Arctic Ave
11 am – 7 pm Nativity Displays
LDS Church - 560 W Arctic Ave
11 am – 7 pm Christmas Bazaar
Downtown Palmer Plaza
Noon – 3 pm Build Your Own Marshmallow Snowman & Free Hot Chocolate
Sponsored by Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
Eagle Hotel, 918 S. Colony Way
Noon – 3 pm Free Kids Games Presented by CCS Early Learning Palmer Depot – Outside
Noon – 4 pm Free Kids Face Painting & Balloon Animals
Presented by Church on the Rock Eagle Hotel, 918 S. Colony Way
Noon – 4 pm Snow Machine Sled Rides
Presented by Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours
Open area next to Colony Inn
Noon – 4 pm Free Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
Sponsored by Usibelli Coal Mine
Pavilion across from Palmer Museum
12:30 pm – 1 pm Alaska Sound
Celebration Concert
Pioneer Home, 250 E Fireweed Avenue
Caroling around Palmer \11 am – 4 pm Learn About Mushing & Meet the Dogs
1 pm – 4 pm Reindeer Farm, petting, feeding and photos
Sponsored by Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo Parking Lot, S Alaska St
1 pm – 4 pm Chain Saw Artistry Demonstration Chickadees, 175 W Arctic Ave
2 pm – 4 pm Color & Take Home a FREE Alaskan Ornament NuKreationz, 735 S. Bailey St.
2 pm – 4 pm “Ice Castles on the Green” Ice Sculpture Carving
Free Prize Drawing at 4 pm
Presented by Valley Arts Alliance
Right behind Rusty’s, 320 E Dahlia Street in the Historic District
2 pm – 6 pm Meet & Greet Renowned
Artist Gail Niebrugge
The Gallery, 1150 S Colony Way (in the Key Bank Plaza)
2:30 pm Youth Mitten Money Scramble
Presented by CCS Early Learning Palmer Depot – Outside
2:30 pm – 4 pm Smoosh Race
Sponsored by Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
742 S Alaska St. (in front of the Depot)
4 pm – 8 pm Free Parking, Chili Feed, Hot Beverages, Cookies
Children’s Crafts &Student Art Show Alaska Bible College, 248 E Elmwood Ave
4:30 pm and 6 pm Mat-Su Community Chorus will perform near the Ice Sculptures
Right behind Rusty’s, 320 E Dahlia Street in the Historic District
5 pm Parade of Lights, Sponsored by MTA
Downtown Palmer
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Local Entertainer Diana Z plus Belly Dance Showcase at 6 pm
FREE treats, Midnight Sun Yoga Center 832 S. Colony Way
6:30 pm FIREWORKS Extravaganza Sponsored by BP
Library Parking Lot
> Sunday, December 15 <
All Day View the Community Christmas Tree
Sponsored by MVFCU
East end of Evergreen Ave at the Library
9 am – 10:30 am Triathlon Registration
Sponsored by Mat-Su Health Foundation
Presented by The Alaska Club
12051 E Palmer Wasilla Highway
10 am – 2 pm Palmer Museum of History and Art 723 S Valley Way
10 am – 6 pm “Light Up A Life” Hospice Tree
Koslosky’s Center, 642 S Alaska Street
11 am Triathlon Race Starts
Sponsored by Mat-Su Health Foundation
Presented by The Alaska Club
12051 E Palmer Wasilla Highway
Noon – 8 pm Palmer Pioneer Hockey Steak Feed
Moose Lodge, 1136 S Cobb Street, Tickets $15 available at door.
1 pm – 4 pm Christmas Open House At Raven Hall
Presented by The Alaska State Fair Alaska State Fairgrounds
2 pm – 7 pm Nativity Display LDS Church - 560 W Arctic Ave
CZAR of GUITARS’ Food Drive
“Because no one should go hungry”
November 15 - December 14
CZAR of GUITARS
105 E Arctic Ave
Palmer, AK 99645
907-745- 5550
Hours
Wed. & Thu. 12 - 7pm
Fri. & Sat. 12 -5pm
CZAR of GUITARS, 105 E Arctic Avenue in downtown Palmer, is hosting its annual food drive for the MatSu Food Bank. The event is from November 15 to December 14. Donations should be dropped off at CZAR of GUITARS on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 12 - 7 pm and Fridays or Saturdays from 12 - 5 pm.
Donate three or more nonperishable food items and receive a free set of DR Guitar Strings. *Limited quantities.
> All food donated will be distributed in the Mat-Su Valley. "Because no one should go
