Top Attractions & Events in Palmer

Palmer's quaint and walkable downtown is filled with fun activities and attractions. Spend a day or even a weekend learning about the town's agricultural history, take in a community event or even learn about musk oxen.

Colony House Museum
Palmer Visitor Center and Museum
Musk Ox Farm
Palmer Golf Course
Alaska State Fair
Colony Days
Friday Flings

Colony House Museum

The Colony House Museum (316 E. Elmwood Avenue) tells the story of the Matanuska Colonist project, in which 200 families were relocated to the area in 1935 as part of the New Deal. They were given land, a barn and a house, and they had to turn the area into an agricultural history. The Colony House Museum is an actual Colony house and has many Colony-era relics.

Palmer Visitor Center and Museum

The Palmer Visitor Center and Museum (723 S. Valley Way) is worth a stop just to see their garden. Each summer, the gardens dazzle with color from flowers and vegetables grown right on site. The center itself also serves as a museum, so not only can you learn about the history of Palmer, but also get all your visitor questions answered by the knowledgeable staff.

Musk Ox Farm

Just a few miles out of town on the Glenn Highway you find the Palmer Musk Ox Farm, which offers daily tours. The farm has more than 75 musk oxen, which are prehistoric Arctic animals. They produce qivieut, a fiber nine times warmer and finer than cashmere. The farm recently completed a $1.2 million renovation and is a must-visit attraction.

Palmer Golf Course

If you need to get in the swing of things, the Palmer Golf Course offers stunning views of the Chugach Mountains and Knik Glacier, and it has been voted as one of the most scenic golf courses in America several times by leading golf magazines.

Alaska State Fair

Palmer is home to the Alaska State Fair, which begins in late August and ends on Labor Day each year. It is Alaska's largest event and features concerts, carnival rides, livestock demonstrations, and the famous Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off.

Colony Days

Palmer also hosts Colony Days the second weekend in June, which honors the original Colonists and features a parade, farmer's markets, live music and other events around town.

Friday Flings

Each summer, Friday Flings takes over the downtown area of Palmer. It is an outdoor farmer's market, and the produce you find there will have come only a few miles from the fields. The market runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday, rain or shine. There is live music, food vendors, and local artisans who specialize in Alaska-made goods.

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