Date:
10/11/2007
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Erin Griffith
PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University will host its annual Peanut Valley Festival on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 21, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. in the Campus Union Building.
Tracy Henderson, director of Student Activities and Organizations, says that this year’s fair will uphold past traditions and introduce new ones.
“This is the first year we have fully implemented the children’s part of the Festival. We are having a fun fall carnival for the kids; there will be activities like a ring toss and a tic-tac-toe throw to win candy. Kids can also make crafts,” Henderson said.
The goal is to make the Festival fun for the whole family. People can come and eat lunch, then walk around the crafts, listen to the music, and the kids will have a great opportunity to play.
“We have over 40 craft booths this year; they are all traditional—there will be no manufactured plastics. We have a ton of art, and crafts,” Henderson said.
Applications for booths are still being accepted.
Along with the craft booths, there will be plenty of live entertainment, including bluegrass bands, community vocalists, people singing with their acoustic guitars and dancers.
The Festival will offer a wide variety of food. “You want it, we got it,” Henderson said. “We will have BBQ, fajitas, turkey legs, roasted corn, funnel cake, Navajo tacos and more.”
This year, Eastern has also had a new community partner, the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce. The High Plains Quilt Festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, in the Memorial Building, and Eastern teamed up with the Chamber to promote both events.
“It has been an exceptional working relationship. It has been good for both the school and the community, because we are working together to make the events as big as possible,” Henderson said.
For more information, contact Henderson at 575.562.2631.