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Hayden residents get holiday spirit Dec. 4

Tamera Manzanares

After recovering from Thanksgiving feasts, Hayden residents can change gears Dec. 4 with the annual Holiday Craft Bazaar followed by a community Christmas candle-lighting service.

In its fourth year, the Holiday Craft Bazaar will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Routt County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall and will feature goods made by local artists and craftspeople.

Booth fees, which are between $25 and $40, will go toward the Rocking “A” Scholarship, awarded to a Hayden High School graduate pursuing an education in the arts.



In the past, available arts and crafts have included weavings, handmade frames, jewelry, birdhouses, candles, pet accessories and products made by Routt County Woolens, organizer Lana McFadden said.

Previous bazaars featured goods made by about 30 artists, though the events were held in a vacant space on Walnut Street and organizers usually had to turn some vendors away. The exhibit hall will provide much more space for vendors, musicians, activities and an overall festive atmosphere, McFadden said.



Crafters have come not only from Hayden but from Steamboat, Craig, Meeker and as far as Grand Junction and Nederland.

Musicians are invited to perform at the event, and artists may hold workshops teaching others their crafts. Woodcarvers, weavers and oil painters have held demonstrations at past bazaars, she said.

“We want to create an environment for everybody to enjoy themselves,” McFadden said.

Also at the bazaar, residents will be able to view pieces of fine art that will be given away in the annual art drawing later in December. Proceeds from the drawing go toward the scholarship fund.

At about 1 p.m., residents will try to knock down bowling pins with frozen turkeys during the Turkey Bowl outside the exhibit hall. Businesses and community members donate prizes, which usually include holiday meal baskets, McFadden said.

At 7 p.m., residents can head to the community Christmas tree at Fourth Street and Jefferson Avenue for the Christmas Spirit and Community Harmony ceremony, hosted by the Hayden Recreation Department.

After giving a short service about Christmas spirit, Doug Zirkle, pastor of the Mission of Grace Baptist Church, will light candles with Richard “Festus” Hagins, chairman of the recreation board.

Residents will sing “Silent Night” while the candles are aglow.

“It should be a spectacular view for anyone who happens to be flying into the airport that evening,” recreation coordinator Lindsay Heer said.

The ceremony will replace the Tree Lighting Ceremony, usually held after Thanksgiving. This year, organizers wanted to hold the candle-lighting ceremony when more people would be in town, but they also had another reason for changing the event.

“The North Pole informed us that Santa was available on Dec. 4,” Heer said.

Santa Claus will make his appearance after the candles are extinguished. There also will be cookies and hot chocolate to keep residents warm.

Anyone interested in reserving a booth at the craft bazaar or donating art for the art drawing should call McFadden at 276-4866 by Saturday.

— To reach Tamera Manzanares call 871-4204 or e-mail tmanzanares@steamboatpilot.com


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