One of the major yearly events in Parachute and Battlement Mesa is the annual craft fair sponsored by the Park and Recreation Department. This year, the 21st annual, promises to be even bigger and better. The big day takes place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the new Grand Valley High School. Please note and tell your friends that the location of the fair has changed. This location provides ample space with two gyms and a large lobby area allowing the recreation department to host it in one location instead of two, as in the past. Also, there is plenty of parking and a drop-off area. Once again, there is no admission charge for the fair.The tradition of this fair started over 20 years ago with only 20 vendor booths; this year the fair features 130 vendors. Ninety of these are returning vendors, and 40 are first-time displayers. Last years event was attended by close to 3,000 people, and the recreation department hopes even more will come this year. The senior class of GVHS will be serving as loaders and unloaders, FBLA will be selling poinsettias, Nickie Gomezs Family, Careers & Community Leaders of America group will have concessions, and the Grand Valley Historical Society will have a baked-goods booth. Mary Anderson gave me a list of vendor items that is just phenomenal, everything from soup to nuts. Im pretty sure I can complete my Christmas shopping list here and with 7 kids and 41⁄2 grandkids (one on the way), its a long list.

Another major yearly event in our community is the Annual Christmas Parade of Lights, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6. This is truly one of the best light parades in the area. And after the parade are visits with Santa with each child receiving a gift, courtesy of the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce. This year the parade will start from Bea Underwood Elementary School up on the Mesa and continue down to the Early Childhood Literacy Center (old high school). The Santa visits will be held in the gym of the center. Along with Santa visits will be some entertainment so the wait in line doesnt seem quite so long. Plans are still in the works, but it looks like caroling, face painting and juggling will be featured. Also, refreshments will be available, including homemade goodies. We are looking for community members to each bring a homemade goodie to share. Sandy Yeager, president of the chamber, is in charge, so please give her a call for information, 285-0388.

A holiday concert is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Grand Valley High School. Strictly Gospel will be performing a repertoire of holiday songs. This group is 27 members strong, and the sound is just wonderful. I look forward to this concert as a relaxing break to refresh myself on the real meaning of the Holiday Season. Refreshments will be served during intermission, and there is no charge for the concert. The Parachute/Battlement Mesa Chamber of Commerce sponsors the concert.Mary Moores column, Grand Valley News, appears every other Thursday. To contact Mary with a news tip, call her at 945-8515, ext. 108, or e-mail to MooreMOMOF7@aol.com.