By NICK YAMASHITA
Moapa Valley Progress
The magic of the holidays takes center stage at the annual Moapa Valley Festival of Trees, held at the Old Logandale School on Friday and Saturday, November 22-23. This spectacle of trees, decorations, music and dance has become a community tradition for the holidays and is the main fundraising event for the Old Logandale School Historical and Cultural Society (OLSHACS).
OLSHACS Director Robin Maughan stated that she was extremely excited for the upcoming event which runs Friday from 3-7 pm and resumes Saturday from 9am – 5 pm. Businesses, organizations and individuals who wish to display a tree can bring it in on Thursday starting at 6 pm. Maughan said.
The Society is working hard to simplify things for possible tree donors, Maughan said. “Those who want to help out with a decorated tree but are not able to decorate it, they can just drop off a tree and leave the decorations and we will decorate the tree in the name of the donor,” she said.
For the first time this year, the festival will be adding a display of Christmas mini-villages. “This adds an extra kick of Holiday spirit,” stated Maughan.
Maughan said that she is still seeking donors for village displays. These can be dropped off at the building on Thursday as well.
Many other displays and entertainment will also deck the Old Logandale School’s halls for the festival. These include more vendors, baking demonstrations in the kitchen, a cake walk for kids, multiple entertainment provided by local children and adults and more.
The popular gingerbread house contest will be returning with prizes for the winners. All gingerbread house entries can be dropped off Thursday at 6:00 pm.
Some of the well-known vendors that will be present at the festival include the handmade wooden toys of local craftsman Fred Koopman, Lipsense, Robbins Lane Jewelry, Luluroe, Joanna Watson crafts, art/photography, baked goods and even Rik Eide’s Papa Gyro food truck will be present.
The most exciting thing for kids though will be the arrival of the fat jolly man in red. Santa arrives at the Festival of Trees on Friday at 5:30 pm and then Saturday at 10:30 am.
There will also be a raffle as well as a silent auction for the trees and other decor items.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we are going all-out for it,” said Maughan.“We just want to thank everyone who supports and helps with this event. It is because of you that we are a success every year.”
Admission is free at the event and the whole community is invited. For more information about the festival, call Maughan at 702-398-7272.
