Pomegranate Arts Festival Returns To Fairgrounds

By NICK YAMASHITA

The Progress

The Moapa Valley Pomegranate Arts Festival returned to great success on Nov. 5-6 as vendors of all types reported sell-outs and highest profits of the year. The annual event which had to be cancelled last year due to the pandemic saw a resurgence as people clambered in from all over the region to attend, especially from Mesquite and Southern Utah.

“This year went so well,” said Jackie Worthen of the Moapa Valley Art Guild, who coordinated the vendors for the event. “Everybody has expressed that they made a profit and had success.”

The Pomegranate Festival was “iffy” on its return up until August. Even still, some caution was needed, as state mandates including masking and vaccinations have remained in effect.

“We are so grateful to have the opportunity to do it again this year,” said Susan Perez, a local artist and Moapa Valley Art Guild member.

There were more than 100 vendors from all over the nation in attendance. Amazing handcrafted and homemade products were offered from jewelry to metal interior design artwork; from homemade foods to photography and paintings. The list goes on and on.

While the event was going on there was a local entertainment being performed on the Plaza Stage area. These acts featured local musicians, dancers, dancing groups, and more.

Logandale resident and MV Art Guild member Kim Delgadillo entered several of her paintings in the Guild art show and sale which was going on in the Fine Arts Building of the fairgrounds. She also played french horn in a woodwind quintet along with several other area musicians.

“The performance side, as well as the vendor side, was well organized,” said Delgadillo. “The audience was great and we had an outstanding Master of Ceremonies in Kasen Kolhoss.”
Kolhoss also lived up to a challenge given by Penny Vallone with Rebellions Boutique, by wearing a pair of her earrings she had made. Vallone laughed at the challenge but she said that she was very satisfied with the event. “I have had incredible sales and it has gone really well,” Vallone said.

The big seller was the vendors of pomegranates and pomegranate products. Every single one of these vendors sold out completely by the end of the event. It started with the Rawsons Alligator Jelly booth, the Leavitts fresh pomegranate booth, and followed with the rest. Scott Beckstrand of “A Taste of Pomegranate” was shocked at the results.

“I have never sold out at this event,” said Beckstrand. “We sold out of everything pomegranate. I even sold 13 bottles of pomegranate honey to one person. It has been a very good weekend!”

“The first thing to sell out was the Pomegranate juice,” Beckstrand added. “It always is the first thing to go, followed by the jams and jellies and then the rest.”

The Pomegranate Art Festival has been a local tradition in Moapa Valley for going on fourteen years. From a small beginning it has grown into a first class area arts event and a much-loved tradition in the valley. Well attended it attracts many Las Vegas locals and tourists, as well as the southern Utah population.

The Festival was conceived to celebrate the area’s fine arts and crafts and the harvest season of pomegranates grown in the Moapa Valley. Much of the art work displayed features either southwest or pomegranate themes.

The Moapa Valley Art Guild expressed gratitude for the success of this year’s festival as they were displaying and selling their artwork at the event.
“Big thanks to all of our volunteers, sponsors, and entertainment,” said Delgadillo. “This year has been a success thanks to everyone pitching in and helping.”

The following performed at the event: Rick Houston & Alicia Houston-Silva, the Grant Bowler Elementary Honor Choir, Overton Senior Center Kountry Kickers, WillPhil Change, Flags Up!, MVHS Concert Choir, Muddy River Cloggers, Go EXL Academy, Nelson Family Bluegrass Band, Moapa Valley Tumbling Team & Minis, Clark County Parks and Rec Dancers, Favor for Mom String Duo, Quintessential, Kenny Marshall (The Cowboy Poet) and of course, MC Kasen Kolhoss.