ENMU, Chamber ready to go nuts

Special to the PNT

Eastern New Mexico University will host its annual Peanut Valley Festival Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Campus Union Building.

Tracy Henderson, director of Student Activities and Organizations, says 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.

“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 craft booths, there will be live entertainment, including bluegrass bands, community vocalists and dancers.

The Festival will offer a wide variety of food, including barbecue, fajitas, turkey legs, roasted corn, funnel cake and Navajo tacos.

This year, the school has also had a new community partner, the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce. The High Plains Quilt Festival was scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, in the College of Business, so ENMU teamed up with the Chamber and brought the festivals together.

“It has been an exceptional working relationship,” Henderson said. “It has been good for both the school and the community, because we are working together to make the event as big as possible.”

For information, contact Henderson at 562-2631.