RUMFORD — On Saturday, Dec. 1, the Christmas in the Valley Craft Fair kicks off the holidays sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce. The fair will take place at Mountain Valley High School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fifty-six crafters and seven home-based businesses will feature their crafts and wares. A $1 donation at the door will help the Interact Group with their upcoming activities.

Come early to pick up holiday cookies at the always popular Cookie Walk where more than 75 dozen will be on hand. The Kid’s Corner, under the supervision of the Interact Group, will run from 10 a.m. to  1 p.m., offering games for children to play.

A rocking chair donated by Maine Made Furniture will be raffled. Tickets are $1 for one or six for $5. Tickets will be available at the apparel table near the door. Proceeds go to the scholarship funds for Mountain Valley High and Dirigo High schools. Another favorite raffle on hand will be Jennifer Kreckel’s famous cookies; stop by the Christmas in the Valley booth to buy tickets.

There will be a Chinese auction of wares donated by each crafter present.

The kitchen will be stocked and run by the Rumford/River Valley Relay For Life committee, with all the kitchen proceeds going to Relay For Life. Breakfast will consist of doughnuts, coffee cake, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Lunch will be a turkey pie plate with all the fixings, chili, hot dogs or chili dogs, and homemade apple pie or brownies for dessert. The committee will also be selling pies so pick yours up for your holiday festivities. Advance orders only; call Diane Mitchell at 364-8358 to order.

Christmas in the Valley will continue with the holiday parade at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. The parade, sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Rumford Fire Department, will feature the 10 towns in the River Valley.

The parade will start off at Mountain Valley High School; Registrations will run from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. The parade starts at 6:30.

Judging of the floats will happen promptly at 5:30 p.m. “A Holiday Production,” highlighting a favorite holiday story or movie, is the theme. The parade will wind its way from the high school down through Waldo Street, up Rumford Avenue and around the rotary and onto Congress Street, where Santa will wave his hands at the head of Congress Street and the Christmas tree will magically light up, officially starting the holiday shopping on Shopper’s Island.

Santa will greet the children after the parade at the Fire Station. Anyone interested in having a float in the parade may get a parade registration form at the River Valley Chamber of Commerce. There will be two categories for the floats; nonprofit/civic and business/commercial. There will be banners for the winners of these two categories placed in front of their float for the parade.