Christmas in the Valley Parade and Craft Fair

 December 2 and 3

Christmas in the Valley kicks off on December 2 at 6 p.m. with the Christmas in the Valley Parade sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Rumford Fire Department featuring the ten towns of the River Valley.

The parade will start off at the Mountain Valley High School; 5 p.m. lineup with a 6 p.m. start time. “A Maine Christmas” is the theme. The parade will wind its way from the High School down through Waldo Street, up Rumford Ave. and around the rotary and onto Congress Street where Santa will wave his hands at the head of Congress St. 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 please fill out a parade registration form from the River Valley Chamber of Commerce and drop it off at the Chamber Office at the Information Center in Rumford. 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.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, the Christmas in the Valley Craft Fair , sponsored by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce takes place at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with 56 crafters and seven home-based businesses who will feature their crafts and wares. $1 donation at the door will help the Interact Group with their upcoming activities.

Come early to pick up your holiday cookies at the always popular Cookie Walk where over 70 dozen cookes will be available for sale. The Kid’s Corner, under the supervision of the Interact Group, will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The children can come and play games, win prizes and have their photo taken with Mr. and Mrs. Frosty for a $2 donation.

Need a great Christmas gift? Take chances on a wooden wagon filled with gifts for the whole family that will be raffled off at the end of the day to some lucky person. Raffle tickets are $1 for one or six for $5. These tickets will be available at the Christmas in the Valley apparel table located near the door as you enter the gym. Proceeds from this 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 your tickets.

Don’t forget to get your tickets for the Chinese Auction where each crafter present will donate one of their wares to be raffled off to one very lucky person.

This year’s 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 donuts, coffee cake, coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Lunch is going to include a mouth-watering turkey pie plate with all the fixings, chili, hot dogs or chili dogs, and homemade apple pie or brownies for dessert. Plan on having lunch at the fair! The committee will also be selling pies so pick yours up for your holiday festivities. Advance orders; call Diane Mitchell at 364-8358. (Mince meat pies available on pre-orders only.)

NEW this year will be a Pie Contest hosted by Relay For Life. Who makes the best pie in the River Valley? The pie contest will take place in the cafeteria at 11 a.m. and slices of pies will be sold thereafter. Pie contestants will have to fill out an entry form available from Cheryl at Erik Designs; ribbons for the top three pies will be awarded. For more information, call Cheryl at 369-9008 or stop by Erik Designs on Rte. 108 in Rumford.

A N   I N V I T A T I O N ———2011

To participate in the Rumford celebration of the Christmas in the Valley parade and help welcome the spirit of Christmas! Let’s all join in, volunteer our time and show the River Valley the best parade ever!

WHEN: Friday, December 2nd, Parade starts promptly at 6:00 pm

RAIN, SNOW OR SHINE!!!!!!

WHERE: Lineup will begin at Mountain Valley High School at 5:00 pm. Starting from Team Industrial Services Parking lot behind the Hosmer Field Complex (Continue past Hannaford, cross Strafford Ave. to the end of Waldo Street) and ending up on Congress St. in Rumford.

THEME: “A Maine Christmas”

HOW: Get with your staff, friends and/or family…put your imaginations to work and design a float to take part in the parade. Fill out the registration form below and return it to the Chamber at 10 Bridge Street in Rumford.

JUDGING: Entries will be judged on creativity, originality and how well they depict the theme.

PRIZES: First, second and third place awards will be presented in two categories:

Non-profit/civic and Commercial/Business. Banners will be placed in front of each of the winning floats so spectators will know who the winners are.

Any questions?????? Call Peter at the Chamber office at 364-3241.

ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE IN BY NOVEMBER 26th.

Business/Organization Name:_______________________________________________

Circle One: Business or Non-Profit/Civic Contact person:_______________________

Phone:____________________________ Email:_____________________________________________

THE RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND/OR ITS AGENTS WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, ACCIDENTS OR OTHER OCCURRENCES RESULTING IN SUCH PARTICIPATION.

Signature:_____________________________________________________________

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