Pioneer Day Craft Fair looking for more participants

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As the Pioneer Day celebration marches ever closer, the community craft fair that goes hand in hand with it is looking for more participants to make this end-of-the-summer event even more entertaining.

Pioneer Day celebrates the entry of the first pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley, marking the beginning of a major westward expansion in the United States. While it is most often celebrated in Utah as a state holiday, it is also recognized in communities that spread from that first major foothold, specifically those founded by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This includes Panaca, which has celebrated the founding for the last 161 years and is the oldest continuous settlement in Southern Nevada.

With such a remarkable history, the connections the community has to its pioneer heritage runs deep, and while the Panaca wards of the Church of Jesus Christ take charge of the main event, other smaller events run parallel to the festivities. This includes the community craft fair, which will be held July 25-26.

However, with only a month left before things begin, there have only been six booths registered. According to Melissa Free, who is in charge of the fair, they are open to anyone who wishes to sell food, crafts or anything else, as long as vendors pay the $40 registration fee and show up before the fair begins.

The craft fair itself is a fundraiser for the Lynns, the LCHS dance team. The money will pay for costumes and travel fees, among other things. The girls will be there selling baked goods. In addition to this, there will be two raffles held during the fair; one will be put on by the organizers of the craft fair and will include donated items from the vendors, and the other will be put on by the wards in charge of the Pioneer Day celebration.

The craft fair will be held at the Neldon C. Mathews gym on July 25 and 26th. The hours on Friday are noon to 5 p.m. The hours on Saturday are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you’re interested in participating, call Melissa Free at (435) 840-4497.