By Virginia Murray (ENMU The Chase)
The 45th Annual Peanut Valley Festival was held this past weekend and included arts, crafts, food, music, games, and entertainment. This all-day event was free to the public and welcomed a Western Frontier Gun Show for the first time. The gun show required a $6 donation to those above the age of 10 but still had a great turn out from Portales locals.
The staple of the festival, Valencia peanuts, were sold at numerous booths during the festival. The Portales Women’s Club sold a variety of different flavors and roast for festival-goers to enjoy.
According to the interview KFDA conducted with Portales Women’s Club First VP of Civics Cindy Miller, the sales they received over the weekend were the highest they have ever been before. The Portales Women’s Club participates in the festival to help raise money for community service projects and scholarship opportunities for high school students.
“I love seeing the entertainment that the City of Portales provides to locals,” said Clovis resident Kristie Wilson. “My husband and I came to the festival last year and had a blast. We knew we’d be coming again this year. We mainly enjoy walking around and seeing the arts and crafts that are sold.”
The Peanut Valley Festival also welcomed Fusion World Dance for a performance. Fusion is a world dance performance group from Portales with a specialization in belly dancing. The group is directed by Eastern New Mexico University’s yoga and dance instructor Yolanda Chavez.
“The belly dance performance was my favorite of the day,” said Wilson. “Watching them made me want to get out there and join them on the dance floor. I would love to take a belly dancing class with them.”
Whether it was for food, crafts, or entertainment, the 45thPeanut Valley Craft and Music Festival didn’t disappoint Eastern New Mexico locals.
