Portales is set to celebrate its goober-growing tradition with the 43rd annual Peanut Valley Festival Oct. 15-16 at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds. The celebration coincides with Eastern New Mexico University’s Homecoming celebration this year promising even more fun in Portales.
Long known as one of the biggest and best craft fairs in eastern New Mexico, this year’s festival promises to be a good one with over 100 craft, community and vendor booths booked for the event. From the horse shoe art of Portales resident Warren Funk, to the elegant and unique black pottery of Native American R. Diane Martinez from Bosque Farms, NM, Peanut Festival holds something special for every gift-giving taste.
“Peanut Festival is timed perfectly as folks begin thinking about holiday gift shopping and we’re known for unique items at great prices,” said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry. “We want to invite everyone to come out and do some shopping have a taste from our many food booths and listen to some live music.”
In addition to the food and crafts, there will be the Peanut Dash 5K at 8 a.m. on Saturday, organized by ENMU Athletics and starting in front of the ENMU Administration Building. Entry fee is $15 and includes a race shirt for early registrants. Contact ENMU Athletics at 562-2236 for details.
On Saturday, the Peanut Festival Health Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Pavilion on the north end of the fairgrounds. A variety of free screenings will be available.
Kids will have plenty of activities as well. The Medieval Village will return to the festival for its second year. The village will hold demonstrations including “Fight a Knight,” archery and everyday village life. The members will also demonstrate costumes, weaponry and tactics on the Slab at the stage several times each day.
Kids can play in the two bouncy houses, have their picture made with Buddy McNutty the National Peanut Board mascot or participate in the Peanut Olympics put on by the Portales High School Cheerleaders. Competitors will take part in a variety of peanut-related games for prizes beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the Slab. Andy Mason will be on hand at 12:30 p.m. Sunday to get the kids warmed up with a variety of fun children’s music.
Other entertainment includes the Fusion World Dancers, Roswell Ballet Folklorico, Colton Hardy, Slick Reynolds and the Blackwater Band.
Sponsors of this year’s event are Hampton Farms, Yucca, Doerr & Knudson, New Mexico Peanut Growers Assn., Alta Terra, First Financial Credit Union and Xcel Energy.
Admission is free and parking is available on the west side off Boston Ave. as well as the south side of the fairgrounds off Lime Street. Handicap parking is available inside the grounds with placard displayed. For more information contact the Chamber at (575) 356-8541.
