Gingerbread House Competition Results and Canned Food Drive Results

November 30, 2016 |

A successful canned food drive, more than 120 vendors, and 66 gingerbread houses built, made the 32nd Annual Country Christmas Faire at the Nevada County Fairgrounds a success.

The 14th Annual Gingerbread House Competition featured 66 entries.  Of those entries, the Best of Show was awarded to Jan Haverty of Nevada City, and the People’s Choice Award went to Owen Strolle of Grass Valley. The Best of Show is chosen by the judges, and the People’s Choice is selected through ballots cast by individuals who attend the Christmas Faire.

First place winners in the traditional categories include Mimi Vanderleun, Josephine Hoover, Paxton Hoover, Hunter Kerschner, and Jaxin Milhous (age 5 & under); Crimson Layton, Claire Jones and Corbin Malcom (age 6-8); Owen Strolle and Finn Becker (ages 9 – 12);  Esther Goldman and Avora Bradley (Kits: Age 8 and under); Aiden Keller (age 13-17); Mary Sweet (age 18 -64); Jan Haverty (age 65 & over); Emily Dorton (Special Needs); Zach Schaffer, J & C Anderson, K/1st grade Scotten After School Program, 2nd grade Scotten After School Program, 3rd grade Scotten After School Program, and 4th grade Scotten After School Program (group – children); Dasha and Katya Schaffer (group – teens); A, F and S Longacre (family); and T Schaffer and Cynthia Nicholsen (group- adults).

New this year, the popular coloring contest featured 154 coloring entries. First place winners include Madison Clark, Patricia Gizzi, Rebecca Hengesback, Katie Hengesback, Grant Lacosse, Justin Larsen, Kayla Larsen, Joshua Last, Fiona Longacre, Carson Nick, Jeremiah Nocera, and Richard Vaters.

At Sunday’s canned food drive, Grass Valley Elks Lodge #538, with help from Boy Scout Troop 21, collected more than 150 pounds of food. These donations will help feed 30 – 35 families in need during the holiday season.

The names of all the Gingerbread House Competition winners can be found here. The 2017 Country Christmas Faire is planned for Thanksgiving weekend, November 24, 25, and 26.

2016 Best of Show. Jan Haverty

2016 Best of Show. Jan Haverty

 

2016 People's Choice. Owen Strolle

2016 People’s Choice. Owen Strolle

Categories: Country Christmas Faire, Events, and Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Tags: christmas faire, coloring contest, Fairgrounds, Gingerbread House competition, Gingerbread houses, Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Nevada County.

Country Christmas Faire: November 25, 26 and 27

November 24, 2016 |

Mark your calendar for the 32nd annual Country Christmas Faire at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley on November 25, 26 and 27. Rated as one of the top handcrafted shows in Northern California, the Country Christmas Faire features unique gifts and crafts from top artisans from across the state, as well as from Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and New York.

Exhibit buildings will be filled during the Thanksgiving weekend, giving shoppers a chance to start their holiday shopping with quality hand-made holiday items, ornaments, jewelry, wooden crafts, soaps and lotions, hand-woven baskets, stained glass, candles, beadwork, and dozens of other unique gifts.

Visitors to the Faire will enjoy strolling entertainment, festival foods, the magical Gingerbread House exhibit, errand elves, and a community bon-fire. Coloring contest entries will also be on display in Ponderosa Hall. Wagon rides around the Fairgrounds will be offered; and Victorian singers, the bell ringing RiverBells, and the Sierra Symphony quartet will perform throughout the event.

Santa will be available each day until an hour before the event closes, so bring your camera to capture that special photo with Santa. Free babysitting will be offered by Girl Scouts of the Northern Mines Service Unit, so parents can drop off their children while they enjoy holiday shopping.  Errand Elves from Clear Creek School will be at Gate 1 Guest Services and available to assist shoppers throughout the event.

On Sunday of the Faire, the Nevada County Fairgrounds will partner with Grass Valley Elks for a canned food drive. Bring a can of food on Sunday, November 27, from 10 am to 4 pm, and receive $1 off Sunday’s admission price (one coupon per person).  All food donated is collected by the Grass Valley Elks and used in their Christmas baskets that they hand out in December.

The Country Christmas Faire begins Friday, November 25, and runs through Sunday, November 27. Admission is $5 for adults, and children 12 and under are free. Parking is free. The hours are 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday.

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, off Highway 49.

Categories: Country Christmas Faire and Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Tags: Christmas, christmas faire, christmas shopping, country christmas, Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Nevada County, and shopping.

Visit the Little Red Trolley

November 21, 2016 |
Have you visited Califia Cafe, the little red trolley at the Fairgrounds? The Café is open Monday-Friday from 7 – 12:30 pm, and is located at Gate 1. Coffee, espresso and tea is served with a limited pastry menu. Drive up, get your coffee and enjoy the Nevada County Fairgrounds!
califia-cafe-2
Categories: Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Tags: baked goods, cafe, califia, califia cafe, coffee, espresso, Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, Little Red Trolley, Nevada County, tea, and Trolley.

County Christmas Faire: Thanksgiving Weekend

November 21, 2016 |

Join us for the Country Christmas Faire, Thanksgiving Weekend, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. This is a great place to get all your holiday shopping done, while also visiting with Santa, taking a wagon ride, listening to Carolers, checking out the Gingerbread House display, or sitting by the bonfire.

red-barn-craft-co-main-street-center

 

Categories: Country Christmas Faire and Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Tags: Christmas, christmas faire, christmas in nevada county, christmas shopping, country christmas, Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, handmade gifts, Nevada City, Nevada County, and Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Carriage Rides at the Country Christmas Faire

November 21, 2016 |

Did you know carriage rides will be offered (weather permitting) by Empire Horse and Carriage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Country Christmas Faire? Join us this weekend for carriage rides, lots of craft vendors, delicious food, a community bonfire, and a gingerbread house display. Photo by @george_of_d_jungle.carriage-rides-george_of_d_jungle

Categories: Country Christmas Faire.
Tags: carriage rides, Christmas, christmasfaire, craft fair, Fairgrounds, gingerbread house, Grass Valley, horses, Nevada City, Nevada County, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and Santa.

Canned Food Drive at Country Christmas Faire

November 20, 2016 |

The Nevada County Fairgrounds and Grass Valley Elks are teaming up for a canned food drive to help feed those in need in Nevada County.

Bring a can of food (or two or three) to the Country Christmas Faire on Sunday, November 27, and the Fairgrounds will give you a coupon for $1 off general admission to the Christmas Faire on that day (one coupon per person). Volunteers from Grass Valley Elks will collect the cans at the food collection bins at the Fairgrounds from 10 am – 4 pm at Gates 1, 3 and 5, which is also where you’ll receive your coupon.  All food donated is collected by the Grass Valley Elks and used in their Christmas baskets that they hand out in December.

The Country Christmas Faire is happening Thanksgiving weekend, November 25, 26 and 27 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Hours are 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday. Cost is $5, and free to children 12 and under. Parking is free.

Categories: Country Christmas Faire.
Tags: craft fair, donation, elks, Fairgrounds, Food Drive, Grass Valley, Nevada County, and Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Decorating Santa’s Village

November 18, 2016 |
Today, these cuties from Tall Pines Nursery School decorated the trees in Santa’s Village at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Our little friends do an excellent job of preparing Santa’s Village for the Country Christmas Faire, which begins next Friday. Thank you to our little friends for their holiday spirit and joy!
tall-pines-nursery-school-kiddos
Categories: Country Christmas Faire, Events, and Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Tags: carolers, Christmas, christmas faire, craft fair, crafts, Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Nevada County, Santa, Santa's Village, and vendors.

Mike Naggiar Serves as Guest Speaker at Foundation’s Speaker Series

November 17, 2016 |

“Always be willing to take risks,” said Mike Naggiar, owner of Naggiar Vineyards and Winery, to a group of local high school students on Wednesday night. “Risks are important to take because you don’t want to be overly cautious and always taking the comfortable route.  Most will take that route, but few will take the uncomfortable route. Without risks, you never know what can be accomplished or gained.”

Naggiar addressed 28 students from Bear River and Nevada Union high schools as the guest speaker in the second season of the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series. The series brings business education – through access to business leaders and real-life leadership experiences and advice – to local high school students.

Naggiar is the founder of Naggiar Vineyards and Winery, a family owned and operated business located in south Nevada County that he established in 1998. Prior to establishing Naggiar Vineyards, he worked for Hewlett-Packard (HP) for more than 30 years in leadership and management roles in computer systems sales, marketing and general management.  He also has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Loughborough in England.

Naggiar shared with the group some of the lessons he’s learned along his career path.  His advice to students is to always think about how to contribute to the success of an employer; never underestimate the importance of honesty, hard work and loyalty; take on new assignments and try new ideas; be a team player; stay optimistic; and find something that you are passionate about because life is too short not to do what enjoy.

The second season of the Speaker Series features six speakers, one each month, and will run through April.  Upcoming speakers include Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California.

speaker-series-mike-naggiar

Mike Naggiar, owner of Naggiar Vineyards and Winery, spent Wednesday evening sharing his experience and words of advice with students from Nevada Union and Bear River. Mike served as a guest speaker at the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series, which brings business education to local high school students.

Categories: Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation.
Tags: Fairgrounds, Foundation, Grass Valley, mike naggiar, naggiar vineyard and winery, Nevada City, Nevada County, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and speaker series.