Winterfest is next on agenda for South Fork

SOUTH FORK— The South Fork Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the town and local businesses are getting ready to host their annual Winterfest. In the past, the festival has been held at the South Fork Fire Department until last year, when the need for more space prompted the move to Rio Grande Club located just outside of South Fork. The new accommodations sparked local vendors and business owners to pack up their holiday gifts and made for one of the biggest Winterfest events ever. The halls and rooms inside the main clubhouse at the club transformed into a holiday shopper’s dream, with everything from freshly made pine wreaths to home baked goods and craft venders galore.

This year, the chamber and town officials are eager to get the event underway with even more to offer from previous years. The club has agreed to open the kitchen to serve their delicious menus throughout the day and to have treats on hand for avid shoppers. There will be something for everyone in the vast clubhouse to enjoy and even some activities for the children, including a sit down with Santa on both days during the event.

Town trustee and owner of The Cabin Vicki Phillips will be hosting her wreath-making workshop throughout the event. Phillips brings pine boughs from around the area to the festival to show people how to make homemade pine wreaths for Christmas decorations. The booth is one of the favorites in the festival and brings crowds of people to the event. Phillips supplies everything needed to make a wreath, which participants can take home afterwards.

The Town of South Fork will also have a booth available where they will be selling their 25th anniversary commemorative coins that were made especially for the town’s year-long celebration of the day they were incorporated. Trustee Kris Steffens spoke about the coins, stating that they would be the perfect gift for anyone who holds a special place in their hearts for South Fork. The coin depicts the history of the town in a single image which shows a train rumbling along the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad located in the area and is encased in a beautiful matted frame.

There will be family activities that include cookie decorating and Christmas ornament crafts for those young at heart. The day doesn’t end there, the upper rooms are packed full of various vendors from around the Valley offering everything that a holiday shopper could want for that special holiday gift.

There will also be raffles and door prizes donated by local organizations, like the Creede Repertory Theatre and range from ski packages to weekend getaways. The event will take place December 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for more information or for directions to the Rio Grande Club, please visit www.southforkbusiness.org or by calling 873-5556.