GRASS VALLEY, Calif. December 1, 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 on the Fairgrounds’ website at NevadaCountyFair.com. The 2017 Country Christmas Faire is planned for Thanksgiving weekend, November 24, 25, and 26.