Annual Pahrump Fall Festival returns this week

The Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce said this week upward of 200 vendors have signed on for the Pahrump Fall Festival, scheduled to kick off on Thursday at Petrack Park.

“It’s about 50 more than we had last year and the entertainment is all lined up and ready to go,” said Vicky Hilling, events coordinator for the chamber. “They will be out there setting up the stage and getting ready on Thursday morning. Right now we have over 20 bands that have signed on to perform.”

The official kickoff of the festival is the parade scheduled for Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

This year’s theme is “We are America.”

Though the deadline for entries has since passed, groups and individuals who have already signed up will check in at 7:30 a.m., at Ian Deutch Park.

“The parade will start in its normal spot on Saturday,” she said. “The rodeo is all squared away, and the presale tickets ended on Tuesday, but people can purchase them at the rodeo grounds.”

Adjacent to the Petrack Park grounds is the Bob Ruud Community Center, where the arts and crafts portion of the festival is taking place.

Roxanne Jones from the UNR Cooperative Extension said many people have already entered their crafts and food items for judging on Thursday.

“There are quite a few different categories in the arts and crafts portion of the fall festival,” she said. “We break down all of the fruits and vegetables and horticulture by what they are. Right now we have mostly canned goods and things that are preserved.”

Jones also noted that many growers of produce items had problems with their harvest this year.

“The produce is kind of down this year because there’s been some issues with bugs and insects that destroy the plants,” she said. “Plus, we had the hottest July that we’ve ever had this year. That all affects the soil and the quality of the plant.”

For the first time since 2002, Pahrump residents have the opportunity to see The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, on the first day of the Pahrump Fall Festival on Friday and Saturday.

Hilling said a dedication ceremony is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m., Thursday at Simkins Park, with an honor guard presentation of the colors, along with a low, fast, flyover by Mercy Air.

Visitors can bring an item of remembrance to place at the foot of the wall on Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, Hilling said the majority of fall festival activities will start on Saturday.

“We will really kick it into high gear with all kinds of different activities for adults and kids,” she said. “We will have a whole lot of contests, including barrel racing for the kids and a pie-eating contest. We have a giant coloring mural and markers for the kids to draw pictures and sign their names on the mural. Our goal is to get it completely filled up. Freedom Reins Ranch will have some of their animals at the park for the petting zoo.”

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes