Olde Fashioned Christmas brought a crowd to downtown Palisade over the first weekend in December to enjoy the many festivities which included a Parade of Lights, an Arts and Crafts fair, Chili Cook-off, and the ever popular Gingerbread House Competition.

Nine chefs from the Grand Valley competed for the ‘People’s Choice’ awards in the annual Soup Challenge at the Library Courtyard on Saturday, Dec. 6. Tim Wedel created the beautiful trays and bowls as the prizes. First place went to Zoup, second place winner was 626 on Rood and the third place went to a new contender – No Coast Sushi. It was a tight competition with a lot of wonderful soups. A special thank you to Christine Wight of The Wine Country Inn for chairing the event.

Parade watchers were lined up out the door of the Slice O'Life Bakery, where Altrusa was selling a variety of hot soups to warm everyone's spirits.

Soup was popular last weekend! Parade watchers were lined up out the door of the Slice O’Life Bakery on Friday evening, where Altrusa was selling a variety of hot soups to warm everyone’s spirits.

The Gingerbread Contest and Showcase has always been a crowd favorite. Every year the creations surprise and overwhelm us with the detail and artistic efforts of every baker. Our winning houses are on display at Guild Mortgage  and Toys for the Fun of It, both in downtown Grand Junction, and at the Fountains of Hilltop off Patterson.

We welcomed a very special guest this year, Lenny McNabb, the newest Food Network chef. Lenny handed out the prizes along with Dixie Burmeister.  Thank you to Dixie and her Gingerbread Crew for making this event better and better every year. And the winners are:

Adult Category
1st – Suzanne Jamison and Kimber Cangner – Palisade

2nd – Kelly Minhon – Fruita

3rd – Audrey Kiser – Grand Junction

Honorable Mention – Sue Kiser – Grand Junction

“Fun” Adult

1st – Melissa McKay – Palisade

2nd – Rhonda Thisault-Lloyd – Grand Junction

3rd – Danica DeLalto – Grand Junction

Group

1st – Shelly, Kate, Bev, Terry – Grand Junction

2nd – Commons of Hilltop – Grand Junction

Youth

1st – Dale Marino – Grand Junction

2nd – Benner Bayliss – Montrose

Child – 6 to 11

1st – Alyssa Breeden – Fruita

2nd – Hylan Vanmaurer – Grand Junction

3rd – Austin Strain – Fruita

Honorable Mentions

Sadie Strain – Fruita

Kaden Strain – Fruita

Child – 5 and under

1st – Morgan Labbitt – Grand Junction

2nd – Joseph Hayes – Grand Junction

3rd – Bozy Mikosz – Palisade

Honorable Mentions – Issac Miller, Grand Junction

Business
1st – Guild Mortgage – Grand Junction
2nd – SGM, Inc – Grand Junction
3rd – Cave and Colorado Winefest – Palisade
Honorable mentions
Amos Counseling – Grand Junction
Grand Junction, FCI – Grand Junction
Peoples Choice – Alyssa Breeden – Fruita
Kids from Taylor Elementary School sang Christmas carols and helped Santa Nana light the Town's Christmas Tree in the Plaza.

Kids from Taylor Elementary School sang Christmas carols and helped Santa Nana light the Town’s Christmas Tree in the Plaza before the Parade of Lights began on Friday evening.

Sarah Brooks, Recreation & Events Coordinator for the Town of Palisade, said “This was the best Parade of Lights we have ever had.” Brooks managed the entries this year and Chris Britt and Ron Koss were our Emcees. More than 30 floats and groups traveled up Iowa Street to Third and headed south on Main Street, delighting folks all the way. Brooks announced the judges’ choices: First place went to the Horse Mountain 4-H, second place winner was Palisade Masons with Snoopy and the Red Baron and third place to Countrywide Services and the Marines Toys for Tots. Colorado National Bank won the prize for the Best Theme Float Award.
Congratulations to all our 2014 Olde Fashioned Christmas winners!

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