After ‘phenomenal’ Balloon Regatta Street Fair, Page Chamber preps for Christmas

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This year’s Page, AZ Balloon Regatta from Nov. 3 to 6 featured a new layout for the Page Chamber Street Fair. 

In the past, vendors set up in the parking lot of Elm Street Plaza (Block 17), but this year the fair was held along Elm Street, which was closed to traffic. The change was made possible by work done by Page Utility Enterprise to upgrade the power supply on Elm Street, which allowed more electricity to be available to vendors setting up on the road. 

The change allowed better access to existing businesses in the plaza during the fair, while also providing extra space for more vendors than in past years. 

Judy Franz, executive director of the Page Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce, described this year’s street fair – which featured 89 vendors – as “phenomenal.”

“I think a lot of it had to do with the layout. I think we had twice the people we had last year. It was crowded, which was good,” she said. “The vendors said it was one of the best they’ve been to, and they also liked the layout. They like everybody in a row, and we mixed it up, so we didn’t have all the food vendors together.”

Following the success of the street fair, Franz was looking forward to the Chamber’s Christmas fundraisers and other events.

Already underway is the Senior Angel Drive, which continues until Dec. 11. A tree has been set up at The Hub/Page Lake Powell Chamber (48 S. Lake Powell Blvd.), which has been decorated with angels, each of which contains a list of Christmas gifts to buy for a senior citizen in the Page community. Donors can take an angel and buy the gifts themselves, or they can donate checks, and Chamber staff will do the shopping. In either case, the gifts will be delivered to the recipient by Chamber staff.   

“We have people in our community, the elderly, some are in the nursing home, some are just home bound. I always have had a soft spot in my heart for people who are not going to have a Christmas, and the elderly are often one of them, and they’re forgotten about,” Franz said. 

“So, we’ve got a tree here, we have names with information about what they’re asking for, and they want basic needs. They’re looking for socks, pajamas, sweaters. One guy wanted rock music, hard rock music. Just simple things.” 

The Chamber office is also a drop-off point for donations to the Page Public Library’s Christmas Toy Drive. Other drop-off points are the library (479 S. Lake Powell Blvd.), Page Police Department (808 Coppermine Rd.) and Lake Powell Furniture (467 Elm St.). Donations can be made until Dec. 20.

“Again, if you don’t have time to shop, we’ll take a check and we’ll cash it and we’ll shop and make sure the children are taken care of,” Franz said, adding that she encourages donors to remember the 9-to-16-year-olds. “Those kids tend to get forgotten in the Toys for Tots, and they’re still wanting things for Christmas.” 

On Dec. 3, the Chamber will also hold its annual Santa’s Layover and Craft Fair at the Courtyard by Marriott in Page. Santa will arrive from the North Pole by helicopter around noon and will be available for photos with children until 3 p.m.

In addition to the craft fair, there will also be a silent auction, with proceeds going Coconino Community College’s scholarship fund. 

“Last year we were able to get $1,500 at the auction, so we’re hoping to beat that this year,” Franz said. “I am in need of donations for the silent auction. If you’re a business or an individual and you want to buy a gift card and donate it, we’ll put it in a basket. Anything is appreciated.”