Olde Fashioned Christmas
Presented by Palisade Constructors, Inc.
Turn Back the Clock with Palisade’s Olde Fashioned Christmas
Come
one, come all! Saturday, December 15th, the Palisade Chamber of
Commerce and local businesses will “turn back the clock” with
the nostalgia of Olde Fashioned Christmas in downtown Palisade.
“This year’s Olde Fashioned Christmas will deliver a lot of
holiday cheer and local color,” said Leif Johnson, Executive
Director. “Visitors will enjoy a full day of holiday events,
shopping, and colorful characters.”
Activities
begin at 12:00 Noon with street carolers and holiday music.
Visitors can take wagon rides through downtown Palisade. Popular
activities for kids will be the children’s train ride and kid’s
crafts tent in the Olde Towne Marketplace. Shop for arts and
crafts at the Olde Towne Marketplace, Arts & Antiques of
Palisade, the Blue Pig Gallery, and Wedel Pottery - hosting a
“holiday open studio” from 12:00 Noon until 6:00 PM. Chimineas
and outdoor fire pits will be strategically placed around town
to provide warmth for the day’s events.
Take a tour of several of Palisade’s Victorian homes from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM. Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be purchased in advance at the Speckled Hen in downtown Grand Junction or at Arts & Antiques of Palisade and the Palisade Chamber of Commerce. And what would Olde Fashioned Christmas be without a Gingerbread House Contest & Showcase? Scheduled at Tucan Coffee House, “builders” (contestants) can enter their “homes” from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and the showcase is open to the public from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM.
The Soup Challenge begins at 1:00 PM at the Blue Pig Gallery, and features several of the Grand Valley’s best restaurants, bed & breakfasts, and chefs. For $2.00, individuals can taste incredible soups and participate in judging the contest. Santa arrives at Arts & Antiques of Palisade. From 2:00 until 5:00 PM, children can have their picture taken with Santa.
At 3:00 PM, enjoy a complimentary wine tasting and join in the Chamber’s Silent Auction at the Palisade Café. Guests can take pleasure in High Tea also beginning at 3:00 PM at Arts & Antiques of Palisade. Tickets are $10.00 per person or $15.00 for adult & child, and can be purchased in advance at the Holiday Inn and Speckled Hen in Grand Junction or at Arts & Antiques of Palisade and the Palisade Chamber of Commerce.
Evening begins with Palisade Fire Department’s Chili Cook-off at the Palisade Fire Department at 5:00 PM. At 5:45 PM, the Peach Queen will officially light the Town’s Christmas tree, followed immediately by the Christmas parade. For those wishing to cap-off the evening, festivities kick into full gear at Palisade’s local taverns - the Palisade Brewery, Peach Street Distillers, and Palisade Livery.
Throughout the day, be on the lookout for Palisade’s cast of holiday characters, including the Town Grinch (a.k.a. the Town Grouch), Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Crachit & Tiny Tim, Father Time, and the Town Crier. Visitors are encouraged to dress in the style of the time.
“Olde Fashioned Christmas is growing into one of Palisade’s premier events,” said Johnson. “You are invited to experience the nostalgia. Join us in the festivities and enjoy what promises to a festive, fun-filled occasion.”
Schedule for Olde Fashioned Christmas - Saturday, December 15, 2007
| Time | Event | Location |
|
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
|
Tour of Victorian Homes Silent Auction
|
Greater Downtown Palisade Tucan Coffee Palisade Café Palisade Brewery, Peach Street Distillers, & The Livery |
Special Events
This year's Olde Fashioned Christmas offers more fun than ever. There will be several contests and other opportunities to join the festivities.
Holiday Tour of Victorian Homes
Not to be missed during Palisade’s Olde Fashioned Christmas
is the Holiday Tour of Victorian Homes. The tour is available
anytime from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 15. Six
of Palisade’s most beautiful Victorian Homes will be on display,
decorated for holiday splendor. Tickets are $10.00 per person
and can be purchased ahead of time at the Speckled Hen in
downtown Grand Junction, and Arts & Antiques of Palisade and the
Palisade Chamber of Commerce. On Olde Fashioned Christmas day,
tickets can be purchased at Arts & Antiques of Palisade and the
Palisade Chamber of Commerce. Maps outlining this self-guided
tour will be available at the point of origination - Arts &
Antiques of Palisade – at 3rd and Main Streets in
downtown Palisade. Houses will be numbered and will
correspond to the tour map. Enjoy a tour of some of Palisade’s
most beautiful homes that you’ve always wanted to see.
Click here to view,
print, or download a map of the tour
High Tea in Palisade
Imagine High Tea in a Victorian setting! On Saturday,
December 15, enjoy tea, sweets and savories in a social setting,
served in a Victorian style with entertainment and fine art.
Period attire is encouraged, but not necessary. The event will
be held upstairs in Arts & Antiques of Palisade in the Art
Gallery from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Fine china tea cups are
available for purchase. Tickets are $10.00 per person, or $15.00
for an adult and child, and can be purchased in advance at the
Speckled Hen in downtown Grand Junction, Holiday Inn Grand
Junction, Arts & Antiques of Palisade and the Palisade Chamber
of Commerce. Olde Fashioned Christmas day, tickets can be
purchased at Arts & Antiques of Palisade and the Palisade
Chamber of Commerce.
High Tea is sponsored by EB Realty and Arts & Antiques of
Palisade.
Chris Millensted: A Celebration of His Dream
Chris
Millensted, owner of Tucan Coffee Estates and Roastery died in a
traffic accident in Honduras, November 2, 2007. He was visiting
his son and coffee plantation.
Chris was a pillar of Palisade as a visionary and businessman, and a wonderful person to know. He shared his dream for Tucan Coffee and Palisade and brought many great ideas with him. He was a true entrepreneur and we shared in his vision. Tucan Coffee has become an integral part of our community.
Tucan Coffee was featured as a centerpiece of downtown Palisade in the introductory text of the Palisade Chamber’s 2007 Fruit, Wine & Adventure Guide and the 2007 Buyer’s Guide & Membership Directory. Chris and Tucan Coffee were actively involved in Palisade’s “Orchard, Farm & Coffee Roastery Tours” and Tucan Coffee was a featured business at the opening reception of the 2007 Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference in Grand Junction. Chris was a great supporter of tourism to Palisade and our area.
This year’s Olde Fashioned Christmas is dedicated to Chris Millensted. We have learned from his dreams and contributions to our community. He was an inspiration. His spirit lives on here. For that, we are truly grateful.
Business Lighting/Decorating Contest
It’s time to get in the holiday swing of things! This year, in preparation for Olde Fashioned Christmas and the holiday shopping season, the Palisade Chamber of Commerce will again sponsor a special business decorating contest. All Palisade businesses are encouraged to join in on the celebration of the season.
Click
here for more information and a contest entry form.
The Soup Challenge: Savor the Taste of Great Soups!
By Leif Johnson
Aaahhh!
The wonderful smells of soups filled my senses as I walked into
the room. Like the others before me, I started in line and was
given my first tasting of hot, steaming soup. “Wow! Did that
taste good,” I shouted for anyone to hear. I finished the
serving and moved onto the next station. The chef smiled and
said, “Here, try this one.” One taste and I exclaimed, “Boy that
is incredible!” I have had some good soups in my time, but never
two back-to-back. Onto the third station. The person poured a
generous sample into a bowl. “Unbelievable!” By the fourth,
fifth, and sixth stations, I realized that I had reached nirvana
in tasting soups.
More than 200 people in downtown Palisade tasted these soups at
last year’s Olde Fashioned Christmas and voted for the winners.
Inari’s Bistro took first place, and the Red Rose Café and
Kannah Creek Brewery tied for second.
This year, Inari’s Bistro, Kannah Creek Brewery, and the Red
Rose Café will defend their titles and compete for top honors.
Other challengers will include the Palisade Wine Valley Inn – a
bed & breakfast, Palisade Café, Vistas & Vineyards Bed &
Breakfast, the Red Rose Café, and the Raintree Restaurant. Some
of the soup entries include: Sweet Corn Chowder with Andouille
Sausage and Collared Greens, Palisade Beer Cheese Soup, Thai
Coconut Chicken Soup, and Fruit Soup.
The Soup Challenge takes place in the courtyard of the Blue Pig
Gallery in downtown Palisade on Saturday, December 15th from
1:00 to 3:00 PM. Attendance is expected to top 300 people -
ready to taste another incredible assortment of soups. The price
to taste and judge the soups is $2.00 per person. Winners again
will be chosen by popular vote.
So what did I learn from last year? This is a contest that is
intended to generate positive public relations for businesses
and individuals who provide delicious soups for public
indulgence during our Olde Fashioned Christmas celebration. The
holiday season in Palisade always brings a renewed perspective.
Get ready to savor the next round of the “Nirvana of Soups!”
Click
here for more information and a contest entry form.
A Gingerbread House Contest To Remember!
By Dixie Burmeister
What would an Olde Fashioned Christmas be without a
Gingerbread House Contest? Across the country these contests are
once again gaining in popularity; all part of the magic of the
Olde Fashioned Christmas. It certainly fits in with all our
activities in Palisade’s Olde Fashioned Christmas.
We decided we wanted to make this fun for everyone and easy to enter; to do this, we needed to add a few categories and good prizes to hopefully catch your attention. We have a “Building Permit” for our “Builders” (contestants). The four categories should cover just about everyone: Group (friends, family, and businesses), Adult (18 and older) Kids (5 to 11) and Youth (12-17). As we continue to grow, who knows how many categories we’ll come up with in the future? Remember, creative use of gingerbread kits is allowed for the kids and youth category.
Castle Rock Construction in Palisade is sponsoring the contest as part of their “Building Palisade’s Future”. Let us remind you guys to also get out your measuring tapes, spatulas, spoons and frosting glue because “real men build real gingerbread houses”. The Gingerbread House Planning Commission urges Moms, Dads, Kids, Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles, friends, clubs and all to join in the fun. Everyone is invited to come and see what the Grand Valley “Home Builders” can do!
Our thanks to Castle Rock along with Bananas, Enstroms, Toys For The Fun Of It and DIORIO’S PIZZA for your help in prizes.
Click
here for more information and a contest entry form.
Parade Entry Form
Almost everybody likes a parade. Please gather up your Christmas
finery, your lights, and your imagination and be a part of the
celebration of an Olde Fashioned Christmas sponsored by the
Palisade Chamber of Commerce.
Click
here for more information and an application to participate
in the parade.
Booth Application
Would you like for your business to have a booth prominently
displayed downtown during Palisade's Olde Fashioned Christmas?
Click
here for more information and an application for space for a
booth.
Silent Auction
The Silent Auction is a fund raising event for the Palisade Chamber of Commerce. We encourage you to participate in our Silent Auction by contributing items suitable for resale. We would welcome your donation.
Click
here for a donation
form.
Route of the Christmas Parade
2006 Olde Fashioned Christmas Photos
Click to select which photo to view.
Palisade Chamber of Commerce: Holiday Window Art
Thank you to Joyce Wingerter for her beautiful and whimsical Holiday Window Art. You can see Joyce’s paintings as well as those done by the Palisade High School Art Department at various businesses around town
Press Releases for Palisade's Olde Fashioned Christmas
It's no secret that Palisade's Olde Fashioned Christmas celebration has gotten larger and better each year. The Palisade Chamber of Commerce works closely with local publications and other media vendors to promote events such as this. The chamber's promotional efforts include sending press releases to inform others of upcoming events in Palisade.
Click the links below to view press releases for Palisade's Olde Fashioned Christmas.
Palisade’s Olde Fashioned
Christmas Features "Gingerbread House Contest and Showcase"
Enjoy High Tea at Palisade’s
Olde Fashioned Christmas
Take a Tour of Victorian
Homes at Palisade’s Olde Fashioned Christmas