Only two more days left to submit a theme for the 100th Grant County Fair!? Anyone can?- an individual, organization, club, class, school or community.? To submit a theme, call the Fair Office at 575-1900 or email (gcfair@grantcounty-or.gov).? Don’t be left out – call now with your theme!

Hasn’t it been a wonderful fall – great weather, beautiful colors?? But have you forgotten that the holidays are just around the corner??

We’re getting ready to help you to get ready!?The Keerins Hall and Blue Mountain Hospital Auxiliary Holiday Bazaars are Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Fairgrounds. There will be lots of handcrafted gifts in the Pavilion and both handcrafted and unique gifts in Keerins Hall for your shopping enjoyment.?

?The planning for the Festival of Children and the Festival of Trees – Friday, Dec. 12 – is well under way. The proceeds from these two events benefit the Tree of Joy, the Grant County Food Bank, and “Kamps for Kids.”? Last year close to $4,000 was raised and shared between these three organizations.

So if you want to get in the holiday spirit, do something for others and have some fun at the same time, plan to attend. The Festival of Children is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be 14 craft tables for children to create and build all kinds of things either as gifts or to keep, including a new bird house design, wind chimes, and more.? Santa will be there for pictures and wishing!?

Local businesses have donated unique and beautiful gift items for the silent auction.??

The Festival of Trees is in the evening from 6-10 p.m., with the decorated tree auction at 7 p.m. A spaghetti dinner will be served with a no host bar.? Entertainment is being planned.? If you’re interested in decorating a tree, wreath or centerpiece, call the Fair Office.

And of course, all those beautifully decorated trees will still be up Saturday night, December 13th, for the Timber Truckers dinner following their parade through downtown.?

A final note of excitement – Mike Cosgrove has been working diligently on getting bicycle tours coming into Grant County, and he has succeeded!?The Oregon Bicycle Ride tour will start in Heppner and do a loop through Monument, John Day, Unity, Sumpter, Ukiah and return to Heppner.?

They will stay at the Fairgrounds on Aug. 10 and 11.? Mike and the Strawberry Striders are arranging area tours for them while here in the county.?

The tour usually has about 250 bicyclists.? We are looking forward to a busy summer schedule with not only motorcyclists but now bicyclists!

Stephanie Walters is the manager of the Grant County Fairgrounds.