Dear Editor,

Plan to attend the Hilltop Guild’s Annual Bazaar which always takes place on the first Saturday in August and this year will be August 6, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and there’s plenty of parking.

“We wanted to offer the Vitalant bloodmobile on site, but unfortunately it is not available,” said Jen Bell, president. “Fortunately, the Allenspark Fire Department has offered its Community Room for a traditional blood drive (no bloodmobile) on the same day as the Bazaar, Saturday, August 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This is a great service to the community,” she added. The Allenspark Fire Department is located at 14861 Highway 7 at the Allenspark turn-off. Please sign up in advance for blood donations at this location through Vitalant.

At the Bazaar, haircuts will be offered by Hair on Wheels, the White Elephant will be open, fudge, peanut brittle and pies will be sold, and the Guild’s famous homemade jellies also will be available including dandelion jelly. Live music will take place by two groups: the Railroad Ramblers and Shazza and Steel.

Local and area vendors will be selling jewelry, handicrafts, and wellness teas and chair massages.

“The money raised at the Bazaar will go right back to the community in terms of scholarships and local donations,” added Bell. Scholarships this year went to students at Lyons High School and Estes Park High School.

At the bazaar, lunch will be available for purchase. The country kitchen will sell breads, pies, cakes, cookies and fabulous gourmet sandwiches.

Inside the Kelley House (located at 18720 Highway 7), the boutique will offer embroidered tea towels, felt pins, a wide variety of coasters and hand-woven items from scarves to place mats. The weavers have been working all year making rugs, totes, shoelaces (yes, shoelaces!), shawls and more scarves. In fact, if you want to see a weaver at work and learn how to weave, come to the Bazaar on August 6.

Several community groups will have tables at the festival including the local newspaper, The Wind, and representatives from ANEN: Allenspark Neighbors Emergency Network.

Additionally, several vendors will be on hand selling jewelry and hand-made items including Mary Hunter offering herbal products and chair massage, Joanna Johnson of Slate Falls Press with children’s books and watercolor prints, Gini Krattenmaker with repurposed pillows and fiber art, Susan Lutes and Jeannie Taylor with mixed media painting, Leslie Maya- Charles with jewelry, Jane Morrissey with wood and fabric gift items, Susan Platt with jewelry.

“This is a great community event offered once a year,” said Bell. “Come join us and remember that the money you spend will go to good local causes, like the Allenspark Fire Department, and scholarships.

“After two years of Covid and a year of Highway 7 road closures, we are looking forward to a big happy crowd in the mood to celebrate handicrafts in the mountains,” she added.

Elizabeth Sherwin

Allenspark