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Art, food, music provide Taste of Christmas

Annual event in Ignacio starts area's holiday festivities

Area residents gathered at the ELHI Community Center in downtown Ignacio on Dec. 2 for the annual Taste of Christmas celebration.

Members of the Big Bad Bobcat Band played outside to welcome visitors. The band included Ignacio Middle and High School musicians and was directed by Heather Sanchez. Several musicians had their instruments adorned with holiday lights.

Also outside, visitors could ride in Jeannie McDonald's horse drawn carriage.

Locals sold arts and crafts, holiday decorations, and homemade tamales, candy and baked goods in the gym. Kids lined up to get their faces painted and to talk to Santa. The Ignacio High School choir sang Christmas songs, with Heather Sanchez providing piano accompaniment.

Down the hall was a room for kids arts and crafts, and another for visitors to vote for their favorite gingerbread houses.

At the other end of the ELHI. the Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center held its annual Fill Your Bowl for Art fundraiser with lots of homemade soups, breads, and desserts to choose from.

Cowboy musician Chris Vandeleur and the One Lane Highway band provided the live music.

Dancing Spirit provides arts and crafts classes for kids and adults and an art therapy program for kids, and also operates a gallery of local arts.