The 20th annual Navajo Rug Show and Sale will take place at Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Lodge Nov. 6-8. The annual event provides guests the opportunity to enjoy Native American culture through song, dance, storytelling and artwork while supporting Native American Elders by purchasing their custom-created rugs, jewelry and art.
The Rug Show is organized by the Adopt-A-Native Elder Program (ANE) of Park City. Director Linda Myers started the program 20 years ago in hopes of building a bridge between Native American and other cultures. “These events offer attendees a unique opportunity to learn more about the Navajo culture, witness traditional ceremonies and meet 25 Elders and their families who will travel from their native homeland for the rug show and sale,” she says. “All proceeds from the sale of rugs woven by the Elders in the program go directly to the weaver. From the show’s humble beginnings 20 years with just a few rugs at the Kimball Art Center, the annual rug show and sale has evolved into what may be the largest events of its kind in the country. Over 700 rugs will be displayed and on sale at the show.”
Adopt-A-Native-Elder is an extended circle of individuals who assist Navajo Elders through the collection, coordination and delivery of food, clothing, and medical supplies. The food and clothing collected during the Rug Show and Sale, as well as all proceeds generated from the sale of rugs and jewelry, go directly to the Elders. ANE currently supports 500 traditional Navajo Elders who live in remote areas of the Navajo Reservation in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona in cultural and spiritual tradition. This project is supported by grants from the Utah Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Summit County Restaurant Tax.
On Friday, Nov. 6, the Rug Show and Sale opens to the public with a fundraiser from 6 until 10 p.m. at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge featuring hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, Native American and Western entertainment, and a live auction. The Grandmothers will offer a 10 percent discount on all rugs purchased Friday evening. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children under 12 abd can be purchased at the door or with a credit card by calling (435) 649-0535.
The event continues on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 cash and/or $5 worth of donated canned goods per day. A variety of events are planned during the two-day event, including Native American dancing, cowboy and Native American poetry, wool-carting demonstrations and storytelling.
On Saturday, there will be a Navajo Children’s Princess Pageant at 10 a.m. and weaving demonstrations at 1 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a Navajo Veteran’s Ceremony at 11 a.m., weaving demonstrations at 1 p.m. and ceremonial dances and an authentic at 3 p.m.
For more information on the 20th annual Navajo Rug Show or a complete schedule of events, please contact Linda Myers with the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program at (435) 649-0535, visit www.anelder.org, or call Deer Valley Resort at (435) 649-1000.