Point Reyes Light - November 2, 2000

Valley celebrates 50 years of food & fun at Holly Fair

By Larken Bradley

The 50th Annual Holly Fair, sponsored by the San Geronimo Community Presbyterian Church, will be held on November 10 and 11. Church members and non-members alike make the fair a successful yearly bash in San Geronimo Valley.

Started a half-century ago as a Ladies Guild Church Bazaar, the Holly Fair was originally held in one member’s garage, where aprons and other hand-sewn items were sold.

The event has grown to a two-day festival that includes a turkey dinner, silent auction, carnival games and prizes, and a gourmet pantry. Back this year by popular demand is a booth selling freshly-made German pastries.

500 turkey dinners

Jene Chadwick, a church member since 1956, this week described the evolution of the fair from its early days. While the Ladies Guild organized the production and sale of handcrafted items, the men wanted part of the action so they cooked-up the idea of serving up turkey dinners on Friday night. This year fair organizers expect that 500 turkey dinners will be served.

Over time, games and dune buggy rides were added so kids would have something to do while their parents shopped. Eventually the adults wanted their own entertainment, and contests like Bell Ringer – a he-man sledgehammer strength test – were added to the fun.

In charge of the silent auction this year, Chadwick has lined up an eclectic selection of items of interest and value. Fairgoers can bid on gift certificates for a meal at the Two Bird Café, bed-and-breakfast weekends, a round of golf at San Geromino Golf Course, hair styling, manicures, a subscription to The Point Reyes Light, and a load of manure delivered to the winner’s front door. (The last two items are not the same thing.)

Fast Night Cakes

Last year Chadwick took flak for the mink jacket that was available for bidding, and he expects the same this year for a zebra skin.

Valley resident Jan Isaac, proprietor of Don’s Liquor in Bolinas, along with a crew of her relatives are bringing back a Holly Fair tradition of Fast Night Cakes, a German pastry prepared for years by former church member Doris Toews, now 80 years old and living in Chico.

Isaac described the confection as a diamond-shaped, fried yeast pastry, not unlike a donut, rolled in sugar.

"People used to order three to four dozen," Isaac said, adding that such quantities are out of the question this year.

After all is said and done, fair organizers will gather for the Afterglow party, where, said Chadwick, "everybody smiles, reflects on the fair, and waits for the treasurer's report."

Holly Fair events will be held in all church buildings including the sanctuary and the old train station. The turkey dinner will be held Friday night. Holly Fair hours are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11.

The Church is located at 6001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. at the corner of Nicasio Valley Road in San Geronimo. Admission is free.

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