By Nancy Jennings
The Mount Angel-Silverton Hazelnut Festival is about to get nuttier.
New this year is the addition of a Friday evening “sneak preview”, Dec. 6, 4 – 8 p.m. Because popular items have sold out in previous years, the Friday hours give the serious holiday shopper a chance to make sure they get what’s on their gift list – whether hazelnut inspired foods or beverages or handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items.
The festival continues Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with more than 50 booths, lots of food and drink, a children’s Cookie Crawl, live holiday music and free admission.
“We have sold out on booth spaces,” Stacy Palmer, Executive Director of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce added. “This year, the festival will cater to more of a holiday shopping opportunity for both women and men. There will be more gift selections that appeal to men – such as tools, knives, and personal grooming items like beard oil,” Palmer said.
Andrew Fox, owner and brewer of Silver Falls Brewery, will introduce a special dark Hazelnut Brown Ale, brewed specially for the event. “The flavor is a malty toasted nuttiness with slight sweetness. It drinks very smooth with a light warm mouthfeel,” Fox said.
Bend’s “Bendistillery” will have hazelnut vodka available, too.
The Saturday “Hazelnut Run” starts at 10 a.m. starting and ending at the Mount Angel Community Festhalle.
This year’s festival is a joint chambers event, Mount Angel and Silverton joining forces for the Hazelnut Festival and the Shop Hop. “We’ve looked for years on ways to partner Silverton and Mount Angel for shopping, marketing, or anything holiday related. We joked that we’re only four miles apart. There’s so much that we can do together to enhance what each community is doing,” Palmer said.
“For just over 15 years, Silverton has done a ‘Shop Hop,’ and last year we introduced that to Mount Angel as part of our participation in the Hazelnut Festival – we said this is what we can bring to the table to help spur activities in Mount Angel for the holidays. This year… we have 40 participating vendors – and Mount Angel has 13. It encourages folks to pick up the map and see there’s more shopping in town.”
Mount Angel – Silverton Hazelnut Festival www.hazelnutfest.com
Friday, Dec. 6: 4 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 8: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
