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Fresh fruit and vegetables at a booth at the Cascabel Fair. Submitted
San Manuel Miner
The Cascabel Community Fair started in 1980 and has been going strong every since. This year will be the 35th Cascabel Community Fair held on Dec. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The Cascabel Community Fair is an eclectic and unique celebration of rural Arizona beauty, hospitality, diversity and artistic expression in a beautiful outdoor setting.
The Cascabel Community living along the San Pedro River is mostly made up of ranchers, retirees, artists, organic food producers and home business operators. Approximately 200 people live in the Cascabel area.
Cascabel is located along the banks of the beautiful San Pedro River. Live music is played during the fair and there are many fine artists displaying their hard work in clay, fiber, wood, jewelry, leather, photography, painting and quilts. Still others offers herbs, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Near the Cascabel Fair is the Oasis Bird Sanctuary that conducts scheduled tours of the exotic birds and they sell products that support animal rescue efforts. Also, the Cascabel Clayworks which is a cottage industry and homestead will host an open house. There is something for everyone.
The Cascabel Community Center, the Cascabel Community Garden and the Volunteer Fire Department will serve homemade lunches and desserts and hold a raffle for several prizes.
Cascabel is located approximately 32 miles southeast of San Manuel. Google Maps estimates the drive time to be close to two hours and suggests taking Redington Rd. to San Pedro River Rd. to Cascabel Rd. Please remember the San Pedro River Road is a dirt road, you will be traveling on so take your time, keep the dust down and enjoy the sights.
Special thanks to Barbara Clark for founding the Cascabel Community Fair and all the hard work she puts into it each year with the help of other residents and volunteers. For more information, call the Clayworks at 520-212-2529, email clayworks@rnsmetcom or check out www.cascabel.org.
Nina Crowder is a resident of Mammoth. She volunteers in several local organizations. She covers events throughout the Copper Corridor and Superior Town and School governance.
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