Raptor Ranch hosts art festival June 26

Festival to feature 30 vendors from Arizona and New Mexico

VALLE, Ariz. — Valle’s first Art Festival will take place at Raptor Ranch/Bedrock Park June 26 and will feature vendors from New Mexico and Arizona.

“We’re really pleased to be in a position to offer a venue which allows local artists and artisans to connect directly with Grand Canyon visitors,” said Raptor Ranch co-owner Troy Morris. “The response from the vendors has been terrific and we have added more than we had originally planned.”

The Raptor Ranch Art Festival will feature 30 vendors with products ranging from original clothing designs, Native American and contemporary jewelry, pottery, rock and stones, candles, Kachina dolls, face-painting, photography and skateboards, soaps and more.

“We will also have live bluegrass music from Peaceful Outlaws, one of our vendors,” Morris said.

Judy Jones from New Mexico is the owner of JJ’s Native Art and said it was exciting to meet with people and interacting with customers from all over the country.

“It’s so nice to have business back to normal after Covid…we can meet and share again,” Jones said. “I love to mingle with customers and bring light to people’s faces.”

Jones will be selling original design wraps and simple clothing with Southwest designs.

Coordinator of the event, Ronnie Tierney, of Fresh Focuses Photography, said she was thrilled when Morris agreed to an art festival at Raptor Ranch.

“I wanted to find a summer venue for selling my photographs and services,” Tierney said. “Troy had mentioned that he wanted to meet vendors, so I thought, why not have an art festival at Raptor Ranch? He agreed and I just can’t believe the response. We were originally planning on only 20 vendors but we kept getting more requests for spaces.”

Tierney said that every other day she’d ask if just one more artist could be added.

“That one more turned into ten more but I was glad that we didn’t have to turn anyone away. Troy is so gracious,” Tierney said.

Owner of the Grand Candle, Jordan Daniels based out of the Grand Canyon was one of the first vendors to sign up. He is based out of Grand Canyon along with four other artisans who will participate.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to come together to showcase the various passions and talents of so many artists,” Daniels said.

Snacks and drinks will be sold at Raptor Ranch but the festival is trying to procure a licensed food vendor.