MONTE VISTA - The city of Monte Vista is getting ready for their holiday festival which will be held Dec. 6 and 7. The theme for this year’s festival is, “Christmas Vacation,” celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the iconic holiday comedy, National Lampoon’s  Christmas Vacation. The Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce Holiday Craft Bazaar will be held at the Nazarene Church Gymnasium from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and then again Saturday, Dec. 7, 10, a.m. to 5p.m. The craft bazaar will feature unique, handcrafted and locally-made gifts for the whole family. Contact the Monte Vista  Chamber of Commerce for more information about the craft bazaar and vendor space availability at (719) 852-2731. An exciting addition to the holiday festival this year will be the home decoration contest. Participants are encouraged to channel their inner Clark Griswold (as safely as possible). Contest participants will need to have their homes decorated by Dec. 6 .
On Saturday, Dec. 7, there will be breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Stars and Strikes bowling alley. At 1 p.m. there will be a holiday children’s matinee at the Vali 3 Theater. Admission to the matinee is free, but they will be accepting donations that will go to the Monte Vista Kid’s Connection. Santa will return for dinner and bowling at Stars and Strikes from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The lighting of the City of Monte Vista Holiday Tree and Christmas caroling will take place in Fullenwider Park at 5:30 p.m. Followed by a parade of lights that will start at 6:30 p.m.