DEER VALLEY RESORT HOSTS 23rd ANNUAL NAVAJO RUG SHOW AND SALE "WEAVING THE NIGHT SKY" NOVEMBER 2 - 4, 2012

DEER VALLEY, PARK CITY, UTAH (October 29, 2012) - The 23rd annual Navajo Rug Show and Sale will take place at Deer Valley Resort's Snow Park Lodge, November 2 - 4, 2012. This special event provides attendees the opportunity to experience Navajo culture through demonstrations of weaving, singing and other traditions; and to help support Navajo elders by purchasing their hand-woven rugs and hand-crafted jewelry.

The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program organizes the event. Adopt-A-Native-Elder assists more than 500 Navajo elders living traditionally in remote areas of the Navajo Reservation in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. Volunteers deliver food, clothing, medical supplies and other necessities twice a year to support the elders and to build a bridge of hope between our cultures.

Program founder, Linda Myers, started the Rug Show as a way to help the elders support themselves by selling their rugs. She says, "The Rug Show offers guests a unique opportunity to learn more about the Navajo way of life and to meet 30 elders and their families who will travel from their native homeland to Park City. From its humble beginnings, just a few rugs at the Kimball Art Center, the Rug Show has evolved into what may be the largest event of its kind in the country. More than 700 rugs will be on display and available for purchase at the show. The proceeds from the rug sales go directly to the weaver."

On Friday, November 2, the event opens to the public with a preview fundraiser from 6 – 10 p.m. at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge. This preview allows guests to view the complete selection of rugs available at the show and to purchase rugs at a 10% discount. A live auction featuring Weaving the Night Sky rugs, trips and special gift packages will take place between 8 - 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children under 12. They can be purchased at the door or with a credit card by calling 435-649-0535.

The Rug Show and Sale continues on Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is $5 and/or $5 worth of donated canned goods, per day. On Saturday, a Navajo Princess Pageant will take place at 10 a.m., a weaving demonstration at 1 p.m. and the Grandma Idol singing contest at 4 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a Navajo Veterans’ Ceremony at 10 a.m., a weaving demonstration at 1 p.m. and a PowWow at 3 p.m.

Food and clothing collected during the show and all funds generated from the sale of rugs and jewelry go directly to the elders. The Rug Show is supported by grants from the Utah Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Summit County Restaurant Tax.

For more information on the Rug Show, please visit the Adopt-A-Native-Elder website www.anelder.org or call Linda Myers at 435-649-0535, or visit the resort website at deervalley.com or contact Communications Manager Emily Summers at Emily@deervalley.com or 435-645-6522.