KAYENTA, Ariz.—The Navajo Nation Shopping Centers Inc. Fourth of July Celebration was a success.
It was an opportunity for the tribal corporation to give back to loyal customers for their patronage through public outreach and family-oriented activities.
The day began with the Kayenta Fourth of July Parade and NNSCI participated with a parade entry that had a Peanuts theme, featuring Snoopy and Woodstock.
Two banners highlighting the parade theme, “Celebrating Freedom Together,” were displayed, including multicolored stars, red, white, and blue flags, and an arch comprised of colorful balloons.
Staff walked alongside the NNSCI parade entry, handing out beach balls, brochures, candy, chips, notepads and pens, popsicles, and other promotional items.
Marketing coordinator Byron Hoskie said the Kayenta Fourth of July Celebration is the official start of fair season across the Navajo Nation and that it also marks the start of summer.
“With this event, fair season is officially underway,” he said. “We will be participating in the upcoming Eastern Navajo Nation Fair next, including our Native American Art Festival, which will take place at the Crownpoint Shopping Center from July 25-28.”
After the parade, staff reconvened at the Kayenta Shopping Center and prepared for the NNSCI Fourth of July Celebration scheduled from 1 pm to 5 pm under a white tent located at the center of the retail center.
Legendary Navajo deejay LA Williams served as mistress of ceremony and played a medley of classic country and rock music while the general public slowly amassed at the site.
Free cake from Bashas’ Bakery and Hawaiian Punch was served to the public and people were encouraged to join the games scheduled throughout the afternoon.
The first game was a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle contest that garnered 11 teams of three people that tested the nimble fingers and problem solving skills of participants.
The winning team won a $100 gift card.
The second game was a Jenga competition that featured steady hands and patience with wooden building blocks.
Six teams of three people participated, as players took turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of 54 blocks.
Again, the winning team received a $100 gift card and a sheepherder’s special that included a plastic tub filled with a 20-pound bag of Bluebird Flour, Clabber Girl Baking Powder, Morton Iodized Salt, Morrell Snow Cap Lard, and a 24-pack of Coke.
The families that participated said the games were fun and entertaining, especially the free refreshments.
During game play, the 25 cent inventory reduction sale was also taking place and many satisfied customers walked away with armfuls of merchandise from the sale.
CEO Nick Taylor said the community outreach events have been taking place for countless years and that it’s an opportunity for the corporation to hear feedback from the public while simultaneously giving back to the Navajo community.
“Thank you to the loyal Navajo customers that have shopped with us through the years,” he said. “We are trying to keep the money on Navajo and the only way that we can successfully do that is by working with our customers.”
