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Arts & Crafts Festival, Rodeo, Parade, and More |
Mary Jo Coulehan | 7/1/08
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This year’s Park to Park Arts & Crafts Festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary! Originated by Chamber Director, Bob Hand, this festival has grown every year to where we are now able to include spaces along the riverwalk. Close to 100 vendors will occupy the park this year including several local businesses. This festival is always a big hit with the public as well as the vendors, as they just love Pagosa and the typically great weather.
 A new carnival company will also be in attendance this year. The carnival will open up on Wednesday, July 2 – a day earlier than originally anticipated. We have heard great reviews about this carnival and we hope they provide Pagosa with a safe and fun fair! Also on July 2, come out to the Community Center where the very moving Celebrate America ceremony will kick off the 4th of July activities. Young and old will enjoy this ceremony as past and present Armed Forces personnel will be honored, songs will be sung, and special presentations will be made. If you have a loved one overseas right now, this is the perfect event to attend. Festivities begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free.
The 4th of July Parade will take place on its usual route beginning at 10 a.m. Parade participants will stage at the High School parking lot and then line up on 8th St. The parade turns east onto Hwy 160 and travels to 2nd street. The judging booth will be located just past the bend in the highway relatively across from The SUN office. Visiting and local families, youth groups, businesses, civic organizations and just about anybody will be in the parade. This is truly one of the best small town parades in America. Come out and enjoy the fun, cheer on the participants, and garner some candy!
The ever popular Red Ryder Rodeo returns on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 3 thru 5. The 59th annual rodeo will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, 2 p.m. on Friday, and 6 p.m. on Saturday. All performances will be at the Western Heritage Event Fairgrounds. Don’t forget about “Tough Enough to Wear Pink®” Saturday. This event brings cowboys and cowgirls from all over the Southwest vying for the saddles awarded to the all around cowboy and girl. Buckles and additional prize money has been added to most categories including bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, calf and team roping, barrel racing and more. This action-packed event is not to be missed!
Performances of the Music Boosters production “Oliver” will occur at the High School Auditorium July 3 and July 5 at 7 p.m. and on July 6 at 2 p.m. A resounding cast of adults and children is set to entertain the locals and visitors. Don’t miss this talented cast of performers as the audience will probably beg for “more”.
Held only every other year, this year’s Quilt Fest is one not to be missed. Attendees will again be treated to the quilts of Mary Kurt-Mason’s third and fifth grade classes where she uses quilt making as an enhancement to the classroom learning skills. “One Song, Many Voices” is this year’s theme with 13 quilts making up the exhibition. The Piecemakers guild has crafted a quilt entitled “Garden Patch Fantasia” which will be given to a lucky ticket buyer. The drawing will take place on Sunday, July 6 at 1 p.m. Over 100 quilts will be on show from antique pieces to new styles and designs. The Mamie Lynch Gymnasium is located at the Jr. High School at the corner of Lewis and 4th streets.
Almost always the highlight of the festivities will be the free concert and fireworks display at the Pagosa Springs High School on Friday evening, July 4th. Food provided by the Knights of Columbus, Old Style Kettle Korn, and Mountain Ice Snow Cones will be available starting at 6 p.m. Lively music will be on stage also starting at 6 p.m. with the sounds of the Brooks-I band. The local musicians of Books Lindner, Bob Hemenger, Tony Madrid and Jason Doctor all have a tremendous following. They promise to get the crowd up and dancing!
Then starting at about 7:30 p.m., we have the returning Hot Strings Band. Always a Pagosa popular, we will be interested in hearing some new sounds and some old favorites. You can either enjoy someone else cooking for you, or pack up the picnic basket, blankets and family and head out to the activity fields at the High School. The fireworks display will occur at dark – approximately 9 p.m. We don’t think that the fireworks can get any better, but every year they amaze us by their increase size, length and display. Thanks to the town for their sponsorship of this fabulous event.
Don’t miss all the activities in store for Pagosa Springs over the 4th of July weekend.
For more information, you can contact the Chamber at 264-2360. |
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