One of the busiest times of the year hits Pagosa Springs with the Fourth of July holiday extravaganza. The holiday week/weekend is filled with activities for everyone throughout the community.
Listed is a general outline of the events happening.
The 41st Park to Park Arts and Crafts Festival begins on July 4 and continues until Sunday, July 7. The fair opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m. You can find crafts in both Town and Mark Fisher parks. There are crafts and collectibles and food appropriate for everyone. We have many new vendors this year, so don’t miss out on a chance to do a little early holiday shopping or select a gift for a birthday coming up or something for your home.
The Red Ryder Rodeo Roundup celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Join in the fast-paced world of rodeo with all the specialty events such as bronc and bull riding, barrel racing, team roping and calf tying. The rodeo this year takes place on July 4 at 2 p.m., and on July 5 and 6 at 6 p.m. at the rodeo grounds off of U.S. 84 and Mill Creek Road. Tickets are available at Goodman’s Department Store on U.S. 160 and 4th Street or at the gate.
On the Fourth of July, the traditional activities are still occurring — especially the parade and the fireworks. The parade will be held on July 4 beginning at 10 a.m. The starting point for the parade is 6th Street, not 8th Street. Participants in the parade will still stage at Pagosa Springs High School. The parade will take the same route and travel east along U.S. 160 to 2nd Street. Instead of ending there, the parade route will continue to and along Hermosa Street. The parade route will then end at Hermosa Street and Hot Springs Boulevard. You can still enter the parade; you will just be placed at the end of the line. Proof of insurance for vehicles that are driven will be required. Last-minute inquiries will still be taken at the staging area at the high school the morning of the parade.
For those early parade participants or those not in the parade, don’t miss out on Aspire’s Pancake Breakfast to be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall at 445 Lewis St. The cost is $5 for a full and delicious pancake meal. The breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. — just perfect for parade spectators.
The Pagosa Springs Community Band will host its free concert on the back lawn of The Springs Resort at 2 p.m. on July 4. Enjoy the patriotic songs and a tribute to the veterans from the comfort of your lawn chair.
The fireworks will take place at dark near the high school sports complex. This means that the first blasts of sparklers will kick off sometime after 9:15 p.m. Remember not to block highways and side streets. Viewing areas include the high school and Yamaguchi Park areas or the Riverwalk. We have a fabulous display, so don’t miss the bright colors and sparklers that culminate all the Fourth of July festivities.
Other events over the Fourth of July holiday include seasonal theatrical productions. Curtains Up Pagosa will perform “Tarzan the Musical” at the Pagosa Springs High School. The Chamber of Commerce is selling tickets for this production. The musical will be held July 5 and 6 at 7 p.m., and a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. Those dressed in Tarzan (or Jane) costumes who are 10 years old and younger coming to the July 7 matinee will get in free.
This will be the only day for a matinee production. The show continues then on Thursday, July 11, and runs Friday and Saturday July 12 and 13, again at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and seniors and $10 for students.
The other live performance will be a tribute to Patsy Cline performed by June Marquez and held at the Liberty Theatre on July 3 and 4 at 6 p.m. Tickets for this musical production can be purchased at Goodman’s and at the door for $25.
There will still be time available for backyard barbecues, rafting in the river, bike riding or hiking, shopping, theater productions and, of course, eating at one of our wonderful restaurants. Enjoy our beautiful and active community this holiday weekend.
If you are visiting, don’t forget to purchase your Adventure Raffle tickets for a chance to win a Polaris 900 RZR, a transport trailer, a Townie e-bike, a Tomcat Solo Aire inflatable kayak and a $1,000 shopping spree. Tickets are available at the Visitor Center and are one ticket for $5, three tickets for $10 and seven tickets for $20. You can’t win if you don’t buy a ticket. The drawing will be held on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. and you do not need to be present to win.
For information about the holiday events or tickets for various productions, contact the Chamber at 264-2360 or visit our website at www.pagosachamber.com.
