President’s Day weekend and Valentine’s Day are right around the corner and this should be a busy weekend in Pagosa, especially with all the great snow up at Wolf Creek and in the lower elevations.

This is also the weekend for our WinterFest activities and there have been some new events added this year, thanks to the hard work of various organizations and businesses. Mark your calendars for the following events; you can be a participant or a spectator. There is plenty of activity to go around, so start planning now.

Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. is the annual fund-raiser for Hospice of Mercy, “Soup for the Soul.” This body- and soul-warming event will be held at the Ross Aragon Community Center. Some of the finest restaurants and caterers in Pagosa will provide delicious soups, appetizers, breads and desserts, and there will be a cash bar. There will also be a silent auction featuring the works of many local artists, and live music will entertain those in attendance. Tickets are only $25 and are available at the Chamber, Moonlight Books and the Hospice of Mercy Home Health office.

On Friday night, Feb. 12, enjoy a Valentine’s Day Masquerade Dance at the community center, co-hosted by the center and the American Red Cross of Southwest Colorado. Participants can dance to a live band and enjoy a cash bar and sweet temptations. Tickets for this 21-and-over dance are $15 and can be purchased at the community center.

Prior to going to the dance, you can go to Nello’s Bistro, 5:30-8 p.m. and register for the Nordic ski races, which will take place Saturday and Sunday. There will be pasta specials and live music.

Saturday, Feb. 13 will be the busiest day of the WinterFest weekend. Most of the events will take place in the downtown area. We kick off the day at 9 a.m. with the Nordic ski races. The first event is a fun, free 1 km cross country ski race in Town Park. At 10 a.m., there will be two races available: the 5 km Citizen’s Classic and Skate Ski Race and the 10 km Competitive Classic and Skate Ski Race — both to be held on Reservoir Hill. Nordic skiing has become very popular, especially with the marketing efforts of the new volunteer Pagosa Nordic Club. The awards ceremony for the events will take place at 3 p.m. If Nordic skiing is not your sport, then try your hand at a 3 km Snowshoe Race.

While you are downtown, enjoy several other events. The Snowsculpting Competition will take place in Town Park beginning at 11 a.m. and will last until 1 p.m. This is a perfect family opportunity and the creative urge comes out in everybody. Coloring, natural and man-made materials can be used in your creation. There have been cartoon characters, scenes and even classic snowmen created at this contest. Pagosa Perks and other prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Also in the downtown area will be the first Slide and Soak Snowboarding Extravaganza held in the parking lot at The Springs Resort. While the cross-country racers are up on Reservoir Hill, come out and watch the excitement of a rail jam. The Extreme Boarders Slide and Ride will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Novice riders will also get a chance to slide from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Then, from 1 to 3 p.m., snowboarders can show their moves as novice and extreme boarders enter the Best Trick contest.

Another great and very fast winter event begins at 2 p.m. — the ever popular Anything Goes Downhill Sled Race, held at, and sponsored by, the High Country Lodge. This hilarious race consists of sleds that are handmade. No store-bought sleds can be entered into the race. There are several categories, including most original sled, fastest time, longest ride and best crash. Prizes will be awarded after the race. Participants and onlookers can also enjoy free hot dogs and hamburgers provided by High Country Lodge. The perfect sledding hill at High Country Lodge is home to some of the most creative sleds in the region. For registration forms, contact the Chamber.

Closing out Saturday’s activities will be a very special performance by the Ballet Magnificat Group, which is visiting Pagosa Springs. Their inspirational ballet performance, “Hiding Place,” based on the true story of Corrie ten Boom during the 1940s Holocaust, will be held at the Pagosa Springs High School auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber for $15 for adults and $10 for children. Group prices are also available. What a treat for Pagosa to host this professional ballet troupe after they have toured three continents.

WinterFest activities continue on Sunday, Feb. 14, with more Nordic races and Slide competitions, and the addition of the Penguin River Plunge. The Nordic Club kicks off the day’s events beginning at 9 a.m. with an exciting relay race for teams of two with a 3 km skate ski and 3 km classic skiing course. The awards ceremony, conveniently held in Town Park, will occur at 10:30 a.m.

The Nordic events take a break as spectators wander over to the River Walk to view the crazy participants as they take to “The Wave” in the icy San Juan River for the Pagosa Penguin Plunge. Participants will be plunging to raise money for their favorite nonprofit or community group. There are quite a few entries at press time — yours truly included! Support one of these plungers by pledging even a small amount of money for a charity or cause of your choice that is represented. Right now, we know of plungers for Victim’s Assistance, United Way of Southwest Colorado, the third-grade class, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Chamber’s Twelve Months of Christmas program. There are some restrictions involved, such as age (no children under 15). Plungers will receive mineral bath passes, among other goodies, from our wonderful sponsors, so they can warm up after their frigid bath. Spectators can stay warm and dry and enjoy snacks and warm drinks as they watch the festivities. If you are interested in plunging, contact the Chamber for registration forms.

We head back to the Reservoir Hill area as the Nordic Club puts on another fun event — the Snowshoe and Ski Disc Golf Tournament, beginning at 1 p.m. Rules and regulations for regular disc golf will be in place and the course will be set for an afternoon of fun.

Since Monday is a holiday, don’t leave Pagosa; enjoy your day off by visiting one of our groomed Nordic trails. You can pick up a Nordic map at the Visitor Center and we will have the condition reports for all the available groomed trails.

This will be a great weekend of activities for the athlete and spectator. Enjoy the fast and furious — the Penguin Plunge, the Sledding Race, the Nordic races and Slide and Soak — and the more mellow fun races, Snow Sculpting contest and dance. We also add some quiet entertainment with the ballet and Soup for the Soul. There is something for everyone this WinterFest Weekend, Feb. 11-14.

Community art show

A great new art competition will be coming to Pagosa beginning Saturday, Feb. 20, at the newly-expanded Artisans of the Southwest Gallery on South 2nd Street. This is a juried competition for the professional artist and a non-juried competition for amateur artists. In each category, the participant will be able to enter four works of art with registration fees comparable to the number of pieces entered. Art work entered should be no larger than 16x20, with larger pieces accepted, depending on size and space available. Artists can enter their pieces on Saturday, Feb. 13, and Monday, Feb. 15, from 2-5 p.m. Participants need to be 21 years of age. The opening Artist’s Reception will be held Saturday, Feb. 20 from 3-6 p.m. There will also be a People’s Choice Reception on Tuesday, March 2, from 2-4 p.m.

Entry forms are available at Artisans of the Southwest and at the Chamber.

Additional details may be obtained from Wen Saunders, gallery director. Call the gallery at 264-9969, or visit the gallery’s Web site at www.artisansofthesouthwest.com. Similar to the photography contest, this is a wonderful way for artists to show their work and expand Pagosa’s art exposure.

Rural Philanthropy Days

The next Rural Philanthropy Days for Southwest Colorado will be held in Mancos, June 9-11, and interested local parties will meet Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 4-6 p.m. at the community center. Representatives from all non-profit organizations in Archuleta County are invited to attend this planning meeting.

Several subcommittees have already been formed, but the meetings have just started, so it is not too late to join the main group or participate on a subcommittee. The subcommittees formed so far are Community Involvement/Networking and Community Positioning. For those organizations that participated in RPD four years ago, the makeup of this June philanthropy days is quite different. There is the potential to bring millions of dollars to this community in grants, but our nonprofit organizations must participate. It is an excellent opportunity to meet Colorado funding agencies and have them put a name with a face; and for local agencies to see what types of grants are out there for them. With funding dollars so critical these days, it is important to invest in your company and attend the RPD in June. We also are working to gain better collaboration between agencies and to work toward similar organizational goals, even after RPD is over. For questions about RPD, call Julie Simmons at 264-6950, or Mary Jo Coulehan at 264-2360.

Membership news

Our renewals this week include two non-profit agencies.

The Pagosa Springs Kiwanis Club is dedicated to the children of Pagosa Springs and supports many local children’s projects and organizations. They meet every Thursday at noon at Boss Hogg’s Restaurant.

Archuleta Seniors Inc. operates exclusively for charitable purposes to promote and enhance the health, well-being, social, cultural and intellectual activities of its senior members, and provides numerous benefits to the senior community. They create social and cultural activities, and help with medical transportation and equipment. Membership dues are only $5. For more information, call 264-2167.

From out of the area, we have Basin Printing & Imaging in Durango renewing.

For all the information on the WinterFest activities, contact the Chamber and get ready for a busy weekend.