When you buy a ticket to the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs’ Jewels and Jeans Barn Dance, you are buying a night of great country music, dancing and fun with friends.
But you are also buying something much bigger.
You might be helping a local student take the next step toward college or trade school. You could be putting weekend food into the hands of a child, helping a teacher bring a new idea into the classroom, placing a dictionary in the hands of a third-grader or giving a young person an opportunity to develop leadership skills or experience another culture.
And this year, you could also be helping Rotary put thousands of meals on local tables.
That is the real story behind Jewels and Jeans.
For more than a decade, boots have been scooting, neighbors have been laughing and the Pagosa Springs community has been coming together for a cause at the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs’ annual barn dance.
Now in its 11th year, this homegrown Pagosa Springs tradition will return Oct. 24 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the CSU Extension building at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door.
What those tickets make possible, however, lasts much longer than one Saturday night.
Turning one night of fun into a year of impact
At its heart, Jewels and Jeans is a fundraiser for the community Rotary members call home.
Over the years, Rotary fundraising has helped provide more than $600,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing college and career-training opportunities. Funds have also supported the Feed Our Children Backpack Program, teacher mini-grants, dictionaries for local third-graders, youth leadership programs, Rotary Youth Exchange, community grants and numerous other local projects.
This year, Rotary is adding another ambitious project: Meals of Hope.
The club is working toward packaging approximately 20,000 meals for local families, bringing Rotarians, students and community volunteers together to turn simple ingredients into thousands of meals for neighbors who need them.
That means every barn dance ticket, every auction bid and every additional contribution will help Rotary keep that circle of giving going.
“When you buy a ticket, you are not just getting a great night out,” said Rotary Club president-elect Kim Moore. “You may be helping send a student to college or trade school, putting food in a child’s backpack or giving a teacher the resources to bring an idea to life. It is an investment in the future of our community.”
Event co-chair Kirsten Bennett said that combination of fellowship and purpose has been part of the barn dance from its beginning.
“This dance began with a dream of bringing people together for a wonderful night while also doing something meaningful for our community,” Bennett said. “Eleven years later, it has become a tradition that people look forward to, and its impact continues long after the music ends.”
An auction worth arriving early for
And then there is the silent auction, which includes everything from artwork, jewelry and handcrafted pieces to food, wine, spa experiences and weekend escapes.
Among the getaway packages is an overnight trip to Ouray, including dinner. Those looking for an entirely different Southwest experience can bid on a one-night stay in Abiquiu, N.M., breakfast for two and a tour of the beautiful Ghost Ranch complex. One lucky bidder can head to Creede for a getaway featuring a one-night hotel stay, two tickets to the Creede Repertory Theatre and dinner for two.
Closer to home, bidders will find packages made for relaxing and indulging.
A spa basket includes a facial, manicure, pedicure and chocolates. Another basket pairs restaurant gift certificates with wine, wine glasses and chocolates. A champagne-themed basket includes champagne, glasses, chocolates and gift certificates to three local restaurants.
There are also two wine racks, each stocked with five bottles of wine, several lovely pieces of artwork, beautiful jewelry and other surprises. And for someone looking for something a little more rustic, there is even a rifle rack among the offerings.
The silent auction has long been part treasure hunt, part friendly competition and part opportunity to support Rotary. This year’s collection gives guests plenty of reasons to keep an eye on their bid sheets throughout the evening. Best of all, winning something wonderful means giving something wonderful back to the community at the same time.
A band built for a dance floor
Of course, it would not be a barn dance without the music.
Vanishing Breed, featuring Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Odis Sikes, will take the stage with classic country music and what the band describes as “the best Texas-style honky-tonk music this side of … well … Texas.”
Sikes, an accomplished acoustic guitarist and powerful lead vocalist, is a Vietnam veteran and regional resident. Sikes has spent a lifetime making music. In August 2024, that dedication was recognized when he was inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame.
Vanishing Breed promises exactly the kind of music a barn dance calls for: country favorites, honky-tonk energy and plenty of reasons to get out of your chair.
Come hungry
Dancing burns calories, so Rotary has that part covered, too.
Hungry guests can purchase a hearty barbecue dinner for $25 per plate, sold separately from the barn dance admission ticket.
Dinner includes a choice of sliced brisket or pulled pork with assorted barbecue sauces, accompanied by coleslaw, white cheddar macaroni and cheese, rolls, and assorted cheesecake bites.
A cash bar will also be available throughout the evening.
Contests for best dressed and best dancer will add another little dose of friendly competition to the evening.
Advance tickets are available at Tangled, Wednesday Bouquet or online at https://tinyurl.com/3rd6tsp8.
Those who cannot attend but would still like to support the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs and its community programs may make a donation at PagosaSpringsRotary.org.
>