On Saturday, we took the beautiful drive to Arboles to take in our first Independence Day event of the season with that community’s parade, then made the drive back in time to catch a delightful performance of Curtains Up Pagosa’s “Matilda the Musical.”
We had the opportunity to see folks we hadn’t seen in a while and see others show off talents we never knew they had.
It was a nice way to get into the community spirit ahead of this week’s continued Fourth of July festivities.
The Fourth of July lineup in Pagosa Springs will undoubtedly look different this year and next, especially with construction meaning there’s no way to hold our traditional parade in a way that overcomes all challenges.
But, that doesn’t mean we’re not in for days of fun.
A number of the traditional events and some new ones are planned throughout the weekend, and we’re excited to get out and about to take them in. Hopefully they’ll be successful additions to the community’s Independence Day lineup and become tradition.
We’re also (mostly) excited to see the many folks who make their way back to Pagosa each Fourth of July, giving us the opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new people.
It’s a nice boost of activity and energy for our community to have visitors and locals out and about enjoying what we have to offer.
It’s also a chance for use to let our good sides show and demonstrate that this community can be as beautiful as the place we call home.
Remember, these folks, like us, are spending hard-earned money in our community, helping our businesses and neighbors stay afloat and successful — something that has been a top priority, especially with the downtown construction.
It’s also extremely important that we practice patience, kindness and respect, both with locals and visitors.
That means putting your patient pants on before driving to and around town and recognizing that traffic backing up is likely and is nothing new. Plan ahead and leave early. Drive safely, and never drive while impaired.
It also means not egging people on because they have different beliefs than you. We live in times that are very divided politically, and we should all remember as we celebrate this holiday centered on our country and our freedoms that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, whether we agree with it or not.
Lastly, we remind folks who are looking to escape the crowds and head to public lands or to hang out with family or friends to pay attention to any fire restrictions in place for that location and recreate safely.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.
Randi Pierce
