Enjoy July 4th holiday in SLV

VALLEY — Stay and enjoy a variety of special events in the San Luis Valley over this  Fourth of July holiday including the following:

In Alamosa

• Colorado Gators hosts Eggfest 2017 July 1-2. Phone (719) 378-2612 for more information, or see gatorfarm.com

• The Kiwanis Club of Alamosa is hosting its 43rd Annual Kiwanis Kowboy Breakfast on Tuesday, July 4th at the SLV Federal Bank parking lot from 7-10 a.m. Come get all the pancakes, sausage and eggs you can eat. Advanced breakfast tickets are available at $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under through any Kiwanis member or pay the same price on site. Children under age 4 eat for free.

• The Independence Day parade on Tuesday will begin at 10 a.m. at Main Street in Alamosa. Parade lineup is at 9 a.m. The 2017 Alamosa Independence Day Parade is on the theme “Heroes Among Us.”

• Fireworks are planned at dusk on July 4, about 9:30 p.m. at the Alamosa Fairgrounds, 2222 Old Sanford Road in southern Alamosa. Gates for seating in the grandstands will open at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks show is free. Sponsoring the display is San Luis Valley Federal Bank. In the event of bad weather, the fireworks display will be held on July 5.

• The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad presents the Mountain Rails Live summer concert series. Ride the railroad up to the Fir Summit Amphitheater to see “The Pure Prairie League” live as part of the Mountain Rails Live summer concert series this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, July 1-2. This bands’ longevity is a testament of the timelessness of their music. As they write for a new project, they’ve returned to their roots — no sax, but peddle steel — and it’s no surprise that after all these years their sound is what Country Radio is about, proving good music is good music no matter when it’s made or played. For reservations call 877-726-7245 or see www.coloradotrain.com

• Splashland Swimming Pool will have special Independence Day celebrations holiday hours beginning July1st thru July 4th. Admission is $10 for ages 16 and up; ages 4-15, over 60 and veterans $5; and kids under age 3 swim for free! Splashland will be open regular hours Sunday with first time ever opening this Monday, July 3rd starting at 11 a.m. Celebrate the nation’s birthday at Splashland with special holiday hours on Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th starting from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The pool is located one mile north of Alamosa on Highway 17.

In Center

The Town of Center will host vendors, bands and a beer garden at the Casa Blanca Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the Fourth of July.

In Creede

• On the evening of July 3, the Creede Elks will host a live-music dance in their lodge on Main Street. The bar will open at 7 p.m., and the music will start at 8 p.m. This year’s band is the popular Dano Weston Band. The cover charge is $10 per person and includes the first drink.

• Fourth of July celebrations in Creede are focused around the town’s 125th anniversary this year, which will be the theme for the annual parade at 10 a.m. on July 4. There will also be children’s activities in Basham Park; local and visiting vendors set up along Main Street; and local businesses will be open throughout the day.

• The Days of 92’ arena located behind Basham Park will be the site of the annual mining competitions. For more than 40 years, Creede has hosted a two-day competition that draws mining competitors from across the Southwest region. The competitors are actual miners who come to Creede for the July 4th holiday each year to battle for the highly-coveted prize of “Best Overall Miner of the Year.”

The first day of the competition begins on July 3 each year and is called the Colorado State Mining Championships. The day features a taxing gamut of events that test the skill levels of the miners both physically and mentally.

The second day of competition is the Days of ‘92. This competition has been a July 4th staple since the 1960s, but when the State Mining Championships came to Creede in the late 1970s, the two competitions were melded together into one.

The different events, Jack-Leg Drilling, Hand Steeling, Hand Mucking, Spike Driving, and Machine Mucking, are designed to show spectators the daily life of a hardrock miner.

• The Underground Fire Department will host its annual fundraising lunch with hamburgers and hotdogs on the Fourth. The funds go towards purchasing new equipment and general operating costs of the department.

• The fireworks show on July 4 will be held at “dark thirty.”

• Creede Chute Out will be held at 6:30 p.m. on July 4 at the Mineral County Fairgrounds. See www.burrisandsonsbuckingbulls.com

• The Creede Repertory Theatre will be performing “She Loves Me” at 1:30 p.m. on July 4. Prior to the 4th, “Arsenic and Old Lace” will open at CRT on Friday, June 30, at 7:30 p.m. with more showings on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Other performances this long weekend at CRT are Pants On Fire at 11 a.m. Saturday July 1; “The Syringa Tree” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday July 1, with pre-show talk half hour before; Boomtown at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday July 1; and “She Loves Me” at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday July 2. See creederep.org

In Crestone

Crestone ‘s 4th of July Parade & Festival encompasses festivities in the park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a parade through the downtown area, music and entertainment. Also planned is the 5 K Run, Walk, or Crawl Race at 8 a.m.

A “Creation Station” will be set up for children to decorate themselves and their bikes prior to the parade. Anyone may enter the parade by reporting to the line-up at 11 am. The parade begins at 12 p.m. noon.

In La Jara

A sunrise flag raising and program will be held on Tuesday, July 4, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Jara at 5:45 a.m. The community is invited to attend. Doughnuts and juice will be served afterwards.

In South Fork

• The South Fork Music Association will host a musical soiree July 1 at the South Fork Visitors Center (at the “Y” on highways 149 and 285) from 4-8 p.m. with live music, food and beer. Cost is $5 for entrance without beer ticket, $20 for unlimited beer refills, and kids 15 and under are free. Halden Wofferd and the Hi*Beams will be performing honky tonk and western swing.

• South Fork celebrates the 3rd of July with fun, family-friendly activities. This year, the town in partnership with the chamber will be incorporating the 25th anniversary celebrations into the event and showcasing community pride in the parade with randomly tossed silver plated 25th anniversary coins for the attending crowd. Several floats will be handing off coins to lucky parade-goers as a way to memorialize the town’s accomplishments since its incorporation in 1992.

The South Fork parade starts at 3 p.m. on July 3 and is kicked off with the Fort Garland Mounted Color Guard, followed by numerous floats, rodeo clowns, cowboys, ATV groups and classic cars. The color guard will be performing with their team of horses and wagon at the South Fork Rodeo later in the evening at 6:30 p.m. 

• After the parade on July 3, head on over to the South Fork Fire department for their annual fish fry. The event is part of their annual fundraising event, all proceeds aiding in the purchase of new equipment and general operations of the department. The department is located behind the Carnegie Library off of Highway 160.

• A farmers market will be set up near the visitor center where guests can come and partake in local food, produce and crafts from local vendors on July 3.

• The Kiwanis Brisket Dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on July 3, with music by the Merry Makers.

• The rodeo begins at 7 p.m. on the 3rd and is put on by local company, Burris & Sons stock and rodeo producers. (See below.)

• A fireworks display will take place just after dark to celebrate 25 years of South Fork history and independence on Monday, July 3.

• Rockin the Rio Grande rodeo will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 1 and Monday, July 3, at the Rickels Arena in South Fork with open barrels, mutton bustin’, bull riding, calf/steer riding, team roping, ranch bronc riding and more. Tickets are $10 in advance at the South Fork Visitors Center or $15 at the age; $5 for kids 12 and under. See www.burrisandsonsbuckingbulls.com

Caption: The color guard heads up the 2016 Fourth of July parade in Alamosa. Courier file photo by Jefferson Geiger.