Valley offers full weekend of activities

VALLEY — Labor Day may be over, but there’s still plenty for residents and visitors to do this weekend in the San Luis Valley.

Alamosa is hosting its annual Artwalk, Monte Vista offers fun events during the annual potato festival, southern Valley artists are joining northern New Mexico artists for the annual Rio Costilla Studio Tour, and Crestone plans a weekend full of events for the Crestone Energy Fair.

Following is more information on the events planned in the Valley this weekend:

In ALAMOSA

Artwalk

The 16th annual Alamosa Artwalk will be Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th in conjunction with the Alamosa Art Festival. Twenty venues will be participating this year. 

Meet more than 30 artists in downtown Alamosa and enjoy the chalk art, pottery and artist demos and refreshments. Music Saturday afternoon will be at Nestles featuring Will Dudley and Ol’ Scratch.  There will also be pottery demonstrations throughout the day at Porter Realty, 503 Main Street, and The Spoken Word at Alamosa’s newest business The Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative, with a “Story Slam!” at that location, 602 Main Street, at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Participants can pick up a brochure at Wild Roses or Treasure Alley, visit at least 12 venues and have that brochure stamped and entered for a chance to win a part of the $500 prize money valid for artwork from the art show and at participating venues. The drawings will take place at Nestles at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

In conjunction with the Art Walk, the City of Alamosa will celebrate 15 new sculptures during the opening of the Second Annual ArtScape Program on September 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Alamosa Welcome Center. The sculptures are on loan to the city for one year and they are installed at different sites throughout the downtown. A map with the sculpture locations can be found in the ArtScape brochure available at Alamosa city hall, the Welcome Center, local businesses, and in all certified brochure displays throughout the San Luis Valley.

For an ArtScape sculpture tour meet at the Welcome Center/Depot, 610 State Ave., Alamosa, from 1-3 p.m. on Friday. The unveiling event with food and live music will be at 5:30 p.m. at the depot.

Celebrate creativity and promote public art during the 4th Annual Chalk-a-Walk. Chalk-a-Walk during Alamosa’s Art Festival; Saturday September 8 at the Depot in Alamosa. Competition is open to all ages and talent levels. Check in begins at 8 a.m.; awards ceremony at 3 p.m. Contact 719-589-9386 or [email protected]

For more information about the Artwalk events, contact: 719-589-3681, 587-0878 or 589-5163 or see Alamosa Art Walk on Facebook.

Art Hop

All are invited to the Alamosa First Friday Art Hop on Friday, September 7th, from 6-8 p.m. at the San Luis Valley Museum at 401 Hunt Avenue, Alamosa. The Art Hop will feature artwork by local and ASU student artists. There will be live music by Mariah Ingram and the ASU Desert Winds Woodwind Quintet. Light snacks and refreshments will be available.

Artist reception

Nancy Harris’s colorful, complex and playful collages will be on view in Milagros Coffee House, Main and State, Alamosa, throughout the month of September. Meet the artist on September 7th and 8th, when she will be demonstrating the collage process at Milagros, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day, as a participant in the Alamosa Downtown Artwalk. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of works on display will go toward La Puente’s mission. To sign up for a collage workshop, contact Nancy at [email protected] or 970-570-9737.

At Adams State

  Adams State University will celebrate Hispanic Serving Institution Week starting with the second annual Ghostlight Project, on September 8 at 7 p.m. in the Theatre Building Xperimental. There will be a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the theatre’s lobby.  It will include performances by the music, theatre, and English programs. It is a tradition in the theatre to leave a “ghost light” on in a darkened theatre so all who enter are safe. Inspired by this practice, ASU representatives will make or renew a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion as they commit to making every building across campus a safe zone or brave space for all who enter. Contact Taylor at 719-587-7382 or email [email protected].

• The Adams State University Zacheis Planetarium will share free public movies on Saturday, Sept. 8, Astronaut 2012 at 3 p.m. and Dawn of the Space Age at 3:45 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open 15 minutes before the first show. Visit: blogs.adams.edu/zacheis for details and movie descriptions.

Concert at Society Hall

Society Hall, at 400 Ross Avenue in Alamosa, is proud to present Texas music legends Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines in concert Sunday, September 9th at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door, and are available online at www.societyhall.org, or in Alamosa at the Green Spot at 711 State Ave.

Terri Hendrix is an award winning pioneering independent Texas songwriter with an engaging melodic flair that has endeared her to three generations of loyal fans around the globe. Lloyd Maines is a Grammy award-winning producer and musician. He is an A-list steel guitar player and multi-instrumentalist.

Farmers Market

The Alamosa Farmers’ Market welcomes locals and visitors to downtown Alamosa on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Sixth and State. Regional farm fresh products and handcrafted goods are available and this week, Sept. 8, there will be free, live music by local favorite Randall Rahn. “Play with your food” kids activities will be decorating chalkboards in honor of “Chalk-a-Walk”. See www.alamosafarmersmarket.org or the Farmers’ Market tent.

Xcel Energy Day of Service

Xcel Energy employees, family members and customers are invited to participate in the 8th annual Day of Service event on Saturday, September 8, from 8-11 a.m. at La Puente, 701 9th Street and 811 San Juan, Alamosa. Day of Service was created to honor, remember and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, first responders and all those who, on a daily basis, work to keep the country safe.

Walk for Life

The SLV Life Center’s annual Walk For Life fundraising event will be held September 8th. All ages are welcome! To register, visit www.slvwrc.org under the WALK FOR LIFE tab or stop by 3211 Main St. Suite E, Alamosa, Mondays through Thursdays between 2-5:30 p.m. Call 719-589-6698.

In CREEDE

Creede Repertory Theatre is still going strong this weekend with the following performances planned:

• Guadalupe in the Guest Room, a captivating story about learning to grieve and love, in the Ruth Humphreys Brown Theatre, on Friday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m.

• Miss Holmes, full of laughs, surprises, twists and turns, in the Mainstage Theatre, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, and 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9

• Boomtown’s closing performance in the Ruth Humphreys Brown Theatre at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, only $10, improv comedy at this best

See creederep.org or call (719) 658-2540.

In CRESTONE

Celebrate the 29th Annual Crestone Energy Fair September 7-9 in the Town of Crestone’s Little Pearl Park. With free admission this year’s theme is “Seven Generations – 7G Creating Our Energy Future” (recognizing that today’s decisions should result in a more sustainable world seven generations from now) and will feature sustainability demonstrations, arts and music, restorative practices, as well as home tours, food and other presentations.

The event will open Friday evening with an intentional ceremony to honor past Energy Fair coordinators and volunteers, a community discussion of Energy Efficiency Guidelines and music, dancing and celebration. 

Saturday will be filled with a variety of events such as alternative energy and building demonstrations, solar powered music stage, youth & family activities along with a potluck style home cooked community celebration from 5-7 p.m. Activities will move into the Cloud Station on Saturday evening for music headliners.

Friday night headliners are Valley Cats, MetaMyth, and Elf Arrow at the Cloud Station.

Saturday’s music lineup includes Jack and Kemba, Barry Monroe, Chronic Joy, CB Jazz, Waverly Road, The Audience, and headliners Jah Kings and YashAkasha. 

Paul Shippee will be leading Sunday’s Home Tour starting at 10 a.m., which includes 5-7 completed, and under-construction homes. 

Visit our Facebook page called Crestone Energy Fair. Contact Nathan Good 719-588-1067, or Lisa Bodey 719-480-5925.

In DEL NORTE

Star party

Weather permitting the Lookout Mountain Observatory Association will host a star party on Friday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Del Norte Observatory. Park and sign in at the Rio Grande County Courthouse Annex, Sixth and Penasco Streets. Bring a flashlight. Call 657-1150.

Wildwood concert

Wildwood Sounds, 850 Grande Ave., Del Norte, presents the Greg Blake Band, featuring Bluegrass Gospel, on Sunday, September 9th at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call 657-4757 or see wildwoodsounds.com. This is a sweets or snacks potluck. Bring a favorite healthy treat to share, with coffee and tea on the house. 

In MONTE VISTA

Potato Festival

The 2018 San Luis Valley Potato Festival will be held September 8 in Monte Vista. Octane Addictions, a family oriented extreme motorsport company, will be the entertainer at 6 p.m. at the Ski-Hi Arena. They provide one of the biggest aerial stunt shows. Tickets are FREE for Children 5 and under, $8 for children ages 6-12, $15 for 12 years and older, and a family pass for two adult and two children (6-12) tickets for $40 available at https://coloradopotatoes-oa.eventbrite.com/ or at the Colorado Potatoes office in Monte Vista (1305 Park Avenue).

The Potato Festival kicks off at 8 a.m. with the 5K Spud Run/Walk to raise funds for juvenile diabetic patients in the San Luis Valley who have the need to travel outside of the SLV for support. The first 80 participants will receive a free t-shirt.  The cost is $20 per person or $25 on the day of the event. Contact Jessica at 852-3322 or pre-register at https://www.coloradopotato.org/potatofestival/

From 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Chapman Park in Monte Vista will feature food and craft vendors, reptiles, Antique Tractors from the Antique Iron Club, kids games and a Truck and Semi Show. The San Luis Valley Community Band will be performing at 10 a.m.

There will be a demonstration by Chef Carrie Baird, a finalist on Top Chef Colorado, at 1 p.m.

There is also plenty of fun for children. There will be bouncy houses, a trampoline quad-jump, mini-train rides, an archery instruction at 1 p.m., the famous mashed potato dunk tank throughout the day, plus many more kids games, all free to the public.

The San Luis Central Railroad will be offering narrated train rides from Fullenwider Park past various potato fields. There will also be a Field and Farm tour departing from Chapman Park at 8 a.m. Hosted by the Executive Director of Colorado Potatoes, Jim Ehrlich, this tour will visit a local grower’s field and the San Luis Valley Research Center. Spaces can be reserved at (719) 852-3322 or by emailing Jess at [email protected].

Visit coloradopotato.org/potatofestival.

SAND DUNES

On Saturday, September 8, Great Sand Dunes will host their second annual Amateur Astronomy Night from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the South Ramada Picnic Area near the Dunes Parking Lot. Telescopes will be set up for planetary and deep sky object viewing. Ranger-led tours of the night sky begin at the South Ramada at 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Staffed tables will provide astronomy information, handouts, and additional activities including an opportunity for kids to complete a Junior Ranger Night Explorer activity book and work towards earning a special night sky patch. Warm clothing, rain gear, head lamps with red lights, and sturdy shoes are recommended. The welcome table will provide red cellophane and rubber bands to convert white lights to less harmful red ones.

This event is free, though the regular park entrance fee of $20 per vehicle still applies when the entrance station is open. In case of inclement weather, the event may be canceled or moved indoors to the park visitor center and auditorium.

For more information about this event or to get involved as an amateur astronomy group or club, please contact Kyle Ackerman at 719-378-6395 or [email protected]. You can also visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/grsa

SOUTH VALLEY

The 20th Annual Rio Costilla Studio Tour will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.  Visit artists’ studios featuring fine art painting, bronze and glass sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, hand made musical instruments and more. Enjoy home made baked goods and see acres of cultivated wild flowers. Enjoy food and music on the historic Costilla Plaza.

Participants include: watercolor artist Karen Ahlgren; photographer Nancy DeHerrera Crochet; sculptor Matthew Gonzales; slumed and fused glass artist Jane Kircher; sculptor Lynn Kircher; multi-media artist Linda Louden; painter and photographer Cordy Lujan; watercolor artist Karen McCurtain-Blair; fiber artist Anita McDaniel; painter and printmaker Evy McLean; graphic design artist Evelyn Oliva; painter and printmaker Randy Pijoan; metal sculptor Kirk Fishburn; crafter Maggi Rankin; photographer JC Santistevan; paper and metal 3D sculptor RC Santistevan; woodwork artist David Satrun; woodwork artist Michael Schraud; Dan Swift Seed Company flower fields; painter Kathrym Tatum; painter Steve Waldrip; ceramics artist Sarah Welch; and breadmaker Kelly West.

Tour maps re available at the Costilla Plaza and all artist studios. Contact David Saturn, 575 586-1581, [email protected], or see www.riocostillaart.com

Caption: Richard Luckemeir’ “Status Precarious” is one of the many pieces of artwork to enjoy during the annual Artwalk in Alamosa.