A rainbow shines down on the American flag that oversees Alamosa in this image captured by Valley Courier Publisher Keith R. Cerny.

SAN LUIS VALLEY — The San Luis Valley offers parades, entertainment, rides, contests and fireworks this Fourth of July weekend. Following are some of the events the Valley’s communities have to offer:



ALAMOSA

• KIWANIS KOWBOY BREAKFAST - Saturday, July 4, 7:30-10 a.m. - at SLV Federal Bank lot, Alamosa

• JULY 4TH PARADE - Saturday, 10 a.m. - Parade, downtown Alamosa (line up at 9 a.m.) The Grand Marshall for the parade is Farris Bervig and the theme for the parade is “Celebrating the U.S.A.” More than 30 entries will be involved. The categories are music/band, float, animal groups, and custom/antique vehicles and walking group.

• A TEA PARTY RALLY - A Tea Party Rally is planned and sponsored by the Republican Party to protest “irresponsible fiscal policies and intrusive government” in Cole Park in Alamosa on July 4th, after the parade. For more information contact Brenda_felmlee@qwestoffice.net , 588-0058 or Randy at perlstalker+teaparty@gmail.com All rally participants are encouraged to bring a sign.

• FIRECRACKER EXPRESS - Saturday, July 4, ride the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad for the 2nd Annual All American BarBeQue, 877-726-RAIL or www.riograndescenicrailroad.com.

• FIREWORKS - Saturday, July 4, 7:30 p.m. - Gates open, Alamosa Fairgrounds for free fireworks display (fireworks begin at about 9:30 p.m.) If bad weather, fireworks will be displayed July 5. Seating in the grandstands area will be open at 7:30 p.m. The show is free to the public. Fireworks are sponsored by the San Luis Valley Federal Bank.

• SADDLES, STEAM AND STRINGS - Sunday, July 5, Fred Hargrove on the San Luis Express, 877-726-RAIL or www.riograndescenicrailroad.com

• FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT - Sunday, July 5, 6 p.m., “The Rifters,” acoustic southwestern folk-country Americana, Cole Park, Alamosa. The Rifters will help people shake their legs in “Sundays @ Six,” series of free admission live concerts. The Rifters are at home at a barn dance with the hay and the horses, in a mountain town bar or honky-tonk, or on a festival or concert stage. The Rifters formed from members of two popular bands already active in the area. Jim Bradley and Don Richmond of Hired Hands, and Rod Taylor and Steve Garry of the Rounders, who had all known one another for years, decided to join forces. Bubba Hyde’s grill is scheduled to barbeque. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will take place in Leon Memorial Hall on the Adams State College campus.



FORT GARLAND

• LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY PARTY - Sunday, July 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Governor Ritter’s Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission is celebrating the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln at the Fort Garland Museum. The menu is barbeque beef and hot dogs with all the trimmings; there will be music, games, prizes, a silent auction, and Abraham Lincoln himself. Admission is $5 per person. Children under 6 are free. The fort is on Hwy. 159 just south of the intersection at Hwy. 160. There is ample free parking around the fort. Call 719 379-3512 for more information.



MOSCA

• RACING - July 4, 3-6 p.m. - Racing at SLV Motor Plex, north of Alamosa near Mosca, 589-8383 or www.slvmotorplex.com (fireworks also planned at the raceway). The SLV Motor Plex features a 3/8-mile dirt oval track, tough truck/ATV course and 120-foot mud bog pit. Enjoy racing on the nation’s highest altitude track, now owned by Beth and Joe Carr of Alamosa. For more information, go to www.slvmotorplex.com.

All Classes will be competing including IMCA Modifieds, Dwarfs, Hobbys, Pros, Gen-X, and Go-Karts. RPM Crash Crew will be performing a spectacular stunt right after the IMCA Modified Feature. Gates will open at 3 p.m. Racing starts at 6 p.m. SLV Rural Electric Co op/Touch Stone Energy Presents The 4th of July fireworks.

• EGGFEST - (July 4 and 5) at Colorado Gators between Mosca and Hooper, north of Alamosa, off Highway 17, 378-2612 or gatorfarm.com.



CREEDE

• THE DAYS OF ‘92 - The days of ‘92 mining competitions begin at 9 a.m., Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 at the park in the middle of downtown Creede. Competitors from Colorado and surrounding southwestern states compete in hard rock mining related events such as hand and machine mucking, double and single jacking, hand and machine drilling, and spike driving. For more information, contact Ken Wyley, 719-658-2370.

• BEER GARDEN - The Elks’ beer garden opens at 9 a.m. in the Mining Competition area.

• PARADE - The independence parade starts at 10 a.m., and the theme is “Survive and Thrive in Creede.”

• CRAFTS - Vendor and craft booths will be available both July 3 and July 4.

• CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES will be held at the baseball field immediately after the parade.

• FIREWORKS -Be ready for a spectacular fireworks display right after dusk. The fireworks show is sponsored by the Creede Fireworks Committee headed by Paul Stone. Private fireworks are prohibited in the City of Creede.

• DANCE - Attend the dance sponsored by the Creede Elks’ Club, with live music beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday July 3 and after the fireworks on Saturday July 4. Tickets will be sold at the door.

• UNDERGROUND MINING MUSEUM - Mining history still lives on in Creede through exhibits at the Creede Underground Mining Museum and the Creede Historical Museum, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week during the summer season. The Underground Museum offers self-guided tours with an explanatory CD anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Guided tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and reservations are required. Call 719-658-0811 for more information.

• CREEDE REPERTORY THEATRE - Enjoy these Creede Repertory Theatre offerings for the festive weekend: July 3, 7 p.m., A Wonderful Noise; and 10:30 p.m., Boom Town Improv Comedy Preview. July 4, Noon, Grimm Pajamas; 2:30 p.m., Boom Town Improv Comedy; 6 p.m., Swiss Family Robinson. On July 5 at 2:30 p.m., A Wonderful Noise; 7:30 p.m., CRT Songbook. For reservations and more information, call the Creede Repertory Theatre at 719-658-2540 or 866-658-2540.

• For more information about Creede events, call the chamber of commerce at 719-658-2374.



CRESTONE

• 5K RUN WALK CRAWL RACE - Begins at 8 a.m. at Curt’s Olde Fashioned Store. Turn left at the first stop sign to the large yellow store and gas pumps. Entrants may register at 7:30 a.m.

• LITTLE PEARL & ARTISANS PARK - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors of food, merchandise, and ideas in Little Pearl & Artisans Parks, pre-registration required. Entertainment from the Artisans Gallery deck before and after the Parade and Soap Box Derby.

• 4TH OF JULY PARADE - 12 Noon Parade: “Pipe Dreams” in honor of the new municipal water system, but open to interpretation. Ribbons for Best Kids’ Decorated Bicycle, Best Float, Best Marcher, and Best Interpretation of Theme. A float is any decorated vehicle, and a marcher is anyone on foot, preferably in costume. Anyone may enter without pre-registering. Come to the line-up area at 11 a.m. by turning right on Copper Avenue just after the “Welcome to Crestone” sign.

• WATER BALLOON FIGHT - 12:30 p.m. at the Town Park. The old water balloon fight is set for the last block of the parade route has been replaced by a 1/2 acre wet zone organized by the Crestone Volunteer Fire Department. Ribbons will be awarded for water balloon accuracy, water gun course, 10 pace water balloon duel, and rubber duck race (requiring a $.50 to $2 duck purchase). 2,500 gallon water tanks will be available for balloon filling, and the Fire Department water cannon can be shot 30 seconds per $3 donation.

• CRESTONE SOAP BOX DERBY - 2 p.m., Second Annual Crestone Soap Box Derby. Downhill on the 800’ paved section of Galena Avenue. Speed and design categories for adults and kids. Registration by July 3rd is required.

• CRESTONE VFD FUNDRAISER - 5 p.m. to midnight at the Silver Crest Palace, at the door $7, advance tickets $6. Opens at 5 p.m. Open for food and beverages, 8 p.m. Music and Dancing with “Rescue Party.”



SOUTH FORK

• SOUTH FORK STREET DANCE - Pete Gomez and Tequila sunrise is back for the South Fork Street Dance on July 4th starting at 5:30 p.m. until the fireworks kick off around 9:30. Pete is a DJ with a wide variety of music from the chicken dance, Hokie Pokie, country swing, or rock. Grab a lawn chair and come down to the Visitors Center on the 4th, which is still the best spot in town to see the fireworks. The street dance is free and open to everyone.