VALLEY — From Antonito to Creede and from vintage cars to balloon rides, Labor Day weekend offers a variety of activities for San Luis Valley residents and visitors.

In ALAMOSA

Early Iron Festival

The 38th Early Iron Festival is held this weekend in Alamosa with 600 or so cars pulling into town and on display. This year’s event is dedicated to Early Iron Club President Jeff Woodward, 62, who passed away about a month before the event on August 1. A special dedication ceremony will be held Saturday afternoon in Cole Park, Alamosa.

The public is invited to enjoy the car show throughout the day on Saturday, Sept. 1, with no admission to the park.

A slow cruise Saturday evening is also open to the public and will occur about 8 p.m. on Main Street. Also that evening enjoy live music and dancing on San Juan Avenue.

Please see the Early Iron Festival special section in today’s paper for more information about the event.

Fireworks

A fire ban prompted by dry conditions postponed Alamosa’s Fourth of July fireworks this year, but as promised, sponsors San Luis Valley Federal Bank and the City of Alamosa will still host the annual free community fireworks show. The fireworks show will be held at the Alamosa fairgrounds on Sunday night, Sept. 2, at about 8:30 p.m. The gates for seating in the grandstands will open at 7 p.m. If the weather does not cooperate, the fireworks show will be held the following evening on September 3. Visit website slvfb.com/fireworks

Breakfasts

Folks have their choice of breakfasts or can enjoy biscuits and gravy at one followed by pancakes at the other on Saturday morning, Sept. 1. The Alamosa Senior Center will host its popular Early Iron Festival breakfast at the center located at the north end of Cole Park where the festival will kick off later that morning. Join the seniors for breakfast from 7-10 a.m. and enjoy biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, hash browns, coffee, tea, juice or milk. Breakfast for children ages 12 and under is $4 and $7 for adults. The XI Alpha Tau group will be selling homemade cinnamon rolls for an additional $3.

The VFW and VFW Auxiliary Post 899 will host a pancake breakfast from 7-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1, at VFW Post 899, 519 Main Street, Alamosa. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 10 and under.

Bake sale

On Saturday, Sept 1st, Sacred Heart Church will be holding a bake sale and raffle at the Second Street entrance to Cole Park featuring cookies, bars, breads, muffins, tortillas and cakes.

Book sale

The Friends of the Alamosa Library’s Spines outlet is hosting a huge book sale this weekend with great deals for a great cause. Book sales support Friends of the Library projects. Spines will be open on Friday, August 31, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, September 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..

Special sale prices for books, sheet music, CDs, and DVDs are: fill a grocery bag for $8, a shopping bag for $12 and a reasonably sized box for $15. For more information about sales or donations, please contact Rhonda at 580-2010, and to volunteer at this or future sales, please contact Allyn at 588-9410.

Mellow Yellow Lemon Run

Cornerstone Christian Academy presents its annual Mellow Yellow Lemon Run at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, September 3, at Cole Park, Alamosa, a fundraiser for the school with half of the profits supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Participate in the run, which offers a kids’ 3K to a 12.2K, as well as other activities, music, food and games. Register the morning of the race.

In ANTONITO

Antonito’s Third Annual Labor Day festivities will be held on Saturday, Sept. 1, with free breakfast from 7-9 a.m., activities at the mansion, parade at 10 a.m., music entertainment all day, softball tournament and children’s games all day, car and truck show, craft and food vendors all day, South Conejos Fire Department honoring fallen firefighters at 3 p.m. and a street dance from 6-10 p.m.

In CAPULIN

The CannaPower Educational Foundation is hosting a benefit disc golf tournament and live concert on Sunday, September 2, at El Rancho disc golf course on Conejos County Road 6, for those ages 21 and older. No cannabis or alcohol consumption will be allowed. Enjoy a fun disc golf tournament on an 18-hole course and live music featuring several bands and musicians including Michael Bruce, who played with Alice Cooper and whose group Texas Chainsaw Ballet will provide entertainment Sunday along with Maggie Rains and the Crooked Keys, Randall Rahn, G-Stylez, Ol Scratch, Epitomne, Irierebellion and American Defiance.

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at the gate. The event may be accessed by turning from County Road 15 in Conejos County (northwest of Capulin) onto County Road 6. For more information contact Carla at 298-0050.

Learn more at thecannapowerfoundation.org

In CREEDE

Balloon Festival

The annual balloon festival will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday with numerous participants hosting tailgate parties, balloon rides and the “balloon glow.” Lift off is 7 a.m. each day with a balloon glow party and pre-flight pancake breakfast at 6 a.m. on Saturday. See www.creede.com for more information on this and other events in Creede this weekend.

Creede Mountain Run

The Creede Mountain Run on Saturday morning offers lengths of 2, 12, or 22 miles. Pre-Register or sign up at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Race starts at 9 a.m. Awards ceremony will be held Saturday afternoon. Visit www.creedemountainrun.com

Salsa Fiesta

Spicing up the Labor Day weekend, Creede hosts a festival celebrating its versions of a Southwest staple, with more than a dozen stations throughout downtown on Saturday, Sept. 1. Taste test and judge the entries in four categories: Red, Green, Fruit and Freestyle. There will also be live music on Main Street or in Basham Park throughout the day. Purchase tasting tickets at the Visitor Center.

ATV Rodeo

This version of a “rodeo” allows the whole family to get involved! ATVs, OHVs, and UTVs are used in events such as barrel racing, pole bending, and flags - testing speed and ATV driving abilities! The event takes place at the Mineral County Fairgrounds/Upper Rio Grande Events Complex on Monday, Sept. 3. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the event begins at noon. All ages are welcome.

CRT

Showing at the Creede Repertory Theatre this weekend are: Guadalupe in the Guest Room, 7 p.m., Friday, and 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday; Miss Holmes, 7 p.m. Saturday; and Boomtown at 10 p.m. on Saturday. See creederep.org

Also don’t miss the fireworks Saturday night in Creede at dark.