“Well, the bad news… Let’s start with the bad new.”
Pagosa Springs Town Manager Andrea Phillips was speaking last night, June 2, to the Zoom meeting of the Town Council, on the subject of the annual July Fourth festivities, traditionally one of the most — if not THE most — popular community event in small-town Pagosa Springs.
“We did go ahead and submit the permits to the state…” she continued. “To CDOT, to close the traffic on [Highway 160] so we could detour that, for possibly holding the parade.
“But in the Governor’s order that was released yesterday, and in the following public health order, fairs, festivals, and parades are prohibited. Now, this order went into effect June 1 and is supposed to last for 30 days, so in theory, on July 1, he might say we can open up to larger crowds, but by then it will be too late for us to try and pull something together.
“I don’t see how we can hold the July Fourth parade. I’m seeking your feedback this evening, to make a determination that we’re probably going to cancel it this year to be in accordance with the Governor’s orders and public health needs.”
Here’s Mayor Don Volger:
“Well, I think it’s pretty clear about the parade, but I’m still thinking we can figure out a way to put on the fireworks, because we don’t need to have everybody congregated in one place to do that. If we use a little innovation and, you know, plan it carefully… Fireworks can be seen from any number of locations. If we manage it properly.
“As far as other things, where people congregate in specific locations, like the carnival… the crafts fair along the River Walk… and the parade… I don’t see it.”
Council member Mat deGraaf:
“I think we’re all in agreement, that we nix the parade. But what about the carnival? That’s not happening?”
Andrea Phillips:
“So, I just a text from [Parks & Recreation director Darren Lewis] and I think Darren got a message from the carnival organizer that he’s not going to be able to do it this year, due to the insurance and the logistics.”
Ms. Phillips then invited Chamber director Mary Jo Coulehan to join the Zoom meeting to discuss the annual ‘Park 2 Park’ crafts fair that traditionally takes place for several days surrounding Fourth of July. That event is managed by the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Coulehan explained.
“We have not had any of our vendors cancel… well, we’ve had one vendor cancel… for our arts & crafts fair. Of course, they’re very anxious to learn if we can move forward or not. You know, there are a number of smaller-type events that are happening, such as the farmers markets, in many communities, have opened. We got news today that the 16th Street Mall in Denver is opening, as well as some other major markets.
“I think our event is a little different, in the fact that we can space accordingly… With the carnival not happening, we came up with a couple of different scenarios…”
One plan would use the traditional areas in Town Park, Centennial Park, and Mary Fisher Park, and reduce the vendors by half.
Another plan would expand the fair out into the Town Park athletic field where the annual carnival normally takes place.
“We can certainly, now, put the vendors with significant space in between…”
“Whether we like it of not, [tourists] are here. I’ve seen it today when I was out delivering posters. I hear it. People are going to come. And we’re caught between a rock and a hard place… We want to give people something to do when they’re here over the Fourth of July. If we move forward with the fireworks, we’ll probably be one of the few communities [doing so] and that will probably be the only other activity that will be here.
“I’ve not heard for sure, on the rodeo, but I think they, too, are looking to cancel. If they haven’t already.”
Council member Shari Pierce made a motion.
“Mr. Mayor, with a heavy heart, I move that we cancel the Fourth of July parade this year, but that we still continue to move forward with having the fireworks, and we allow the Chamber to determine if — and how — they can move forward with their arts & crafts fair.”
The resulting Council vote was unanimous.
Bill Hudson began sharing his opinions in the Pagosa Daily Post in 2004 and can’t seem to break the habit. He claims that, in Pagosa Springs, opinions are like pickup trucks: everybody has one.