The Pagosa Springs Chamber is in the throes of arranging our annual ColorFest activities. Here’s a quick breakdown of the weekend of September 15-17.
On Friday night, September 15, the Passport to Pagosa Wine & Food Festival takes place beginning at 6pm. Currently VIP tickets are sold out and there are only a few general admission tickets left. The evening will be highlighted with foods from our restaurants, caterers and food trucks which have made a splash in our community. These foods will be paired with delicious domestic and international wines and live music by Bob Hemenger.
On Saturday, the Bands & Brews festival will begin at 4pm. Breweries from Colorado and Mexico will delight the attendees. A collectable tasting glass is included in your admission price. Don’t like beer? Don’t worry – a general admission ticket may be purchased for only $10 and wine by the glass and non-alcoholic beverages will be sold. The music for the day is stellar with the Bobby Miller band coming in from Denver and Garrett LeBeau gracing the stage from Austin. From rock and roll to funk and blues, you can be assured of some great sounds and dancing opportunities. In the evening beginning at approximately 7:15pm, the balloon glow will take place… with 405 balloons lighting up the park.
We will have two days of a hot air balloon mass ascension. Mass ascensions will begin between 7:30-8am each day. On Saturday, September 16 the balloons will take off from the downtown area in the vacant land south of the construction area near The Springs Resort.
Spectators will NOT be allowed to drive onto the launch field. Please find parking at the Overlook along Hwy 160, at the parking areas going up to Reservoir Hill behind the post office, or at the Town Hall/Community Center parking lots. There will be great viewing from these areas, or you can walk to the launch site and get up close and personal. Please do not block major streets or highways.
On Sunday, September 17, the launch will take place throughout the west side of town. There are over 30 balloons this year. Especially from the west side of town, please do not stop along the highway to view the balloons or stop on major artery streets. The balloons will launch from various sites and will also need to land in various locations. Often several balloons will find a balloon-friendly vacant field or parking area and spectators can join in the fun of inflating the balloon. Landing these magnificent vehicles is not as easy. We are working with the ballooning community to try and minimize landing in locations not receptive to ballooning. Often the balloonist cannot control their landing. We ask the public’s indulgence on this weekend as visiting pilots are not as familiar with our area as our local pilots. They love to come to Pagosa with our stunning vistas and generous hospitality.
New this year is the opportunity to book a ride to both Friday and Saturday events. Thanks to the sponsorship of The Choke Cherry Tree and Wilderness Journeys, book your ride and let someone else do the driving for you at these events. The ride is free within a specified range, which is within town limits. There is a charge for additional mileage. Call Wilderness
Journeys at (970) 731-4081 and use code, “ColorFest 23”, to book and ride from your house to the event and back. Vehicles will also be available at the event for one-way transportation if needed. No need to worry about parking or drinking and driving.
Mary Jo Coulehan is Executive Director of the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce, and also serves on a number of local and state boards.