The Millwood Junction restaurant was bursting at the seams Saturday night as residents showed up in droves for the 32nd annual Millwood Follies.
Co-organizer Deb Weaver said the event was one of the most well-attended in recent memory.
Through door prizes, a silent auction and general donations, the Follies raised nearly $7,000 for the local nonprofit Pay It Forward Fund.
"We made $6,975, that's a little bit more than we usually make, but it was definitely one of the most well-attended," said Weaver. "I think because of the fact that the money was going to stay in their backyard, people were extra generous this year. ... I had someone hand me a $100 bill."
Fresh off the heels of daytime Mancos Melt events around town, the doors opened at 4 p.m., and by the Follies' 7 p.m. start, nearly every table and bar stool at Millwood was filled, including the lobby, as attendees and performers clamored for a spot near the stage to see the show up close.
Millwood waitstaff, seemingly unfazed by the multitude of patrons, gracefully zipped through the crowd, hands full of drinks and arms lined with plates featuring dinner items from a special Follies menu. The centerpiece of the annual event is the Follies show, which features live entertainment from talented area performers. The theme for this year's event was Superheroes, a fitting one considering that the funds from the event bolster a local charity that helps community members in distress.
The Pay It Forward Fund offers financial assistance to Mancos Valley residents dealing with unexpected financial emergencies and personal situations. Donations to the Fund extend to essential, non-medical expenses such as childcare, rent, gas and utilities. The nonprofit typically relies on grant funding to provide assistance, Weaver said, but the generous donations of Follies patrons will see it is on strong footing in 2015.
The 2014 Millwood Follies raised $4,600 for the Mercy Health Foundation Cardiac Department.