Local musicians, old-fashioned games and community art are set to bring new energy to the 55th Annual Mancos Days.
The festivities start July 25 with the Western Journeys kids parade at 10 a.m. and will be followed by the fishing derby at the river and old-fashioned games.
A grease pole contest, a money pit, a watermelon-eating contest and gunny sack races for kids will be held in Boyle Park, said Susie Small, one of the event organizers.
Small was inspired to bring back some of the these old favorites because she wanted to bring back some of the fun she remembered from the Mancos Days of her childhood.
At the grease pole event, kids will try to climb a greased pole to drag down $50. In the money pit, there will be greenbacks hiding in wood shavings from the Western Excelsior plant on Grand Avenue.
It could be a very profitable weekend for kids under 12.
For the creative-minded, two collaborative art projects will take place on Saturday in the lot across the street from Absolute Bakery, said organizer Liz Bohm.
Families and individuals can help decorate horse shoes that will be combined in to a singular art piece and triangular flags and that will be strung together.
"Those are the two things we're focusing on to keep it simple and accessible," she said.
The flags will be strung along the river to draw attention to it, she said.
Mancos Days also promises to be continuously lively, with musicians scheduled to entertain all weekend, said event organizer Gina Roberts.
The young talent will rule the day July 25, starting with heavy metal band Arsenic Kitchen, rock band Sol Emporium and the ever-funky Yearning for Yeti. In addition to the entertainment, downtown art galleries and shops will be open late, and a barbecue will be held on Grand Avenue.
The next day, July 26 at 10 a.m., a parade along Grand Avenue will feature themed floats, horses and volunteer fire department trucks. Cash prizes are available for parade entries.
After noon, The Four Corners Square Dancers will help the crowd relive Mancos' western music roots in the afternoon before the reggae sounds of Wake up Laughing and the blues-reggae-rock fusion of Big Money and the Corporate citizen take over. The Moetones will close Saturday night.
On July 27, a more mellow mix of folk singers will take over. The lineup include cowboy singer Donny Johnson, well-known local folksingers The Porchlights, the bluesy Rayne Grant, the Rasmussen Family and Marilyn Kroeker.
The softball tournament will go on all weekend. Also on Saturday, there will be a duck race on the Mancos River, the spaghetti dinner at Mancos Schools, the Fun Run and many other games.
There is still time to register a softball team, and there are some vendor spaces left. Those interested should contact the town as soon as possible.
Those interested in donating materials for the community art project or helping during the event should contact Bohm at lizziebohm@gmail.com.
For more info: 533-7725 or go to www.mancoscolorado.com.
