The art festival on Grand Ave. will be on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lots of vendors on the street. Art demonstrations will be on Grand Ave. in front of the galleries, featuring pottery, blacksmithing, and wood carving
All the galleries will be open late. There is a reception at the Raven House Gallery for their new pastel artist, Bodie Todeschi Hartman.
On Saturday evening, there is a dinner and auction, with live entertainment and dancing at the Mancos Valley Hardware Store, 6 p.m. The cost is $20 per person. Reservations and tickets are sold in advance at the Bauer House 970-560-0203 and the visitors center 970-533-7434.
The balloon festival promises to be a beautiful weekend. Here's some ideas:
Visit Boyle Park and watch the balloons inflate and launch early on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Stand in the park and watch the drama of the morning launch. Is the wind right? Who is taking off first?
Buy a ride! Prices are $125 per person with an amazing view of the Mancos Valley.
Come to the balloon glow in Boyle Park on Friday night, Sept. 28. Meet the pilots from all over the nation (and Great Britain). Feel the heat from the burners and see the special shaped balloons that only make their appearance for this event.
If the winds stay quiet, be in Boyle Park for a $10 tethered ride. Jump in the basket and experience the sensation of going up and down in a hot air balloon that floats over the park.
Just can't make it to the balloon launches or really want a hot air balloon to land near your home? Here is how you can raise your odds of that happening. Place a white or any light colored sheet where the pilots are welcome to land. In the end only the winds know where the balloon will land. However, with a welcome sheet in the pasture or yard, you may end up with visitors from the sky.
Landowners can register for a balloon ride drawing. The drawing will take place on Saturday night, Sept. 29, during the dinner being held at the hardware store. To enter, please visit the visitor center to complete a registration card. You may also register at the festival ticket booth in Boyle Park during the flight days and on Friday evening during the balloon glow.
Volunteers are still needed for the balloon festival events this weekend.
Please call Ragan Young at 970-560-1724 to volunteer to be part of the ground crews for morning hot air balloon flights and evening launches.
