Summer is back in full swing in Huerfano County, and the calendar is overflowing. Tucked at the foot of the Spanish Peaks along the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway, our four small towns of Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara, and Gardner are hosting some of the most distinctive weekly markets, signature events, and creative experiences in southern Colorado. Whether you are planning a long weekend or piecing together a full summer road trip, here are five reasons to point your car our way in 2026.
1. Hit a Different Farmers Market Every Week
Every town in Spanish Peaks Country hosts its own farmers market all summer long, which means you could spend four straight days hopping from one to the next without leaving Huerfano County.
Starting May 21, running through October.
- La Veta Market: Thursdays, 3:00 to 5:00 PM, next to the La Veta Public Library on Main Street.
- Cuchara Market: Fridays, 4:00 to 6:00 PM, at the Cuchara Mountain Mercantile at the foot of the mountain.
- Gardner Market: Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at the Chuckwagon Pavilion next to the Gardner Methodist Church on Hwy 69.
- Walsenburg Market: Sundays, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, at Heritage Park in downtown Walsenburg.
Expect fresh produce, baked goods, handmade jewelry and crafts, live music, and the kind of small-town conversation that turns first-time visitors into regulars. Check the Spanish Peaks Country events calendar before you go for the latest schedule.
2. Cheer On (or Pedal With) the Cyclists
Two world-class cycling events are bringing the spotlight to our scenic byways this summer, and one of them might be the most jaw-dropping show in the state.
Race Across America Rolls Through La Veta and Cuchara
Mid-June through late June, the toughest endurance cyclists on the planet will crest Cuchara Pass at nearly 9,994 feet and roll right through downtown La Veta and Cuchara during the Race Across America. RAAM riders are expected to pass through Huerfano County between June 19 and June 23, 2026. Pack a folding chair, bring a cowbell, and pick your spot along Highway 12 or in downtown La Veta. Cyclists race 24 hours a day, so riders may come through at any time. It is one of the only places in America where you can watch RAAM athletes in a small-town setting against a backdrop like ours.
Stonewall Century Ride
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the 23rd Annual Stonewall Century Ride sends riders on a 102-mile loop from La Veta to Segundo and back along the Highway 12 Scenic Byway. Riders start in waves between 6:30 and 8:30 AM from the La Veta Visitor’s Center. Spectators can grab a coffee in downtown La Veta and cheer riders out and back. Want to ride? Register at spcycling.org/stonewall-century before prices go up on June 15. Friday packet pickup and dinner are at the La Veta Community Center.
3. Saddle Up for the Highway of Legends Rodeo
The rodeo is officially back. On July 10 and 11, 2026, the Highway of Legends Rodeo returns to the Huerfano County Fairgrounds in La Veta as a CPRA-sanctioned competition. Both nights kick off with 7:00 PM performances, with Friday slack running after the rodeo for even more action. On Saturday, the celebration moves to the 4H Barn for a live concert featuring Justin Ross & Deadwood Revival, traveling in from Fort Worth, Texas.
Presented by the Huerfano County Fair Board and Spanish Peaks HealthCare Foundation in partnership with True Grit Rodeo Company, this two-night event is a celebration of community, tradition, and southern Colorado’s 2026 milestone celebrations. Make a weekend of it: book your stay in Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara, or Gardner and turn rodeo night into a full Colorado mountain getaway.
4. Compete for the Grandote Triple Crown
Golfers, this one is for you. At Grandote Peaks Golf Club in La Veta, three signature tournaments make up the Grandote Triple Crown Series, where players compete in each event to earn cumulative points. The player with the highest combined score after all three tournaments will be crowned the Grandote Triple Crown Champion.
- Legends of the Peaks Tournament: Saturday, July 11, 2026, 9:00 AM. 2 Player Low Ball plus individual low score winners.
- The Grandote Open: Saturday, August 1, 2026, 8:00 AM. 2 Player Scramble.
- The Cucharas Cup: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 9:00 AM. 2 Player Alternate Shot.
Each tournament plays out on the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish championship course, with the full Spanish Peaks rising behind every fairway. Whether you are chasing the Triple Crown or just looking for one unforgettable round, sign up at playgrandote.com/golf/tournaments or call (719) 999-7529.
5. Get Hands-On with Batik at Shalawalla
Looking for something quieter, more creative, and totally unique to La Veta? Tuck a half-day or full-day workshop into your trip at Shalawalla Gallery & Batik Studio. Jonathan and Beth Evans are master batik artists, and their classes give visitors a hands-on introduction to one of the oldest fabric arts in the world. You will work with traditional tjanting tools, dyes, and wax to create a piece of art you can take home, all inside a working artist’s studio in downtown La Veta.
Classes are booking now for the 2026 season. Reservations are required: call 719-742-3453, text 719-242-1978, or message through the Shalawalla Gallery website. The gallery itself is open Thursday through Saturday 10 to 4 and Sunday 11 to 3 during spring, with extended hours likely as the season picks up.
Plan Your Spanish Peaks Country Summer
From Sunday-morning markets to Saturday-night rodeos, scenic-byway centuries to championship rounds at Grandote, and creative studio time at Shalawalla, Huerfano County has more on the calendar this summer than you can fit into one weekend. The good news: that gives you every reason to come back.
Book your stay in Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara, or Gardner, check the full events calendar before you come, and tag your photos #SpanishPeaksCountry so we can see your adventures. We will see you on the Highway of Legends.