Spanish Peaks Country

Young Frankenstein at Francisco Center for Performing Arts
2025-07-20 14:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-25 19:00, 2025-07-26 19:00, 2025-07-27 19:00 (America/Denver) | Francisco Center for the Performing Arts, 127 W. Francisco St., La Veta, CO, 81055, United States
🎭 It’s alive! Don’t miss the electrifying stage musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ monstrously funny film at the Francisco Center for the Performing Arts in La Veta, CO.
🗓️ Show Dates:

Friday, July 18 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, July 19 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM
Friday, July 25 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, July 26 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, July 27 at 2:00 PM

📍 Location: 127 W. Francisco St., La Veta, CO 81055
🎟️ Tickets: Available online at fcpalaveta.org/upcomingshows
Join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter and entertainment. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. See you there!

Restorative Reiki: A Circle for Healing and Connection
2025-07-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Museum of Friends, 109 East 6th Street, Walsenburg, CO, 81089, United States
Reiki Circle: Relax, Restore, Connect
Led by Reiki Master Heather R. Hernandez | Part of the Huerfano Arts & Leadership Connection (HALC) Program at the Museum of Friends
Join us for a monthly Reiki Circle designed to support emotional well-being, foster relaxation, and nurture meaningful community connections. As part of HALC’s Holistic Arts Pathway, these sessions offer a gentle space for rest, reflection, and creative renewal. Held during the last week of each month, the Reiki Circle welcomes participants of all experience levels. Learn more about HALC: https://www.museumoffriends.org/halc
What to Expect:
Grounding techniques, sound healing, and guided visualization
A self-Reiki session led by Heather R. Hernandez
Creation of a collaborative Healing Mandala (or similar healing art activity) to channel energy and shared intention
A welcoming and supportive environment to recharge and reconnect
Free and open to the public. No prior experience needed—just bring yourself and a willingness to receive.

Mountain Ute Tribe Cultural Day at Francisco Fort Museum
2025-07-26 10:00 - 17:00 | Francisco Fort Museum, 306 S Main St, La Veta, CO, 81055, United States
Head to Francisco Fort Museum for a powerful day of culture, community, and celebration with dancers and singers from the Southern Ute Tribe. Experience traditional dances, presentations, food, and fun in the heart of Spanish Peaks Country. The event is titled “Nuuchiu kaava’ achichivaatu panaakwakay,” which means “The Utes are coming back to Shining Mountain.”

Gardner Chuckwagon Supper
2025-08-02 12:00 - 16:00 | CO
81st Gardner Chuckwagon Supper serving traditional Chuckwagon meal of roast beef, potatoes & gravy, beans, biscuits, coleslaw, cucumbers, desserts, and tea, lemonade and cowboy coffee.

1st Annual Grandote Open
2025-08-16 08:30 - 15:00 | Grandote Peaks Golf Course, 5540 State Hwy 12, La Veta, 81055
The 1st Annual Grandote Open

2 Man Scramble, FLIGHTED

Championship Flight – Competitive
B Flight – Semi-competitive
C Flight – Recreational

USGA Tournament Rules Apply
Member/Guest Teams receive 20% OFF
Range balls included
2 Man Teams, Random Group Assignments
Arrive 7AM. Shotgun start – 8:30 AM
$125/ person
Registration ends August 12th 2025

BBQ BASH, DJ, Awards and Tastings starts at 1 PM
Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2HLjB5cCWIh3-j4ovcjJTbaARyDDaWKY3peyeWFm2Aq9puw/viewform

Walking Earth: Plein Air Artmaking
2025-08-16 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-30 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-09-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Museum of Friends, 109 East 6th Street, Walsenburg, CO, 81089, United States
A nature-based artmaking session led by MoF Co-Founder and New York, 1 percent for the Arts, Artist and Art Educator, Maria Cocchiarelli, blending mindful walking with open studio creativity. Materials provided – just bring yourself and a sense of curiosity.
What to Expect:
-Grounding and intention-setting before the walk
-Gentle movement and observation-based prompts
-Studio time to explore what you noticed or gathered
-Opportunities to share, reflect, and connect
This workshop is part of the Museum of Friends’ Healing Through Art initiative, which promotes wellness and connection through creative engagement.
The Museum of Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sustained by the generosity of donors, community supporters, and grant funding. A suggested donation of $8 per person helps us continue providing community-centered programs like this one.

Antiques at the Spanish Peaks Vintage Trailer Rally Open House
2025-08-16 11:00 - 14:00 | La Veta Pines RV Park, 226 W Grand Ave, La Veta, 81055
La Veta Pines RV Park hosts the 5th annual Antiques at the Spanish Peaks Vintage Trailer Rally this year August. The open house will be Saturday, August 16 from 11am-2pm. Vintage trailers and RVs from the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s will be on display. The public is invited to join the fun, tour the units and vote for your favorite. A food truck will be onsite.

Foraging for Wild Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Wild Plants (Gardner area)
2025-08-19 09:00 - 13:00 | Malachite Farm is located near the community of Gardner, in Huerfano County, PO Box 1011 403 Poplar Street 403 Poplar Street, La Veta, CO, 81055, United States
The Spanish Peaks Outdoor Center presents a half day foraging field session near Gardner, Colorado in Huerfano County. Join local interpretive naturalist and ethnobotanist, Bob Kennemer for a hands on class on ethical foraging skills. This class takes place on Malachite Farm and Ranch near the site of the historic site of Malachite. Located along the Huerfano River, the farm is home to hundreds of useful wild plants. Participants will learn how to find and ID plants used for food, herbal remedies, arts/crafts, and more. Dangerous and poisonous plants will also be identified.
Your guide and instructor: Kennemer majored in Environmental Science with a minor in Outdoor and Environmental Education at the University of Denver. He went on to become a certified Outdoor Leader via the National Outdoor Leadership School, in Lander, WY. Kennemer is a former Wilderness EMT. He is a sought after presenter, guide, and instructor with more that 40 years experience. Kennmer’s classes are described as a unique combination of entertainment and education.

Mountain Mining Days
2025-09-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Walsenburg
Celebrate Walsenburg’s rich heritage at Mountain Mining Days over Labor Day weekend. Enjoy a festive parade, live music, a classic car show, local vendors, kids’ activities, and more in historic downtown. This lively annual event honors the region’s mining past with community spirit, entertainment, and fun for all ages.
The day kicks off with a Main Street parade followed by a street fair along West 6th Street and at Miner’s Plaza.

Hombre de Fuego with Community Stew!
2025-09-06 16:30 - 20:00 | Huerfano County Community Center, 928 Russell St, Walsenburg, 81089
Hombre de Fuego – September 6th – After the Mountain Mining Days activities have closed down, we will be gathering at the Huerfano Community Center for Hombre de Fuego with Community Stew – a nourishing community meal that can incorporate donations of locally grown produce. There will be food and community conversations emceed by Molina Speaks culminating in the burning of our 7 foot sage bush effigy. Doors open at 4:30 and the effigy will be burned around dusk, ~ 7PM

David Starr
2025-09-06 19:00 - 21:00 | La Veta Mercantile, 300 S. Main Street, La Veta, 81055
Advance tickets.. $18; Day of show.. $20
With a name like Starr, is it any wonder? The Arkansas native has honed his decades-long career releasing over eleven albums, touring internationally, sharing the stage with esteemed artists such as John Oates and John McEuen, and opening for acts like America, John Oates (Hall & Oates), Jim Messina, Travis Tritt, Restless Heart, Karla Bonoff, The Steel Wheels, Survivor, and more.
David Starr possesses “a compelling voice, something truly special, both accessible and passionate” (Elmore). His unique mix of soulful vocals and honest lyrics create a Blues/Americana sound all his own.
Starr’s prestige extends beyond the stage as well, having launched Starr’s Guitars in Little Rock in 1998, then relocating to Cedaredge in 2001. Today, the store is such an institution that Cedaredge proclaimed the musician’s birthday as David Starr Day in 2016. Starr was also instrumental in the 2018 opening of the Grand Mesa Arts Center, an intimate event space brought to fruition through strong community support in Cedaredge, CO. He helped design the space in order to attract musicians and visual artists to Southwestern Colorado.

Spanish Peaks HealthCare Foundation Golf Tournament
2025-09-12 07:00 - 14:00 | Grandote Peaks Golf Course, 5540 State Hwy 12, La Veta, 81055
There’s nothing like a September day at Grandote Peaks Golf Course! Join us at the Spanish Peaks HealthCare Foundation Annual Golf Tournament—a day of golf, fun, food, and fundraising to support local students pursuing careers in healthcare. This year, we proudly awarded a record $37,000 in scholarships to Huerfano County students!
Event Details:
Date: Friday, September 12, 2025
Location: Grandote Peaks Golf Course
Range Opens: 6:00 a.m.
Check-In: 7:00 a.m.
Shotgun Start: 8:00 a.m.
Format: 4-Person Scramble | 18 Holes
💵 $500 per team ($125 per person) includes:
Grab-n-Go breakfast
Range balls, green fee, and golf cart
A delicious BBQ lunch with sides prepared by Chef Arleigh Bailey
Beverages, themed holes, door prizes, and the last hurrah of summer on the course!
Register your team or become a sponsor. Questions? Contact Patti Davis at 719-859-0323 or email mrsdr50@gmail.com.

Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Fest
2025-09-18 - 2025-09-21 | La Veta, 200 S Main, La Veta, CO, 81055, United States
Celebrate Celtic culture in the heart of Colorado at the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival, September 18–21, 2025. Enjoy world-class performances, ceilidh dancing, and hands-on workshops in music, dance, and storytelling. Set against the stunning Spanish Peaks, this immersive retreat blends tradition, talent, and community spirit.

James Kirby
2025-09-27 19:00 - 21:00 | La Veta Mercantile
Award-winning singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, James Kirby, has built a loyal international fan base over recent years, selling out venues and captivating audiences worldwide with his mellow voice and distinctive percussive guitar playing. Blending elements of folk, pop, blues, indie rock and piano, his compositions range from fast and furious to heartfelt and melodic, with James finding new and unorthodox techniques to make music from every part of the acoustic guitar.
www.jameskirbymusic.com

La Veta Oktoberfest
2025-10-04 10:00 - 18:00 | La Veta, 200 S Main, La Veta, CO, 81055, United States
Celebrate autumn in La Veta on the first Saturday of October with La Veta Oktoberfest! Enjoy a lively Biergarten, live bands, a classic car show, 100+ artisanal vendors, and fun family activities. This beloved, nonprofit community event supports local scholarships and charity while showcasing regional traditions.

Día de los Muertos Comunitaria Ofrenda
2025-10-18 10:00 - 2025-11-15 16:00 | Museum of Friends, 109 East 6th Street, Walsenburg, CO, 81089, United States
📅 On View: October 18 – November 15, 2025
📍 Location: Made in Walsenburg Gift Shop | Museum of Friends | 600 Main Street, Walsenburg, CO
Each year, the Museum of Friends hosts a Día de los Muertos Comunitaria Ofrenda, a community altar honoring the lives of loved ones who have passed. Adorned with marigolds, candles, photographs, and symbolic artwork, this annual display offers a shared space for remembrance, celebration, and cultural connection.
Community members are invited to contribute photos, small mementos, or written messages in remembrance, healing, or hope—acts that honor those we’ve lost and foster unity within our community. Items may be retrieved on Saturday, November 15, at the close of this year’s ofrenda.
Through this shared tradition, we celebrate life, memory, and the enduring presence of those who came before us.
👉 RSVP: www.museumoffriends.org

Tom Vail & Jann Vail: Shared Journey Exhibit
2025-10-18 10:00 - 2026-03-15 16:00 | Museum of Friends, 109 East 6th Street, Walsenburg, CO, 81089, United States
Museum of Friends | 600 Main Street, Walsenburg, CO
Experience the beauty of creative partnership in Tom & Jann Vail: Shared Journey, a featured exhibition at the Museum of Friends in downtown Walsenburg. This compelling show brings together paintings, mixed media, and personal reflections that trace the Vails’ decades of shared artistic vision. While their work reveals a lifelong dialogue, each artist maintains a distinct style — expressing individuality within their shared journey of creativity.
Housed in the historic Roof & Dick building on Walsenburg’s Main Street, the Museum of Friends offers free admission and welcomes visitors year-round. Explore rotating exhibitions, engaging public programs, and a growing permanent collection of 4,000 works of art that celebrate friendship and generosity in art.
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Admission: Free (donations welcome to support exhibits and programs)
Learn more: www.museumoffriends.org

La Moda de los Muertos (Fashion of the Dead) — Fundraiser for the Museum of Friends Building Fund
2025-11-01 16:00 - 18:00 | Museum of Friends, 109 East 6th Street, Walsenburg, CO, 81089, United States
Join the MoF and Friends for La Moda de los Muertos, a vibrant Día de los Muertos celebration of life, memory, and creativity. This dynamic fashion runway event features alt-inspired, folklórico, and contemporary fashions, accompanied by live entertainment and festive performances. Enjoy the sounds of Huerfano Winds, an ensemble of John Mall High School alumni, and close the evening with a lively community fiesta.
This special event also serves as a fundraiser supporting the Museum of Friends Building Fund and the restoration of the museum’s historic windows.
Guests are encouraged to visit the Comunitaria Ofrenda (Community Altar) in the Made in Walsenburg Gift Shop window to leave messages or small tokens of remembrance, healing, and hope — acts that honor loved ones and foster unity within our community. Offerings may be retrieved on Saturday, November 15, at the close of this year’s ofrenda.
Admission: Free (donations welcome to support exhibits and programs)
Make a donation or reserve a ticket: https://bit.ly/Fashion_Fundraiser

Walsenburg Parade of Lights
2025-11-28 18:30 - 20:30 | Walsenburg, CO
✨ The magic begins the day after Thanksgiving! ✨
Kick off the holiday season in Huerfano County with festive markets and events starting Friday, November 28! 🎄Don’t miss the 36th Annual Parade of Lights in Downtown Walsenburg at 6:30 p.m. Watch the streets come alive with twinkling lights, then gather for a special tree lighting ceremony at Gub Gub’s Pizza and Ice Cream. 🌟
Downtown shops will stay open late—making it the perfect evening to shop local and find unique gifts for everyone on your list! 🎁

Shop Small Business Saturday
2025-11-29 | Huerfano County
Saturday, November 29th, is Small Business Saturday! There’s no better place to shop small than right here in Huerfano County!
Skip the big box stores and the online checkout carts. Instead, spend the day discovering one-of-a-kind gifts from local makers, artists, and shop owners who pour their hearts into what they do. You’ll find handmade goods, unique treasures, and that perfect something you won’t find anywhere else. Plus, many of our merchants are offering special deals and extended hours just for Small Business Saturday.
Grab your shopping buddy, fuel up on coffee, and spend the day exploring Spanish Peaks Country. Your holiday list (and our local businesses) will thank you! 🎁

Marketplace of Ideas & Made in Walsenburg Market Days
2025-11-29 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Museum of Friends, 109 East 6th Street, Walsenburg, CO, 81089, United States
Celebrate the season of creativity, community, and connection at the Museum of Friends’ Annual Marketplace of Ideas & Made in Walsenburg Holiday Market, held Saturday, Nov. 29 (Small Business Saturday) and Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shop handmade gifts, art, jewelry, and décor from local artists, makers, and small businesses — each piece telling the story of our region’s creative spirit.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit on Saturday, Dec. 6! MoF volunteers will take photos and email them to families as a holiday keepsake. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies while you browse and connect with neighbors.
Every purchase supports local artists, celebrates community creativity, and boosts the local economy.
📍 Museum of Friends, 600 Main Street, Walsenburg
🧵 Vendor participation is $15 total for both days; space is limited.

La Veta Merchants' Holiday Fest
2025-12-05 16:00 - 20:00 | Downtown La Veta, 115 W Ryus Ave, La Veta, 81055, United States
The 2nd Annual La Veta Merchants’ Holiday Fest is held in downtown La Veta. Shop late ’til 8 with in-store specials, prize drawings and enjoy festive food and drink, Santa will be seeing the kids from 4-6pm at the “North Pole” (106 E Francisco), tree lighting at Charlie’s Park on Main St.at 5pm where the FCPA show choir carolers will begin roaming around town, the Jingle & Strut holiday costume parade and contest will begin at the “North Pole” at 6.

Rifters
2025-12-06 19:00 - 21:00 | La Veta Mercantile
The Rifters formed in 2002 in the fertile and creative music scene of Taos, New Mexico from members of two popular bands already active in the area. Jim Bradley and Don Richmond of Hired Hands, and Rod Taylor of the Rounders, who had all known one another for years playing in the acoustic dance-oriented Americana music scene of northern New Mexico, decided to join forces to form The Rifters. Putting out more music than it seems should be right for three guys on stage, the Rifters employ a wide range of acoustic and electric instruments, combined with soaring three-part harmonies, to provide a mesmerizing variety of music from driving blue-grama-grass to ethereal desert beauty. The years of playing to the dance crowds in their northern New Mexico homeland has given their music a toe-tapping rhythm that is engaging and undeniable. With a pedigree of bands like Hired Hands, the Rounders, and South by Southwest among them, the Rifters are truly a musical voice of their region of high desert vistas and mountain majesty.
La Veta Mercantile is thrilled to collaborate with Two Fox Cabins and La Veta Pines RV Park. They will be our trusted lodging providers for our talented musicians. When you visit our town, we kindly encourage you to book your stay with them. Thank you Two Fox Cabins and La Vet Pines RV Park for supporting live music.
https://www.twofoxcabins.com
https://www.lavetapines.com

2025 Annual Holiday Bell Ringing
2025-12-21 16:30 - 18:30 | La Veta Town Park, 132 W. Ryus St., La Veta, CO, 81055, United States
Sunset on Winter Solstice, December 21st, 4:30pm​
The sound of a bell welcomes peace, happiness, and wisdom. Participants walk in a joyous procession around town, bestowing well wishes on our La Veta community. At the end, refreshments! Wearing festive or vintage clothing is encouraged. Come celebrate miracles
This event is gracefully sponsored by the La Veta Creative District.
