Starting July 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Mancos Valley Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Grand Summer Nights in downtown Mancos.
Grand Summer Nights also take place July 18 and 22, also from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The events feature live music and include Alexander Westphal and The Blues Connection on July 8, Little Brother on the 15th and Lost Boys on the 22nd. There will also be additional live music at Fenceline Cider and Mancos Brewing.
Some of the fun will include kids’ activities from Mancos’ Early Learning Center and the Painted Turtle each week.
Grand Summer Nights’ organizer Anne Beach said the children’s activities will include wood-burning with a child-safe scorch maker on wood cookies from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with Painted Turtle, and on July 8, the Mancos Early learning center will offer gold sifting, photo props, cow branding game and bandana painting.
There will also be art demonstrations at Mancos Common Press. It will kick off with HerStory Print Collective, which is a printmaking project honoring a chosen woman by participants.
They will also be hosting an open house where community members can meet the artists and exhibit HerStory prints.
The Mancos Common Press will provide a hands-on printing activity on July 8, and Tortilla Press will have a printing activity on the 15th.
Local artist Kat Berner has created western wear with live models. The Western Wear Fashion Show runs throughout the evening, and models will pose in their custom outfits near the Mancos Community Center.
On July 8, Artisans of Mancos will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and they will be celebrating with a gallery walk. The Gallery Walk features the art of around 50 artists in Kilgore American Indian Art Gallery, Ravenouse Gallery and Artisans of Mancos, as they celebrate 20 years as an artist cooperative.
Food trucks, restaurants and bars are open for business during Grand Summer Nights, and will include Columbine Restaurant, Yia’s Yia’s Lemonade, snow cones and cotton candy, Mara’s tamales, Fencepost at Fenceline and more will be offered.
There will also be a washers tournament at Pioneer Plaza, and those who wish to participate can with a $5.00 entry fee.
