Ignacio will celebrate the annual San Ignacio Fiesta Saturday and Sunday.
The 117th annual event starts with the Fiesta parade at 10 a.m. Saturday on Goddard Avenue. This year’s parade theme is “Life’s an Adventure.” Lineup will start at 9 a.m. at Ignacio High School. Registration is the day of the parade, and there is no fee to enter. Cash prizes are offered for numerous categories of parade floats and entries.
After the parade, there will be events, food and games at Shoshone Park until 2 p.m. Live music this year is by It’s Jose. There will be a watermelon-eating contest, games and bounce house.
The Bayfield-Ignacio Cross Country Team will have a Navajo taco booth in the park to raise money for the upcoming fall season.
The 26th annual horseshoe tournament will start at 11 a.m. in the park, with entries costing $5.
Other events on Saturday in Ignacio will include:
Fiesta Arts Fair, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ignacio ELHI, next door to Shoshone Park.Brisket cook-off, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Farmers Fresh Market. Tickets are $1 per sample, with live music by Spanish Connection. Salsa Showdown, 11:30 to 1:30, Ignacio ELHI. Tasting kits are $3 or two for $5.Southern Ute Community Action Programs will host its annual duck race that afternoon.That night, the Fiesta dance will feature La Familia Sandoval from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Sky Ute Casino Event Center. Cost is $15 per person, and kids 12 and under are $10. Crowning of royalty will be at 10 p.m. This year’s Fiesta Queen candidates are Elisia Cruz, Ivey Cuthair and Michelle Merritt. The winner is the candidate who sells the most raffle tickets.Fiesta activities will culminate with Fiesta Mass at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at St. Ignatius Church at 15449 Colorado Highway 172, followed by dinner about noon. Afterward there will be music and bingo for fun. The raffle drawing will be at 1:30 p.m.For more information, call 749-6830.
