Leah Starr leads Crash, a 1-year-old steer, down Grand Avenue in Mancos. Crash gave people wagon rides as part of the 2013 Old Fashioned Christmas.

Shannon Livick/ The Journal file

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Leah Starr leads Crash, a 1-year-old steer, down Grand Avenue in Mancos. Crash gave people wagon rides as part of the 2013 Old Fashioned Christmas.

Shannon Livick/ The Journal file

A family admires the vintage dolls in the Veryl Goodnight Gallery’s 2017 Christmas exhibit.

Courtesy Photo/Veryl Goodnight

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A family admires the vintage dolls in the Veryl Goodnight Gallery’s 2017 Christmas exhibit.

Courtesy Photo/Veryl Goodnight

Mancos will celebrate this Christmas with two weeks of events in the Creative District, starting Dec. 1.

The festivities will begin with the Rudolph Run race and end with a baking workshop at Zuma Natural Foods on Dec. 12. Several Mancos art galleries will hold special exhibits and demonstrations throughout the month, and a few musical groups will hold concerts. The Creative District is promoting the “Mancos Old Fashioned Christmas” for the fourth year in a row, but several other organizations are also hosting events, including the town government, the Mancos Valley Chamber of Commerce and the United Methodist Church.

Many of the events on this year’s calendar will look familiar to Mancos residents. As always, the city plans to conduct a tree lighting ceremony next to the Mancos Opera House on Dec. 1, which will be followed by the arrival of Santa Claus on a fire truck. On Dec. 8 and 9, the busiest days of the event, town residents can join in caroling and carriage rides, as in previous years. But Rena Wilson, a member of the Creative District’s board of directors, said several new things have been added to its program this year.

On Dec. 9 the Creative District, which includes the galleries on Grand Avenue and artists from all over the Mancos area, will hold a “holiday arts market” at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Main Street. Wilson said it will feature work for sale from many different artists, as well as booths for organizations like the Girl Scouts and the Chamber that don’t always have a visible presence downtown. The previous night, the District galleries will stay open until 8 p.m. for a “Grand Winter Nights” event, similar to the “Grand Summer Nights” held once a month earlier in the year.

Events like the morning market are intended to draw Christmas shoppers to the District, Wilson said.

“Because there are so many different events, it’s one of our busiest times,” she said.

One gallery, HelloZark Studio, will hold its first temporary pop-up show from Dec. 8 to 10, featuring 10 local artists and jewelry makers. Another, the Veryl Goodnight Gallery, will hold a special opening for an exhibit featuring vintage dolls on Dec. 8. Wilson said that exhibit is already getting some attention from residents. Several galleries will offer workshops and demonstrations of different art styles.

“I just saw someone the other night with two little girls, and they were pointing at the dolls,” she said. “It was adorable, and I know that’s why Veryl did it.”

For the more musically inclined, the Mancos Valley Chorus will perform three concerts at Mancos United Methodist Church, and local musician Ryan Barnum will play a concert at Mancos Brewing Company. Events designed for children include a storytelling hour on Dec. 8 and 9, and photos with Santa Claus on Dec. 9.

All “Old Fashioned Christmas” events are free to the public, but artists who wish to sell work at the holiday market will have to pay a $20 fee.

Friday, Dec. 1Rudolph Run - 1 mile and 5K races: 4:30 p.m. at Ranch & Home Realty, 145 W. Grand Ave.Tree lighting: 6 p.m. at Mancos Opera House, 136 W. Grand Ave.Santa appearance, hot cocoa and movies: 6 p.m. at Mancos Community Center, 130 W. Grand Ave.Saturday, Dec. 2Mancos Valley Chorus concert - 3:30 p.m. at Mancos United Methodist Church, 470 W. Grand Ave.Thursday, Dec. 7Mancos Chamber holiday party - 7 p.m. at Mancos Visitor Center, 101 E. Bauer St.Friday, Dec. 8Grand Winter Nights–5 p.m. on Grand AvenueHoliday pop-up gallery–5 p.m. at HelloZark Studio, 245 N. Main St.Bonfire and hot chocolate–5 p.m. at Ranch and Home Realty, 145 W. Grand Ave.Vintage doll show opening–5 p.m. at Veryl Goodnight Gallery, 100 W. Grand Ave.Navajo weaving demonstration–5 p.m. at Kilgore American Indian Art Gallery, 100 W. Grand Ave.Kids’ storytelling hour–5:30 p.m. at The Beehive, 128 W. Grand Ave.Holiday caroling–5:30 p.m. on Grand AvenueMancos Valley Chorus concert–7 p.m. at Mancos United Methodist Church, 470 W. Grand Ave.Saturday, Dec. 9Community yoga class–9 a.m. at The River Studio, 121 Grand Ave.Mancos Winter Holiday Arts Market–9 a.m. at Grand Avenue and Main StreetBreadmaking workshop–9 a.m. at Mancos Community Center, 130 W. Grand Ave.Navajo weaving demonstration–9 a.m. at Kilgore American Indian Art Gallery, 100 W. Grand Ave.Holiday card making–9 a.m. at Fahrenheit Coffee, 201 E. Grand Ave.Photos with Santa–10 a.m. at Artisans of Mancos, 101 Grand Ave.Library “Makers Day” and book sale–10 a.m. at Mancos Public Library, 211 First St.Kids’ storytelling hour–11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Beehive, 128 W. Grand Ave.“How the Earth Makes Art” volcano demonstration–11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Painted Turtle Studio, 200 W. Grand Ave.Holiday wagon rides–11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Grand AvenueGlass ornament workshop–12 p.m. at Painted Turtle Studio, 200 W. Grand Ave.Seed ornament workshop–1 p.m. at Zuma Natural Foods, 299 N. Main St.Mancos Valley Chorus concert–3:30 p.m. at Mancos United Methodist Church, 470 W. Grand Ave.Mancos Historical Society Christmas Social–4:30 p.m. at the Wrightsman House, 209 Bauer Ave.Ryan Barnum concert–5 p.m. at Mancos Brewing Company, 484 E. Frontage RoadSunday, Dec. 10Grange community potluck supper–6 p.m. at Mount Lookout Grange, 680 Grand Ave.Tuesday, Dec. 12Gluten-free baking workshop–6 p.m. at Zuma Natural Foods, 299 N. Main St.