Saturday, August 23, 2008
10 am to 4 pm
Dr. Saul Community Center and around Mountainair
Music
10 am – 12 N: Ten Cats Laughing - Americana & rootsy to the core: guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjo, voices. Guy & Lisa Dicharry hail from Los Lunas.
12 N – 2 pm: Amauta - folk and popular music of Ecuador, expertly performed by this group from Albuquerque.
2 – 3 pm: WeCreate - Mountainair's own Kay Stillion on violin and mandolin, Lenora Romero on guitar and mandolin, and Dennis Fulfer on guitar and djembe. Numerous friends will join WeCreate for the Sunflower Festival, including Juan Romero and David Romero. Playing a mix of Spanish folk music, American acoustic rock music, and Kay's unique brand of Mandolin Jazz.
3 pm: Mountainair Mustang High School Band.
and at the Poets & Writers Picnic (Shaffer Hotel Gazebo) (Times TBA)
LuLu – Louis Candela & Lou Blackwell. Prof & published poet guitarist with coffeehouse folk/blues leaning + an electrical engineer (former string bass in bluegrass, Western,Celtic, swing, and contra dance bands) playing old-time fiddle, with an occasional turn on mandolin, and doing vocal harmonies.
This year's Raffle is for the Sunflower Mosaic, shown at right, which was created by Tomas Wolff, assisted by artists Kathy Baur, Kristine Lauritsen, Mary Schultz, Celeste Simon, and Nancy Stone. The mosaic is on display at B Street Market in Mountainair, and raffle tickets are available at the market for $1 each, or 6 tickets for $5.
Forms and further information
Sunflower Festival news release here.
Registration for Artists, Crafters, and Vendors here.
To add your artwork or craft to the Silent Auction, click here for more information. The Silent Auction will also include a second sunflower mosaic by the same artists who created the Raffle mosaic. If you don't win on one, you can outbid everyone for the other!
Chili Cook-Off. There will be two categories, Red Chili and Green Chili. Recipes may include meat of any kind, or be vegetarian. One entry per cook in either category, or both! Bring entry to Dr. Saul Center at Noon, for judging between Noon and 2 pm. Make enough for several many tasters! Don't want to cook? Participate as an expert taste tester and vote for the chili of your choice! Winners will be announced at 2 pm with a prize of $25. Download details and entry form here.
Make or modify a hat, any hat; add sunflowers, any part thereof. Wear your hat to the Sunflower Folk Art Day. Voila! You are ready to enter the Sunflower Hat Contest, a zany favorite event at the Festival. Be at the Dr. Saul Community Center between 1:15 and 1:45 to register for judging, which will occur at the Community Center at 2 pm. Four categories: most beautiful hat; funniest hat; best use of sunflowers; and best youth hat (12 & under). Details here.
Poets and Writers Picnic information here, including information about this year's workshop. Writing Workshop Brochure here! Picnic & Workshop flyer here!
Make a weekend of it!
Come for the Sunflower Festival and stay for the weekend! Mountainair is the launching off spot for visiting 17th century pueblo ruins at Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira. Mountainair has several lovely accomodations to make your visit comfortable:
Turner Inn & RV Park. Successor to the well-beloved Tillie's Inn. Kevin & Ruth Turner are maintaining the friendly 50s ambiance. 1-888-847-0170; local 505-847-0248.
The Rock Motel. Dave & Pam Pettingill have redone the old El Rancho, and made it into a comfortable and welcoming place to stay. 505-847-2577.
Stonehouse B & B. Kristine Lauritsen has outfitted a small & sweet Mountainair home ("the Casita at Limit") with art and antiques, available short or long term. 505-847-0347.
Two Ponyz Ranch. Owner Karen Smith can arrange for horses to ride, or provide boarding for your horses, and she has a beautiful guest casita. Remote! A few miles down rather bumpy roads. But the payoff is worth it, we think. 505-847-0245.
Casa Manzano Bed & Breakfast. In the foothills of the Manzano Mountains near Tajique, with forest views and a relaxing ambiance. Owner Bert Herrmann will happily welcome you to his lovely retreat. 505-384-9767.