ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Have a good time for a good cause at the Hootenanny at River Bend

By Kate Schnepel Redstone Review

LYONS – Time spent by the river with friends is a hallmark of summertime in Lyons, and there’s no better place to indulge in this activity than the gorgeous grounds of River Bend.

Schneppel

On Sunday, August 27, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., the greater Lyons community is invited to join Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) and Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund (LEAF) for our Third Annual Hootenanny at River Bend. This family-friendly event of- well as non-alcoholic offerings. fers free admission, in the hopes that everyone in town can come spend an enjoyable afternoon by the river.

Lyons Hootenanny.

In addition to musical entertainment, we will feature dance performances by Lyons’ own Mayama Dance Company. Mayama’s performances are always captivating and fun, and we are looking forward to seeing what this fantastic local dance company has in store this year.

For the kids, we’ll have a wonderful children’s area designed and presented by Rainbow Lightning Productions, whose mission is to keep the inner child inspired. This nonprofit, based in Crestone, creates playscapes and activities where kids can have an exploratory and fun experience. Colorado Fairy Hair will pay us a visit as well, for all of you who are looking to add a little sparkle to your hair.

The rubber ducky race will take place late afternoon, when we will be dropping the ducks in the river from the bridge on Hwy. 36. Watching the ducks float down the river is so much fun. Sign up for a duck the day of the Hootenanny at the LEAF tent. The cost per ducky is $5. A raft of ducks cost $20 for five. The cash prize for first place is $100, second place is $50, and third place is $25.

There will also be a cornhole tournament for cornhole lovers of all ages. We are offering a $100 cash prize for the winners of the tournament. Teams of two can sign up at the LEAF booth at the Hootenanny. The cost is $20 per team of two.

LCF and LEAF are teaming up to put on the event, which is a fundraiser for both organizations. There will be something for everyone: live music, kids’ zone, dance performances, silent auction, cornhole tournament, food trucks, a bar, and the ever-popular rubber ducky race.

On the music front, the Hootenanny will feature live music by Wood Belly, who won the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition. According to the band’s official bio, “the quintet is forging a sound that is based in newgrass and flavored with alt-country, rock, and just enough jam to glue it all together.” Sounds perfect for a

Since this is a fundraiser, we are planning a silent auction, too. We will be featuring chances to win several mountain getaways, three different local staycations, and a stay in a lovely Mexican casa near the ocean. Also on offer will be all kinds of services from facials to portrait sessions to estate planning. You may also be tempted to bid on artwork from local artists, custom dinners, music festival passes, and more. Thank you to everyone who contributed such amazing items for the auction. We are excited to see what bidding wars might ensue, all in support of LCF and LEAF.

There will be three food trucks at the Hootenanny this year. McDevitt Tacos will have a variety of tacos on offer, including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan choices. Jacaranda will be serving up wood-fired pizza by Chef Modou. For dessert, plan to indulge in ice cream treats from Sweet Cow’s MooMobile.

At the shady bar under the trees, we will have a choice of beverages for purchase, including wine, Oskar Blues beer and hard seltzer, Spirit Hound vodka lemonade, as

We want to thank all the sponsors of this year’s Hootenanny: CEMEX, River Bend, Lifetime Windows and Siding, Sisters’ Pantry, 24-7 Restoration, Lumber Liquors, the Laura Levy Group, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Western Stars Gallery, Spirit Hound Distillers, Moss Rock Development, Lyons Dairy Bar, Gateway Auto Services, MainStage Brewing, Lyons Lawn and Landscape, Gateway Realty, Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons Automotive, and Tucker Group Real Estate. We truly appreciate your generosity and support. Finally, just a few notes. If you bring a motorized vehicle, we are asking for $5 for parking. Please leave your furry friends at home. LEAF will be collecting donations for the Lyons Community Food Pantry at the event. Please bring along a non-perishable item to contribute.

Come out and have some fun and help those in need at the same time. It’s definitely a win-win at the Hootenanny.

Kate Schnepel is the Marketing and Communications Associate for Lyons Community Foundation. She has worked in the non-profit sector for more than two decades, primarily with animal welfare organizations like Best Friends Animal Society and Wildlife SOS India. She moved to Lyons in 2019 with her husband and daughter, and spent nearly three years as a member of LCF’s Advisory Board before moving into her current consulting role.

Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival packed in the crowds

By Tamara Haddad Redstone Review

LYONS – It was kicked off by the Song School, where songwriters from around the country joined together for a handson exploration of songwriting led by internationally known songwriters, actors, and music professionals who shared their expertise on the art, craft, and business of songwriting.

Notable teachers this year were Mary Gauthier, a Grammy-nominated song- writer; Pat Pattison, an author, clinician, and Berklee Professor of Lyric Writing and Poetry; and Lyons locals Bonnie and Taylor Sims.

The Folks Fest kicked off Friday, August 11, on the Main Stage with the Songwriter Showcase, a nationally recognized singer-songwriter competition open to anyone who writes and performs original music, and is not currently signed to a major recording or publishing deal. And the weekend closed Sunday night,

August 13 with American blues and country singer, guitarist, and songwriter Charley Crockett. In between, the audience watched headliners including Larkin Poe, the Tallest Man on Earth, and Katie Pruitt. The Wildflower Pavilion provided intimate performances by local band Eben Grace Trio, Showcase Finalists Marisa Deering, Cindy Kalmenson, Lewis Turner, and a couple of the Song School teachers. Integrating the musical talent with morning yoga sessions, late-night jams, food trucks, retail booths, and the popular kid’s tent, it’s easy to understand why this event is a highly anticipated tradition for many. For detailed information about the Song School and 2023’s musical line-up, visit https://bluegrass.com/folks.