It’s time for the West End’s oldest holiday, Water Days. Having been celebrated since the old pioneers accomplished their goal of bringing water from the San Miguel River up to the park to establish Nucla, it’s been been happening since the Fourth of July in 1904.
Once again, all are invited — that includes those from Norwood, Naturita, Bedrock, Paradox and more — to Nucla for the weekend celebration. First is the ice cream social with the Rimrocker Historical Society on Friday evening. Water Days committee member Tina Carver told the Forum the ice cream social begins at 5 p.m., and later the street will close from 4th to 5th avenues, so the street dance can take place. Jason Carver will be the DJ, and the dance is family-friendly. A face-painter will be on site for children, and the Nucla-Naturita Fire Department will sell hamburgers for their fundraiser. Saucy Mama’s and the 5th Avenue Grill will also be open for patrons too.
Unaffiliated with Water Days, but still worth noting, is a fireworks display in Naturita that evening at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday of Water Days begins with the annual pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Nucla-Naturita Area Chamber of Commerce. They’ll serve from 7 to 10 a.m., ending just in time for the parade lineup at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at 11 a.m., then run down Main Street, and Carver said this year’s theme is “Water is a Driving Force of Nature.” She added the theme should make for some interesting floats.
While Tim and Kim Cooper are the Water Days King and Queen, others are invited to be in the parade. That includes businesses, organizations and clubs. They can make floats, have a walking group, or ride their horses. Carver said she knows the class of 1975 is having a reunion, and they plan to do something for the parade. There will be a first place award for the adults, and one for the kids.
Later on, at Nucla Town Park, will be at least 20 vendors set up. Carver said four of them will serve food and/or baked goods. On site will be the 5th Avenue Grill, Flying Bear Pizzeria, Wild Gal’s Market and the taco truck from Ridgway, plus others.
The Red Rock Rodders Car Club will have a showcase that day, and folks are invited to come see the cars and chat with owners. The show will not be judged, and those with questions can follow up with Chris Daniels.
The annual horseshoe tournament continues, and people can sign up at noon; the tournament starts after that, and there will be a jackpot. The Water Days committee also added corn hole this year, and Water Days committee member Linda Adkins is in charge of that.
Jason Carver will play some music in the park Saturday; the band Slim Pickens is also set to play in the afternoon.
The water slides will be on from noon to 4 p.m., and families should sign the release to let their children participate with the required bracelet, though that’s all free of charge. The fire department will do their “cool down” after lunch sometime, Carver estimated between 1 and 2 p.m.
After a day of celebrating water and life in Nucla, fireworks will be set off at dark, around 9:30 p.m., on the “N” hill.
Carver sure hopes that everyone comes out to enjoy the day. She, Adkins and Dana Saxton have produced at least 10 Navajo Taco Nights this year as fundraisers, with the support of many volunteers, to help make Water Days happen.
Carver has been helping to organize Water Days for the last nine years, though she’s been attending for decades, since her children were little. She loves the tradition and history of Nucla’s holiday.
“And I’d hate to see it go away … It’s all done by volunteers, and we are getting old — well, not Dana,” she said. “But, we are aging.”
She said the commitment to help with Water Days might seem big, but really the monthly dinners are the biggest part, and people do help and participate. Still, she wants younger people to join the committee. She said she knows it’s the same with the Rimrockers, the fire department and others; boards and committees need the younger generations to get in and get interested in learning how to keep it all going.
