Water Days, a two-day event, happens June 28-29 this year, and the festivities begin with a Main Street block party in Nucla at 6 p.m. that Friday. The Water Days committee — made up of Tina Carver, Linda Adkins and Dana Saxton — have gotten a street closure approved through the town from 4th to 5th Avenue.
That evening will feature live music with the 3-4-9 Band, and the Rimrocker Historical Society will be having their annual ice cream social. Carver told the Forum the Nucla-Naturita Fire Department typically has a barbecue fundraiser too. She added other businesses will be open late.
“We encourage people to bring a lawn chair, sit in the street, listen to music or dance, and have a nice visit with your friends and neighbors,” she said.
This year’s theme for Water Days is “130 years of the Colorado Cooperative Company and 120 years of Water on the Park.”
“B.L. Smith founded the Tabeguache Park in 1894, and the Colorado Cooperative Company was incorporated at that time,” Carver said. “The ditch was finished, and water came to the park on July 4, 1904, 120 years ago, and was celebrated on July 4, 1904 — which is why we celebrate Water Days.”
On June 29, the Nucla-Naturita Area Chamber of Commerce will do the pancake breakfast at the Nucla Community Center from 7 to 10 a.m.
The parade begins at the usual time Saturday morning, 11 a.m., and this year will feature a car show display afterward, though not judged, in the Nucla Town Park. Chris Daniels is handling that part.
At least three food vendors will be on site for Water Days on Saturday, and arts and crafts tables will be there too. The bounce castle will happen, as will the tradition of the fire department cooling everyone off in the name of celebrating water. The splash pad will of course be running.
Another band, called Slim Pickins, will play in the park that day. The annual horse shoe tournament will be happening at the same time.
The San Miguel Basin Forum is holding a photo contest. All are encouraged to take photos of the 2024 Water Days celebration and to send their best one to the Forum by emailing regantuttle@gmail.com. Action shots are preferred. The best photo will be featured on the front page of the July 3 issue, and the winner will receive a free pizza from Saucy Mama’s, of Nucla.
Fireworks will be shot off at dark on the “N” hill in Nucla.
Cassandra Farmer, of Art at the Apothecary, told the Forum that the Nuclear Quilters are also giving away a log cabin quilt for Water Days in a raffle.
"Art at The Apothecary is raffling off a beautiful American-flag-inspired quilt. Proceeds from this raffle will be used in its entirety to fund the purchase of equipment and supplies needed to support classes at Art at the Apothecary,” she said.
Tickets are $2 each, or five for $8. Those are available at the studio and at other supporting businesses in Nucla and Naturita.
Farmer said all may stop by the studio and see the quilt at 480 Main St. in Nucla Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The drawing will happen at 3 p.m. on June 29 during the studio open house that lasts all day.
“Stop by, meet the artists, visit and explore the class schedule while enjoying some refreshments out of the sun,” Farmer said.
