May events set to help local organizations

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By Mary Jo Coulehan | Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

With the weather warming up, it seems that spring also brings on numerous events to help support our community nonprofit agencies. 

There are several upcoming events where you can have a lot of fun and support a great cause. Following are just some of the festivities that are planned.

Build Pagosa

On May 12, the career and technical educational component of the high school will host its annual Build Pagosa fundraiser. Every year the students build fabulous structures. 

In the past they have built doll houses, chicken coops and dog houses along with other hand-crafted items that will be included in the silent auction. 

The festivities will be held at the Ross Aragon Community Center starting at 5 p.m. Food will be provided by chef Todd Stevens and his culinary arts program and the entertainment will be provided by Bob Hemenger’s Americana Project class. 

The live auction will have very functional gardening sheds as the main item; however, bidders certainly enjoy the “mystery buckets” and other valuable construction-related packages. 

You can purchase tickets through Eventbrite for $25 or reserve a table for $1,000. Food and a cash bar will be available. If youth vocational enrichment is your passion, plan to attend this fun event. 

Pagosa Paddle

With the river running at rates we haven’t seen in a few years, this year’s Pagosa Paddle, supporting the Friends of the Upper San Juan River, is in for some exciting activities. 

On Saturday, May 13, try your hand at some of the contests such as the sprint, head2head, slalom or ducky pinball. There will be categories for inflatable and hardshell kayaks and SUPs. The R4 races are sanctioned by the US Rafting Association as a regional qualifier for the finals in Salida in June. As this organization works to provide stewardship of our beautiful river, it could use your support as a contestant. 

Contestants can register at Eventbrite for $35 per athlete until Thursday, May 11.

 This year, contestants will also receive a free soaking pass in partnership with the Pints and Pools event that will also be occurring on May 12 and 13. 

Don’t have the equipment or bravery to tackle the river? You can watch the festivities along the river walk or at the Overlook beginning at 9:30 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m. when the ducky pinball is held. Then at 4 p.m. watch the down-river parade. It is certainly exciting to see these talented river runners.