This is the lead into Woolly Huerfano, July 17, 2024

Virginia will explore the stories of the early sheep industry and sheep herders in Huerfano County

Virginia Sánchez is an independent scholar who has presented her research to the American Society for Ethnohistory, the New Mexico Historical Society, and genealogical societies in New Mexico and Colorado. She is the author of Forgotten Cuchareños of the Lower Valley and the winner of the 2011 Miles History Award from the Colorado Historical Society and the 2018 Gilberto Espinosa Prize for Best Article in the New Mexico Historical Review. Her work has been published in the New Mexico Historical Review and New Mexico Magazine.

Francisco Fort Museum Presents a Free Colcha Embroidery Class, taught by two honored colcheras from San Luis.

Limited Space: Txt/Call Sandy Dolak to reserve. 719-251-1271

Francisco Fort Day in La Veta (306 South Main) has something for everyone! Rain or Shine!  All events are free and open to the public. Francisco Fort Day is a long-standing tradition in La Veta and this year is supported by The Friends of the Museum, the Methodist Church of La Veta, the La Veta Public Library, the La Veta Mercantile, and the Town of La Veta.  Come to Francisco Fort Day and see where history and creativity live in La Veta. Life’s too short not to be at the Fort!  

• The day begins at 7:30 am with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the La Veta Methodist Church. The Orphan Valley Singers will be performing.

• John Carson, Kit Carson’s grandson tells his story at 10:00 am in the La Veta Mercantile

• Cross-cutting saw demonstration in the plaza, La Veta Trails at 10 and 1 pm

• Michael Real brings us ballads and songs from our area with a New Mexico flavor in the Mercantile, at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm

• At Noon  Reid Miller and the Deer in the Headlights, Concert and Contra Dancing in the Plaza

• At 1 pm, at the library, La Veta’s snake charmer, Bob Kennemer, displays live snakes and tells us about the snake in local lore and history.

• Mike the Woodman Briscoe at 11:30 and 2:00 pm

• Adrian Wall is a member of the Jemez Pueblo and world class flute creator, artist, and performer. ending out the day at the La Veta Mercantile at 3 pm

• Ongoing events throughout the day!

• Kids! A scavenger hunt through the museum, the kid corral, make a yarn doll or leather key chain to take home. Learn how to grind corn with a mano and a metate.  Games include a bean bag toss, a pinata, chicken poop bingo, and guess the circumference of the Colonel.

• Sarsaparilla in the Saloon, brewed by our own Mountain Merman Brewery in La Veta

• The Pictorial Archive of 25 Founding Families of Huerfano County will be available for viewing in the Hispano room in the West Wing at the museum

• Mike Kernor & Connor Knowles in the Blacksmith Shop

• Jeff Outhier- Farrier

• Will Prator--Mountain Man-Buck Skinner  

• Dave Steffen--Making Adobe Bricks West Wing

• .Bean Bag Toss, Corn Grinding on Metates, Tree Circumference Guesses, Chicken Poop Bingo, twice during the day,

• Sheep wagon in the Plaza

• Vendors throughout the plaza including: Just in Time, food truck., Boday’s Food Truck, Dry Creek Farms, Sandy Dolak, Charlene Velarde, Phyllis Torres and, others:

• Fort Museum is open all day long.

Kick-off to Francisco Fort Day

Origins of Spanish Peaks

• Friday, July 26, 2024

• 6:00 PM 8:00 PM

• La Veta Mercantile (map)

Join La Veta Trails for a presentation with Sabrina Kainz and Lon D. Abbott, Teaching Professor of Distinction and Undergraduate Associate Chair, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado in Boulder, on their published research on the origins of the Spanish Peaks. Ms. Kainz earned her BA in Geology at the University of Colorado in Boulder and is now a doctoral student at the University of Washington.

This event is hosted by La Veta Trails, Francisco Fort Museum and, the La Veta Library. Tickets are $10.00

Date & Time

Fri, Jul 26, 2024 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Venue Details

La Veta Mercantile

300 South Main Street
La Veta, Colorado 81055

Source:: https://www.simpletix.com/e/origins-of-the-spanish-peaks-tickets-173864

Join La Veta Trails for a presentation with Sabrina Kainz and Lon D. Abbott, Teaching Professor of Distinction and Undergraduate Associate Chair, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado in Boulder, on their published research on the origins of the Spanish Peaks. Ms. Kainz earned her BA in Geology at the University of Colorado in Boulder and is now a doctoral student at the University of Washington.

This event is hosted by La Veta Trails, Francisco Fort Museum and, the La Veta Library. Tickets are $10.00

Date & Time

Fri, Jul 26, 2024 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Venue Details

La Veta Mercantile

300 South Main Street
La Veta, Colorado 81055

Come join us at the parade and tour the Fort after the event.

Adobe Day Francisco Fort Museum

Francisco Plaza, 306 South Main Street, La Veta

June 22, 2024  9 am to 1 pm

Come help us make bricks for our upcoming projects. Bring gloves a hat and water. Snacks provided.  For more information, call 719-743-5501. All are welcome.

Sponsored by the La Veta Public Library, fun for all ages, crafts and demonstration.

Come and help get the Fort ready for the season, inside and outside tasks. Great opportunity for kids to help. Lunch will be provided.

Clovis and Folsom Archaeological Sites in Colorado.

 La Veta Public Library 

 Tuesday Sept 19th. 2 pm

Shirley L Shirley will be speaking about Clovis and Archaeological sites in Colorado.  The presentation will be followed by a visit to Francisco Fort’s Native American room to view the points on display. This event is free and open to the public sponsored by Francisco Fort Museum. 

 Ms Shirley is a retired Archaeologist who has worked for many federal agencies on excavations and surveys throughout the West. She  currently resides in Trinidad, Co. 

ATTENTION HISTORY BUFFS, OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS, NATURE LOVERS, AND LANDOWNERS. Local interpretive naturalist Bob Kennemer is presenting a 90 minute program on The HISTORY OF EDIBLE, MEDICINAL, USEFUL, AND DANGEROUS WILD PLANTS OF SPANISH PEAKS COUNTRY. Indigenous peoples, early Spanish, and European settlers relied on these plants. Even after Francisco Fort was becoming more settled and the people more stationary, wild plants played an active role in their everyday life.

Huerfano County and south/central Colorado are home to hundreds of important and useful wild plants. This program will teach you about many of them, along with tips on how to ID plants, tools and equipment needed, and ethical foraging methods. Handouts on suggested books and the Dos and Don'ts of foraging will be available.

Bob has more than 40 years experience in this subject. He has been living, teaching, and guiding in Huerfano County for 38 of those years. Bob majored in Environmental Science and Environmental/Outdoor Education at the University of Denver and is a graduate of the prestigious National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), where he became a certified outdoor Leader.

The program will be held at the La Veta Public Library at 310 S. Main Street, in La Veta, You will: learn a lot, have fun, and be amazed!!

Visit the Fort to celebrate La Veta’s origins during Francisco Fort Days on July 29th

Francisco Fort Day in La Veta (306 South Main) has something for everyone! Rain or Shine!  All events are free and open to the public.

The day begins at 7:30 am with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the La Veta Methodist Church. The Orphan Valley Singers will be performing.

Kids! A scavenger hunt through the museum, the kid corral, make a yarn doll or leather key chain to take home. Learn how to grind corn with a mano and a metate.  Games include a bean bag toss, a pinata, chicken poop bingo, and a duck race.

Francisco Fort Day is a long-standing tradition in La Veta and this year is supported by The Friends of the Museum, the Huajatolla Heritage Festival and Foundation, the Methodist Church of La Veta, the La Veta Public Library, the La Veta Mercantile and the Town of La Veta.  Come to Francisco Fort Day and see where history and creativity live in La Veta. Life’s too short not to be at the Fort!  

Pancake breakfast sponsored by the La Veta Methodist Church

Mario the Cornmaster all day long.

Events ongoing through the Day

Teresa Vigil-Herbalist .  

The sharing of the Pictorial Archive of 25 Founding Families of Huerfano County will be available for viewing in the Hispano room in the West Wing at the museum. In addition, Sandy Dolak will be there to record more stories and scan photos. In addition to adding to the Hispano photo project, she is also interested in collecting materials for the upcoming Coal Camp and Cow Camp event on November 4.

Sarsaparilla in the Saloon, brewed by our own Mountain Merman Brewery in La Veta

 Mike Kernor & Connor Knowles in the Blacksmith Shop

Will Prator--Mountain Man-Buck Skinner  

Dave Steffen--Making Adobe Bricks West Wing

Zachary Dees Prebula—Juggling, unicycle etc…

Randi Samulsen Brown-author

Mining Museum Walsenburg

Bean Bag Toss, Corn Grinding on Metates, Tree Circumference Guesses, Chicken Poop Bingo, twice during the day, Duck Race early afternoon

Kid's activities:  face painting, yarn dolls, leather rings, pinata, and more

At the Library: 10:30 am Michael Martinez, the Espinosa Brothers, talk and book signing,

In the Mercantile 11:30 am John Carson, Kit Carson's Grandson on Kit's Life 12:30 pm Teresa de Jesus Vigil, Herbalist, 1:30 pm Bob Kennemer, Local and Historic Plants 2:30 pm Dave Enke—Old Instruments

Music in the Plaza 10:00 Red Wing Rustlers, 11:00 Patty Clayton   11:30 Rambling Rangers   12:30 Willson and McKee   1:30 Michael Rael 2:00 Patty Clayton 2:30 Michael Rael

3:00 Ken Saydak Saloon  

Fort Museum is open all day long. Other vendors and performers as well.

Come enjoy a free street dance with Dynamix! County, Tejano, and more. 5 to 9 pm at 115 West Francisco Street. Mario the Cornmaster will be providing great food right on the Fort grounds. Sponsored by the Hujatolla Heritage Foundation and Francisco Fort Museum.

Tuesday, July, 25th From 10:00 am Free and Open to the Public, Sponsored by Francisco Fort Museum, Call 719-742-5501 or email director@franciscofort.org for more information. Meet at 300 E Grand St, La Veta, CO 81055, bring water, put on sunscreen, and wear a hat!

Fun for kids. Step back in time and enjoy activities that harken back to the founding of the the La Veta area. Craft fun, animals to hold, games and lots more! Contact the LVPL or the Fort for more information.

Arvel Bird's “Celtic Indian” brand is a reflection of his mixed-blood American Indian and Celtic heritages -- With his violin, fiddle, Native flutes and Irish whistles, Arvel weaves a powerful tapestry of music and stories.  From music festivals to concert halls, audiences get a glimpse into his Native American heart and Scottish soul.

Join the Town of La Veta, La Veta Mercantile, The 1899 Inn and Francisco Fort Museum as well as the Creative District and others for an afternoon reception to celebrate La Veta’s newest additions to the National Historic Register. Lots of great information, historic pictures, food and fun.

Lots to do to get the Fort ready for the open season! Opportunities for all ages! Come and join us. Lots of fun and lunch provided. 9 am to 1:30 pm. We’ll meet at 306 South Main.

The Mother Jones performance for July 30th has unfortunately been canceled. We hope it can be rescheduled sometime in the near future.

Visit the Fort to celebrate La Veta’s origins during Francisco Fort Days on July 3oth

Francisco Fort Day in La Veta (306 South Main) has something for everyone! Rain or Shine!  Accommodations are being made for rain.  All events are free and open to the public.

The day begins at 7:30 am with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the La Veta Methodist Church and serenaded by the Orphan Valley Singers!  They are a highlight not to be missed.

Music during the day, The Rambling Rangers at 9:30 and 1, Michael Rael, Questa, NM, singer, and storyteller at 10 and 12, the Red Wing Rustlers at 11 and 2, Ken Saydak, on the piano in the 1880 Saloon at 2:30. The band Destino will round out the day with music on Francisco Street.

Demonstrators and historical characters include Mountain Man Michael the Woodman Briscoe at 9 and 11:30, John Carson, Kit Carson’s great-grandson, at 10:30 and 12:30, and Will Prator, Buck skinner, in the plaza.  Demonstrations by Mike Kerner in the Blacksmith Shop, David Steffen making adobe bricks, and Teresa Vigil giving information on local herbs and plants.  Lectures by Ken Valles on cattle drives at 10 and 2, Bob Kennemer, local naturalist at 12:00, and the history of the Fort’s musical instruments with David Enke at 1:30. There will be demonstrations on braiding sweet grass and a historical picture pop-up museum, so bring your photographic treasures.

Vendors include the Tenorio’s from Santa Domingo Pueblo, Frog Hollow Brooms from Weston and other local southern Colorado crafters, bakers, and growers. Food provided by Mario the Corn Master and Abomb hotdogs. Kettlekorn and other treats.

Kids! A scavenger hunt through the museum, the kid corral with balloon sculptures, face painting and crafts for all interests, make a yarn doll or leather key chain to take home. Learn how to grind corn with a mano and a matate.  Games include bean bag toss, a pinata, chicken poop bingo and a duck race.

Francisco Fort Day is a long-standing tradition in La Veta and this year is supported by The Friends of the Museum, the Huajatolla Heritage Festival and Foundation, the Colorado Creative District, the Methodist Church of La Veta, the La Veta Public Library, the La Veta Mercantile and the Town of La Veta.  Come to Francisco Fort Day and see where history and creativity live in La Veta. Life’s too short not to be at the Fort!  

Performers on Stage in Plaza (In case of rain-alternate location La Veta Mercantile)

7:30 to 9:30 Pancake Breakfast and Orphan Valley Singers

8:00 Fort Open

9:00 Michael Briscoe, Mountain Man Stories

9:30 Rambling Rangers, Band

10:00 Michael Rael, Singer and Story Teller

10:30 John Carson, The Story of Kit Carson

11:00 Red Wing Rustlers, Band

11:30 Michael Briscoe

12:00 Michael Rael

12:30 John Carson

1:00 Ramblin Rangers

1:30 SouthWest Dancers

2:00 Red Wing Rustlers 2:30

2:30 Ken Saydak on the piano in Saloon

3:00 SouthWest Dancers

3:30 to 6:00 pm Destino Band on Francisco Street

The Library 10:00 am & 230 pm Ken Valles, The Origin of the Cattle Drive 12:00 to 1:00 pm Bob Kennemer, Edible, Medicinal, Useful and Dangerous Plants of the Spanish Peaks. and 1:30 to 2:15 pm Dave Enke F Fort instruments

On-going Sandy Dolak -Pop-up Museum, personal historic photos Teresa Vigil-Herbalist, etc... Charlene Velarde, Braiding Sweet Grass, Ribbon Dresses Mike Kerner--in Blacksmith Shop Will Prator--Mountain Man-Buck Skinner in Plaza Dave Steffen--Adobe West Wing

Kid's activities in Merc Patio: Sharona Whitely, Brittany Yepson face painting, balloon sculptures, yarn dolls, leather key rings, yarn dolls, etc... Corn Grinding on Matates Chicken Poop Bingo Two times during the day Duck Race Race Early Afternoon

Food--Mario and Abomb Hotdogs, Kettle Corn all day long

Francisco Fort Museum and Huajatolla Heritage Foundation are pleased to be able to bring a Fiber Festival (and more event) once again to the Cuchara Valley.  This year’s event will be Saturday, June 25th from 10 to 5 PM on the Museum Grounds at 306 S. Main in La Veta Colorado. 

Events start at 10:00 am

Music by Michael Rael 10 am to 12 pm

Kim McKee and Ken Wilson 12:00 pm and 2 pm,

Mickey Sinko 3 pm,

Also short talks by various artists throughout the day.

(It is an outdoor event, but please check out www.franciscofort.org and https://www.facebook.com/FranciscoFortMuseum in case of inclement weather for an alternate location).

The response by regional fiber artists has been so positive.  We will have weaving, knitting, felting, dyeing, and embroidery demonstrations as well as many fiber and fiber art creations for sale.  Our neighbors to the south, Taos Wools will be here with beautiful hand-dyed churro yarn as well as the Moro Valley Spinning Mill folk. The entire Moro Valley has been encircled by the recent devastating New Mexico Forest fires and their willingness to make the trek to La Veta is just one more example of their resilience. 

The much loved and respected curandero, Teresa de Jesus Vigil will be coming from San Luis and sharing her extensive knowledge of plant medicine along with her wit and wisdom as an artist and a poet. Several of the Colcheras (those who do Colcha Embroidery) from the San Luis Colcha Embroidery Club will also be coming. Their work was recently featured in a gallery exhibition in Saguache Colorado.

A new concept to be explored is a Pop-Up Museum within the Museum!  At this event, we are asking anyone that has a heritage handcraft to bring and share the story.  You don’t need to leave it or donate it or do anything but share and we will do an audio visual recording starting an archive of local history—an adult version of show and tell. We already know there are some neat things coming like a civil war era quilt and a 120-year-old Pendleton Blanket.  What do you have to share?

Performers on the stage include Michael Rael from Questa with traditional music of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, our own local talented Kim and Ken McKee that have a worldwide following for their Celtic folk music along with Micky Sinko, a local poet with a guitar! We will have a booth with fiber-related kid activities as well as a face painter.  What is a festival without good food?  We will have that also!  Plus, as always, free admission to the museum.