Carrizozo, August 1 — The usually-quiet town of Carrizozo gets lively on Labor Day with a host of activities to welcome the cooler weather season. In fact it may be the most excitement the valley has seen since Native Americans living in the area watched hot lava flow into the valley a few thousand years ago. Naturally, this year's Labor Day celebration will be in sharp contrast to the excitement that accompanied that earlier event.
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The annual Carrizozo Street Fair kicks off at 10 am with a parade down Twelfth Street ending at the park which will be filled with vendors and fun activities for the entire family.
Chefs will be vying for bragging rights at the annual Chile Cook-Off – come try your hand or come prepared to taste some great chile.
From 10 am to 4 pm, there will be live music and entertainment along with a variety of games and activities for the kiddos plus arts and craft booths and vendors offering a variety of tempting wares.
These folks know how to have a great time without the hassle of large city traffic and noise, so if you’re wanting to get away from it all and still have a great time on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 4) come to Carrizozo. “It’s fun for all the family all day long,” organizers promise. For more information, call 505-648-2038.
If you've never visited Carrizozo and have time early in the morning or just before sunset, plan to drive three miles west of town and spend half an hour at Valley or Fires National Recreation Area. Geologists report the nearby lava bed covers an area 50 miles long, 5 miles wide and many feet deep. Those same experts say this is the most recent major lava flow in the continental U.S. But don't expect any excitement there on Labor Day. It has reportedly been a couple of thousand years since Carrizozo's infant volcano, Little Black Peak, did anything more than sit there all alone 10 miles northwest of town looking insignificant and out of place in the large valley called the Tularosa Basin. One never knows, but perhaps the baby is still embarrassed about the awful mess it made the last time it woke up.
Naturally, with all that lava around, it's best to visit the Recreation Area in the cooler morning or evening hours and not in the heat of the day. There's not much excitement there. But you'll get some interesting photos to add to those you take at the Street Fair. Plus the kids are sure to be impressed with the place and can tell classmates later what it was like to be in the middle of all that hot black rock. It's visible for miles in all directions and is the first thing you'll notice as you descend into the valley from the Sierra Blanca mountains to the east or the Oscura's to the west. It's easy to see why Native's called this place "Valley of Fire" and the Spanish later named it the Malpais (badland).
In case you're curious to know more about the area (we were), here's what Answers.com the popular online reference site which describes itself as an "encyclodictionalmanacapedia" says about this particular geologic feature of the amazing valley known as the Tularosa Basin which -- according to Answers -- is bigger than the state of Connecticut and includes hundreds of square miles of jet black lava a short distance away from hundreds of square miles of stark white sand. [Tip: Be sure to click the links in this article to learn more about the features and history of the Tularosa Basin.]
The Carrizozo Malpais is a large lava flow on the west side of Carrizozo, New Mexico (http://www.answers.com/topic/carrizozo-new-mexico), on the northern part of the Tularosa Basin (http://www.answers.com/topic/tularosa-basin) between Sierra Blanca (http://www.answers.com/topic/sierra-blanca) to the southeast and the Oscura Mountains to the west. The lava (http://www.answers.com/topic/lava) making up the flow came from Little Black Peak, about 10 miles north-northwest of Carrizozo, and went about 40 miles south-southwest down the bottom of Tularosa Basin (http://www.answers.com/topic/tularosa-basin) in a series of recent (the last 10-15,000 years ago) active flows. At their southern end, the lava flows are about 12 miles north of the dune fields of White Sands National Monument (http://www.answers.com/topic/white-sands-national-monument).
Source Reference: http://www.answers.com/topic/carrizozo-malpais
We suggest a morning visit if you manage to arrive early enough. Later you can head to Carrizozo and have a tall cold drink before the parade and other fun of the day begins. You're sure to be thirsty after spending even a few minutes on the Malpais. Furthermore, if it happens to be hot on Labor Day, we promise it will feel much cooler in town after a few minutes on the lava beds.
Other points of interest we recommend around town (it they're open that day) include:
Gallery 408 on 12th Street. It's a unique contemporary art gallery directly behind Wells Fargo Bank. Owners Joan and Warren Malkerson have done a beautiful job in converting this 100 year old building into a gallery you're sure to enjoy. And while you're at Gallery 408, be sure to spend time in their beautiful sculpture garden. It's a truly peaceful oasis even in the usually quiet town of Carroizozo. Local basketmaker, Louise Groethe, is the manager there on several days each week. It you meet her, tell Louise we said "Hi," please..
By Labor Day the newly restored gallery directly north of Gallery 408 may also be open as well. They were getting close the last time we were in town. Drop in for a minute. Owner / Artist Steve Fortelny has done an beautiful job restoring that building. We promise you'll be impressed.
Last, but not least you'll enjoy a visit to Mike Lagg's art studio and workshop. Mike is a talented wood artisan who creates impressive art, incredible machines and beautiful furniture all made of wood. His workshop and studio are at 1214 E Avenue, a short walk away from Gallery 408. If he's not too busy ask Mike to show you his animated doorbell. We promise you'll be impressed! (Editor's Note: We did call Mike Lagg about his schedule on Labor Day. His studio and workshop will not be open that day. We still recommend a visit; but you'll need to arrange it for another day. Call Mike at 505-648-8711 to make a viewing appointment or drop him an email at mikelagg@yahoo.com. To see a selection of Mike's work, view his Steppin' Out Gallery here (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/pp-514/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=Mike+Lagg&what=title&condition=and).
Have fun at Carrizozo's Labor Day Street Fair. And be sure to tell our friends around town Steppin' Out sends its best!
For Street Fair...
By Carrizozo Reporter
© 2006 SoNewMex.com - Reprint Permission Granted
Carrizozo, August 1 — The usually-quiet town of Carrizozo gets lively on Labor Day with a host of activities to welcome the cooler weather season. In fact it may be the most excitement the valley has seen since Native Americans living in the area watched hot lava flow into the valley a few thousand years ago. Naturally, this year's Labor Day celebration will be in sharp contrast to the excitement that accompanied that earlier event.
http://sonewmex.com/banners/Carrizozo_logo.gif
The annual Carrizozo Street Fair kicks off at 10 am with a parade down Twelfth Street ending at the park which will be filled with vendors and fun activities for the entire family.
Chefs will be vying for bragging rights at the annual Chile Cook-Off – come try your hand or come prepared to taste some great chile.
From 10 am to 4 pm, there will be live music and entertainment along with a variety of games and activities for the kiddos plus arts and craft booths and vendors offering a variety of tempting wares.
These folks know how to have a great time without the hassle of large city traffic and noise, so if you’re wanting to get away from it all and still have a great time on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 4) come to Carrizozo. “It’s fun for all the family all day long,” organizers promise. For more information, call 505-648-2038.
If you've never visited Carrizozo and have time early in the morning or just before sunset, plan to drive three miles west of town and spend half an hour at Valley or Fires National Recreation Area. Geologists report the nearby lava bed covers an area 50 miles long, 5 miles wide and many feet deep. Those same experts say this is the most recent major lava flow in the continental U.S. But don't expect any excitement there on Labor Day. It has reportedly been a couple of thousand years since Carrizozo's infant volcano, Little Black Peak, did anything more than sit there all alone 10 miles northwest of town looking insignificant and out of place in the large valley called the Tularosa Basin. One never knows, but perhaps the baby is still embarrassed about the awful mess it made the last time it woke up.
Naturally, with all that lava around, it's best to visit the Recreation Area in the cooler morning or evening hours and not in the heat of the day. There's not much excitement there. But you'll get some interesting photos to add to those you take at the Street Fair. Plus the kids are sure to be impressed with the place and can tell classmates later what it was like to be in the middle of all that hot black rock. It's visible for miles in all directions and is the first thing you'll notice as you descend into the valley from the Sierra Blanca mountains to the east or the Oscura's to the west. It's easy to see why Native's called this place "Valley of Fire" and the Spanish later named it the Malpais (badland).
In case you're curious to know more about the area (we were), here's what Answers.com the popular online reference site which describes itself as an "encyclodictionalmanacapedia" says about this particular geologic feature of the amazing valley known as the Tularosa Basin which -- according to Answers -- is bigger than the state of Connecticut and includes hundreds of square miles of jet black lava a short distance away from hundreds of square miles of stark white sand. [Tip: Be sure to click the links in this article to learn more about the features and history of the Tularosa Basin.]
The Carrizozo Malpais is a large lava flow on the west side of Carrizozo, New Mexico (http://www.answers.com/topic/carrizozo-new-mexico), on the northern part of the Tularosa Basin (http://www.answers.com/topic/tularosa-basin) between Sierra Blanca (http://www.answers.com/topic/sierra-blanca) to the southeast and the Oscura Mountains to the west. The lava (http://www.answers.com/topic/lava) making up the flow came from Little Black Peak, about 10 miles north-northwest of Carrizozo, and went about 40 miles south-southwest down the bottom of Tularosa Basin (http://www.answers.com/topic/tularosa-basin) in a series of recent (the last 10-15,000 years ago) active flows. At their southern end, the lava flows are about 12 miles north of the dune fields of White Sands National Monument (http://www.answers.com/topic/white-sands-national-monument).
Source Reference: http://www.answers.com/topic/carrizozo-malpais
We suggest a morning visit if you manage to arrive early enough. Later you can head to Carrizozo and have a tall cold drink before the parade and other fun of the day begins. You're sure to be thirsty after spending even a few minutes on the Malpais. Furthermore, if it happens to be hot on Labor Day, we promise it will feel much cooler in town after a few minutes on the lava beds.
Other points of interest we recommend around town (it they're open that day) include:
Gallery 408 on 12th Street. It's a unique contemporary art gallery directly behind Wells Fargo Bank. Owners Joan and Warren Malkerson have done a beautiful job in converting this 100 year old building into a gallery you're sure to enjoy. And while you're at Gallery 408, be sure to spend time in their beautiful sculpture garden. It's a truly peaceful oasis even in the usually quiet town of Carroizozo. Local basketmaker, Louise Groethe, is the manager there on several days each week. It you meet her, tell Louise we said "Hi," please..
By Labor Day the newly restored gallery directly north of Gallery 408 may also be open as well. They were getting close the last time we were in town. Drop in for a minute. Owner / Artist Steve Fortelny has done an beautiful job restoring that building. We promise you'll be impressed.
Last, but not least you'll enjoy a visit to Mike Lagg's art studio and workshop. Mike is a talented wood artisan who creates impressive art, incredible machines and beautiful furniture all made of wood. His workshop and studio are at 1214 E Avenue, a short walk away from Gallery 408. If he's not too busy ask Mike to show you his animated doorbell. We promise you'll be impressed! (Editor's Note: We did call Mike Lagg about his schedule on Labor Day. His studio and workshop will not be open that day. We still recommend a visit; but you'll need to arrange it for another day. Call Mike at 505-648-8711 to make a viewing appointment or drop him an email at mikelagg@yahoo.com. To see a selection of Mike's work, view his Steppin' Out Gallery here (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/pp-514/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=Mike+Lagg&what=title&condition=and).
Have fun at Carrizozo's Labor Day Street Fair. And be sure to tell our friends around town Steppin' Out sends its best!