Native sunflower makes festive theme for Mountainair’s annual event
By: Karen Smith - S.O. Representative
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Mountainair's Sunflower Festival has a history close to a decade long. </font></caption><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/sunflowerfest.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Mountainair's Sunflower Festival has a history close to a decade long. "></td></tr></table></center>
The Monsano Mountains village of Mountainair is gearing up for its annual summer event, The Sunflower Festival, on Saturday, Aug. 23rd from 10AM-4PM. In recent years an Art Festival in spring was followed by the Sunflower Festival in late summer. Since an Art Festival wasn’t held this spring, the Sunflower Festival will be bigger and better than ever, offering such things as: arts, crafts, music, a variety of food vendors, silent auction, chili cook-off and hat contest. Planners are creating a day filled with fun and activities.
This Festival has a history close to a decade long. Previously supervised by the Mountainair Chamber of Commerce, it’s then president, Diann Bradshaw, came up with the original concept. Reminiscing about the Blue Bonnet Festivals in the high country of Texas, Diann suggested looking to our native Sunflowers that bloom here and name Mountainair’s new event, the Sunflower Festival. About four years ago the Mazano Mountain Art Council began to organize the Festival, each year trying out new ideas to encourage community participation and attract attendees from all over the state.
To help fund this community event, this year the Art Council is asking for donations for a silent auction which will be held from 10AM through 3PM during the Festival. The proceeds from this auction will support the many diverse artists in the community in addition to the Art Council’s efforts to continue to bring additional art-related activities and events to the area. Already donated by the Art Council itself, is an exquisitely crafted Sunflower mosaic. Those interested in donating art, crafts, collectibles, plants, tools, services, lodging and any attractive object you believe someone else might enjoy winning, please call 505-847-2205 or email: email2stone@yahoo.com (email2stone@yahoo.com) for more information.
A Chili Cook-Off, is also scheduled to take place during the Sunflower Festival. Open to the public, it will feature a variety of home-made chilis. There will be two categories, Red or Green. Both can be prepared with or without meat, with or without beans, or vegetarian. Contestants may submit one entry under either category or both and are asked to make a generous amount for tasting by the public. No cooking will be permitted at the competition. Contest organizers will provide tasting cups and spoons. Tasting and judging will take place in front of the Dr. Saul Community Center from Noon through 2PM. Prizes will be awarded at 2PM. Entry forms must be submitted by Noon, Saturday August 23rd.
Next: Exhibitors and other events of the Sunflower Festival.
mtairbloglady
07-13-2008, 12:54 PM
This is at least the 4th version of "Sunflower genesis" that I've come across. There may be more. Comparing multiple sources shows Sunflower originated not as a "concept" presented by any single individual but as a spontaneous group effort (many cooks) that emerged from surrounding (Poets & Writer's Picnic) and preceeding (Garlic Festival) events on same date. Short version: someone said hey let's still keep having a party this date and everyone else said yeah. Individual and institutional hijacking came later, along with name changes. Like the hardy weed it is named for, Sunflower remains itself and independent regardless of who or what claims "ownership."
By: Karen Smith - S.O. Representative
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Mountainair's Sunflower Festival has a history close to a decade long. </font></caption><img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/sunflowerfest.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Mountainair's Sunflower Festival has a history close to a decade long. "></td></tr></table></center>
The Monsano Mountains village of Mountainair is gearing up for its annual summer event, The Sunflower Festival, on Saturday, Aug. 23rd from 10AM-4PM. In recent years an Art Festival in spring was followed by the Sunflower Festival in late summer. Since an Art Festival wasn’t held this spring, the Sunflower Festival will be bigger and better than ever, offering such things as: arts, crafts, music, a variety of food vendors, silent auction, chili cook-off and hat contest. Planners are creating a day filled with fun and activities.
This Festival has a history close to a decade long. Previously supervised by the Mountainair Chamber of Commerce, it’s then president, Diann Bradshaw, came up with the original concept. Reminiscing about the Blue Bonnet Festivals in the high country of Texas, Diann suggested looking to our native Sunflowers that bloom here and name Mountainair’s new event, the Sunflower Festival. About four years ago the Mazano Mountain Art Council began to organize the Festival, each year trying out new ideas to encourage community participation and attract attendees from all over the state.
To help fund this community event, this year the Art Council is asking for donations for a silent auction which will be held from 10AM through 3PM during the Festival. The proceeds from this auction will support the many diverse artists in the community in addition to the Art Council’s efforts to continue to bring additional art-related activities and events to the area. Already donated by the Art Council itself, is an exquisitely crafted Sunflower mosaic. Those interested in donating art, crafts, collectibles, plants, tools, services, lodging and any attractive object you believe someone else might enjoy winning, please call 505-847-2205 or email: email2stone@yahoo.com (email2stone@yahoo.com) for more information.
A Chili Cook-Off, is also scheduled to take place during the Sunflower Festival. Open to the public, it will feature a variety of home-made chilis. There will be two categories, Red or Green. Both can be prepared with or without meat, with or without beans, or vegetarian. Contestants may submit one entry under either category or both and are asked to make a generous amount for tasting by the public. No cooking will be permitted at the competition. Contest organizers will provide tasting cups and spoons. Tasting and judging will take place in front of the Dr. Saul Community Center from Noon through 2PM. Prizes will be awarded at 2PM. Entry forms must be submitted by Noon, Saturday August 23rd.
Next: Exhibitors and other events of the Sunflower Festival.