The 11^th Annual Crestone Music Festival was hot! The bands, the food, the activities and the temperature were smokin’ hot. We promise that next year we will have cooling misters for those sunny afternoons. We also promise to continue our established quality at all levels of the show and yes, we will do it again. Attendance was up some and finances ebbed & flowed pretty much as predicted and budgeted. We are still probably just barely breaking even, so our future fundraisers, donations and sponsorships will be critical. Many thanks to everyone for making this festival work. As you may or may not know, this one had to work or we might have had to end this mega-party we call our own.  We will still depend on you, our festival friends, to make it happen. Without all of you, we’re just sweatin’ and makin’ a racket! If you have comments, complaints or suggestions, email them to us at crestfest@crestfest.org.

Coming Up

Well there is no rest for the noisy. We have embarked on an ambitious fall tour of school and community performances.  

In October, we presented AZA from Los Angeles. AZA performs the music of the Berbers, or Imazighen (preferred term), the indigenous people of North Africa whose history records date back 3,300 years. This was a special treat, with seven school performances throughout the San Luis Valley and evening performances at the Salida Cafe and Roastery, Wildwood Sounds in Del Norte, and the Hazlerig Music House in Crestone.Sunday, October 18, 2 pm - Hazlerig Music House, 24 Alpine Overlook, Crestone, $10 adults, $5 students and seniors

In October and November, we will be hosting a total of 17 presentations of the Western Sky Portable Planetarium at three Saguache County schools. There will be one public presentation on Wednesday, November 11th, at 7:30 pm in Jillian's Studio in Crestone. Seating is limited to 18 people, so please call 719-256-4533 to make reservations. Tickets are $10.

CPI is pleased to fully subsidize the cost to all Saguache County schools thanks to a grant from Saguache County. We subsidize 50% of the cost to all other schools in the San Luis Valley. For more information or to directly donate to the school programs, please check out our School Programs page, call 719-256-4533 or email us at crestfest@crestfest.org.  Thanks and keep on listening.

Crestone Halloween Ball

Crestone Performances Inc. is teaming up with the Baca Grande Fire Department to bring you the umpteenth annual Crestone Halloween Ball. It will be on Saturday, October 31, at 8 pm at the Desert Sage. “Rescue Party” will be the band and they will reggae rock your socks off. Proceeds will go to benefit both organizations. There will be a fabulous silent auction that will run prior to the dance and will end at 9:30 pm during the dance. Click here for a list of silent auction items. There will also be costume contests with the first time ever “Best Cross-Dressed Costume Contest,” with male and female winners as well as the best “Other” costume contest. Each winner will receive a shiny medal to wear and two one-day passes to the local hot springs of their choice. We are also having a “Door Prize” which is a whopping $250 worth of day passes to local hot springs. Thanks go out to our hot springs participants, which are the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool in Hooper, Joyful Journey Hot Springs and Valley View Hot Springs at Orient Land Trust. The price of admission will be $7, which will include one free door prize ticket. Alcohol will be also be available. We need a pile of Silent Auction items to make this work, so sign up at the Desert Sage or call our office at 719-256-4533.

Testimonials...

from past Crestone Music Festival attendees:

We have enjoyed the festival for two years, people are friendly, grounds are delightful, camping is good, and food and beer vendors are of a good quality. We attend many festivals nationwide and have found this is one of our favorites because of the diversity of the musical offerings ~ Charlie & Cathie Berry, Pagosa Springs, CO

Our favorite festival. We love the mix of music, and the generally great vibes ~ Fred, Evergreen, CO

The fireworks were a highlight. The attitudes of the people are the festival’s biggest asset. I didn't want it to end! ~ Jim Busse, South Fork, CO

It was so well done; it was a special experience for the four of us. We'll come back each year ~ Cindy Kleh, Fraser, CO

I had an AWESOME fun loving sweet communal time... loved the food, the day, the music, the ease and beauty of the day AND the weather MADE it. I honestly can't say I had a disappointment - Being a newcomer to Crestone, it was my first festival, and my first big day out! I loved it. The fireworks were great! ~ Ava Lowe, Crestone, CO

This was my first CrestFest. I was pleased with all aspects of the event. The reason I will return is the combined spirit of the people. For me, this is your biggest resource. Keep up the great work ~ Karl Manthei, Pagosa Springs, CO

We really enjoyed ourselves. Since we live in Texas, it is a real pleasure to be in the mountains, and we enjoy the outside. We were glad for the tents since we don't want too much sun and we were glad the rain only threatened. We hope to come again, and maybe convince friends to join us ~ Donna Lipschutz, TX

Highlights: The Sangre de Cristo mountain range, its ever changing beauty, the sunshine, the lightning storms, the rainbows, the music under mother natures umbrella ~ Janet, Longmont, CO