Expect big changes at Heritage Days

MANAGING EDITOR

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Downtown Portales is “gonna be rockin’” next weekend, according to Portales MainStreet Director Jan Elliott.

MainStreet is holding a downtown evening event in conjunction with the 31st Annual Heritage Days on June 20, so instead of the event dying down at 4 p.m. at City Park, the fun will just keep on going well into the night, according to Elliott.

Along with hosting the fun run and a motorcycle run (along with other entities) in conjunction with Heritage Days, the MainStreet Program is also hosting the Brew and Wine Fest, which will be co-sponsored by the Dawg Houze and the Roosevelt Brewery.

“We decided to start it later in the evening, because people will be winding down at the park by then, so then they can come downtown,” Elliott said. “It’s just an opportunity for people to come and enjoy themselves and enjoy downtown Main Street.”

Elliot said starting at 3 p.m., the event will include live bands starting, a DJ, food vendors and tables and chairs for people to sit at.

She said Harley Davidson will also be joining the event with motorcycles, so people can take sample rides if they would like to.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry said there are a lot of big changes to Heritage Days this year, because there are so many things happening in conjunction with the event.

He said two class reunions will also be happening Saturday evening as well as the last day of the Miss New Mexico Pageant with pageant contestants and reunion attendees being part of the parade that morning.

Terry said this is one of the best and largest parades Heritage Days has ever had.

“I think the parade is what’s exciting me,” Terry said. “That’s always kind of the highlight, and this parade looks like it’s going to be a really nice parade.”

Terry also said there are a lot more activities for children at City Park this year. Along with the usual games children participate in at the various booths, there will be other activities going on around the park, such as a water balloon launcher, pony rides, a magician and a kids’ train.

Terry said as always, the local talent playing live music at the park will be many of the same people who participate in the Floyd Jamboree event each year.

He said two gospel, bluegrass groups out of Stephenville, Texas and Lindley, Missouri, will be returning for the second year.

And as always, Terry said, the classic car show is always a big deal at the event and will be located on the south side of the park for the second consecutive year.

“We’ve got a full day,” Terry said. “It’s going to go from 8 a.m. with some events going until midnight. We’ve got more events that will stretch the day out and give a variety of different activities for people to participate in.”