Street Dance leads off Heritage Days music

Two-stepping the night away beneath the eastern New Mexico stars is the plan for the start of the 35^th Heritage Days.
 
The Heritage Days Street Dance gets started at 7 p.m. Friday, June 14 in the Memorial Building parking lot. Food vendors are expected to open at 6 p.m. to allow dancers to get a bite to eat before the boot-scooting starts.
 
Local band The Blackwater Band will play a variety of country favorites along with a little bit of old time rock & roll. They’re known as one of the most danceable bands in the area.
 
“We had a great time and a great turnout for the street dance last year and we think it’ll be even bigger this year,” said Chamber Director Karl Terry.
 
The stage moves onto the grass and shade of City Park for Saturday’s lineup. A group calling themselves The Jake Howard Memorial Band takes the stage at 11 a.m. Howard, who lived at Kenna and died in 2015 was known for playing dances around the area along with his wife Maureen. The folks in the band either played with Howard or attended dances he played.
 
At 12:30 p.m. Quay County cowboy poet Jimmy Joe Jester will entertain and lighten the mood with his own brand of humor. From Jordan in Caprock Country, Jester has made appearances at the Floyd Jamboree.
 
At 1 p.m. Michael Thompson will offer up a more contemporary take on country music with help from a few friends. At 2:30 p.m. Fusion World Dancers will entertain with a mixture of dance styles and influences.
 
Finishing out the day at 2:45 p.m. will be Colton Stevens and Travis Erwin with folk, rock and blues.
 
There will be bleacher seating available at the dance and the Saturday stage but people are welcome to bring their lawn chairs. Both the dance and activities in the park are free.
 
Heritage Days is made possible by stage sponsors J. P. Stone Community Bank, Alta Terra, Xcel Energy and Wells Fargo. The car show sponsor is C&S, Inc., while the parade is sponsored by New Mexico Bank & Trust. Yucca is the sponsor of the Pioneer activities.
 
For more information call (575) 356-8541.