Courtesy photos The 34th annual Taste of Creede is this weekend. Come out and enjoy a weekend full of local art, great food and a warm welcome to summer.

CREEDE — Memorial Day weekend is almost here and with it comes a variety of activities spread out across the San Luis Valley. Everything from grand openings to day-long events are gracing the calendars in almost every community and Creede is pulling out all the stops for its annual Taste of Creede event. 

Artists from all over the country gather in the small mountain town to show off their skills to the crowds attending as they meander along Main Street. Artists use all different mediums and genres to display art along the street.

Shops along Main Street have dusted off their welcome mats and opened their doors in preparation for the weekend, which is sure to be fun for the entire family. 

This long-time area favorite began when local artist Steven Quiller decided that what Creede needed was an event that highlighted local artists and delicious food. Thirty-four years later and this festival has become a way to set the table for summer. The festival may look slightly different than in previous years but according to sources, it is sure to be a great time for the entire family.

The event will start on Saturday, May 28, with live music provided by Rally Round and Caldera, children’s activities, craft vendors, and some food tastings throughout the day. The Silver Chef Competition is also scheduled to take place and this event is one of the main reasons guests come to Creede.

Local chefs gather on Main Street to show off their culinary skills and vie for the top spot in the competition. Each chef is given specific ingredients and is asked to create delectable dishes for the judges. Food and ingredients are generously donated by Shamrock Foods and the Monte Vista Co-Op.

This year’s honored guest artist is Suzanne Reed Fine. She grew up in Del Norte and received early training at the high school there and Adams State University. She is well known for her contemporary and colorful approach to the figure, landscape, and abstract work at times with social commentary. She became a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, in 2018 one of only 500 painters throughout the world with the status. She has received top awards in the Columbus Artist Guild, Southern Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society, Watercolor Society of Alabama, amongst others. Articles on her and her work have been in Watercolor Artist Magazine, Voyage Atlanta Magazine, Ledger Enquirer, Southwest Art Magazine, and the Del Norte Prospector.

Local author Cindy Harris will be reading and signing her new book “Shine On the One I Love” at 11 a.m. at Basham Park on Saturday, May 28. The book will be available to purchase and have it signed following the presentation.

A picture book for early learners, “Shine On the One I Love,” is the story of a mother who watches her daughter grow into a beautiful young lady as their military family travels the countryside and discovers the luminous wonders of the moon and a variety of trees. The mother sings “I See The Moon” by Meredith Wilson, changing the lyrics to fit their location in each place they travel.

Sunday will feature the Artist Quickdraw competition where featured artists line up along Main Street and have one hour to change their blank canvass into a work of art. The pieces are later auctioned off to those interested in buying a one-of-a-kind unique piece.

The weekend tops off with the annual Memorial Day remembrance ceremony in Basham Park on Monday at 11 a.m. Local Elks Lodge No. 506 honors veterans every year with patriotic songs sung by the Creede Choir. For more information, visit www.creede.com.