Residents of the San Luis Valley are invited to grab their sombreros and maracas for the 2026 Cinco de Mayo festival, returning to Monte Vista on Saturday, May 2. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features a classic car show, food trucks, local vendors, and live music from Colorado and New Mexico artists.

The Valley Courier and San Luis Valley Journal today announced they are combining operations to create a single newspaper with stories from all 6 counties, including some stories we haven't covered outside of Alamosa before. 

Oklahoma City–based jamgrass band The Steppers will be performing at Trade & Post in Del Norte on April 11.

SANFORD- “The outstanding staff at Sanford Schools did their best to hide the secret from Kristie Duran. The students and staff were called into the auxiliary gym Tuesday for an after-lunch …

About 100 people lined up with their children on the big lawn at the Center Consolidated School District campus for a giant Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, hosted by many wonderful organizations. This was one of many Easter egg hunts held in the Valley. 

Local radio station KRZA will be hosting its Spring Fund Drive on April 1-10 with hopes of raising more money and awareness to keep the historical station on the air.  

Saint Patrick’s Day is here, and the first-grade classrooms at Center Consolidated School District, were all asked the same question, “How do you catch a Leprechaun.”  On Thursday, March 12, Center Consolidated School District had a mini open house for the first graders, from 2 to 3 p.m., so that students could show off their Leprechaun Traps, and how they planned to catch a Leprechaun for Saint Patrick’s Day.  

RIO GRANDE COUNTY – For the past two meetings, Rio Grande County Commissioners have had discussions considering changing the Rio Grande County Clerk office hours back to Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ent Credit Union is accepting applications for their 2026 YES Grants, supporting Colorado nonprofits serving children and youth.

CENTER – On Feb. 19, in front of the Center Consolidated School District cafeteria doors, the smell of fresh pancakes wafted outside through the very crisp air, carrying from inside the school all the way out to the front doors, as at least 150 people walked in and attended the Center Kiwanis Club’s annual President’s Day Pancake Supper with all you could eat tasty pancakes, and sausage patties. 

CENTER – Center third grade students had fun learning about beneficial bugs. U.S. Forest Service Ranger and entomologist Doug Clark helped with the activity.  

MONTE VISTA – On the coattails of the Southern Rocky Mountain Agriculture Conference, the CSU SLV Area Extension recently hosted the Kids Agriculture Festival on Feb. 10-12 at the Ski-Hi Complex in Monte Vista. 

Free, experienced and professional tax help will be available at the Alamosa Public Library for people who may need some assistance filing this tax season. Appointment in advance required.

Imagine it is 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and you just left work when you receive a text message from what appears to be your bank inquiring about a $1,500 Amazon purchase. The text asks you to reply back with a “Y” or “N” to confirm or deny the transaction.  After you reply “N”, as you have not made any Amazon transactions, you receive another text with a link to verify your account information.  You click the link and are taken to the bank’s internet page, where you are prompted to log in to be verified. 

DEL NORTE – There are only a few days left to donate to the local sports program at High Valley Community Center through the Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day and there is an even bigger incentive thanks to the Daniels Fund which has generously offered another $500,000 bringing the total matching fund to more than $2 million. 

DEL NORTE – The High Valley Community Center has been a foundation of support for the San Luis Valley community for over 12 years, bringing after-school programs and learning to the forefront and now with their sports programs, this is the perfect time to give back to an organization making a difference.

SAGUACHE – With the coming of fall, also comes all the fun that fall has to offer, including Saguache’s annual Fall Festival on Sept. 20.  

MONTE VISTA – This year’s San Luis Valley Potato Festival is sure to be a hot and tasty one, with a freshly harvested Colorado potato and potato bar, along with all the other exciting activities the festival always has to offer.

ALAMOSA — Patrons to Milagros Coffee House in Alamosa are now greeted by a large mural covering most of the back interior wall, which celebrates the welcoming values of the popular spot.  

ALAMOSA — The Alamosa Live Music Association is providing free live music in Cole Park with its Sundays at Six concert series.  The SLV Big Band concert is scheduled for Sunday, August 17, at 6 p.m. This local favorite will bring their powerhouse of sound, which brings the golden age of jazz roaring back to life. Check them out at www.facebook.com/groups/slvbigband/.