Heritage Days to kick off with street dance

PORTALES — The 36th annual Portales Heritage Days festival had to wait a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it will be back beginning with a street dance 7 p.m. Friday at City Park, near Seventh Street and Abilene Avenue, to the music of the Blackwater Band.

The event will be the first community event in Portales to return after the pandemic, according to a news release from the Roosevelt Chamber of Commerce, the main sponsor of Heritage Days.

“This year’s event will see a few changes but they are either something new or will have minimal impact and keep everyone safe,” Chamber Director Karl Terry said. “We’re just so happy to be able to put on an event for the community and we think folks are ready to unwind.”

According to the chamber, the festival will resume Saturday with a full day of activities. Events include a fun run and walk, a car show, the annual Heritage Days Parade, a volleyball tournament and live music through the afternoon.

The two-mile fun run and walk event starts at 8:05 a.m. Saturday. Participants must be signed up for the event on or before Wednesday. The cost is $20 for each participant age 19 and over, and $10 for those under age 18. Proceeds benefit the Portales Woman’s Club.

Registration is available under the “events” tab at http://www.portales.com or at the Roosevelt County

Chamber of Commerce, 100 S. Avenue A, Portales,

Awards and prizes to runners and walkers will be presented after all cross the finish line.

While runners and walkers are warming up, registration for the Heritage Days car show will be begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. The car show will go from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The annual Heritage Days parade will line up at 9:15 a.m. and the parade will begin at 10 a.m.

The afternoon will be filled with live performances by Sandhill Country, Eastern New Mexico University’s Roosevelt County Showcase, the Curry County Outlaws, the Fusion World Dancers, Travis Erwin and Alan Valdez.

There will be food booths available throughout the day.

Admission to all events is free.