Photos by Brian Williams

Monte Vista hosts first of two downtown parades

MONTE VISTA — The air was crisp and the night was cool as the Josh Abbott band took to the stage Thursday, July 21, and prepared the crowd for country legend Dwight Yoakam at this year’s 100th Annual Ski-Hi Stampede Concert.

The Monte Vista Rotary Club hosted its annual Chuckwagon Dinner complete with tasty food before the concert.

At least 200 people also danced the night away after the concert to the fresh country sound of Houston Bernard. 

The Josh Abbott Band is a favorite in the Texas music industry. Formed by lead singer Josh Abbott when Abbott was attending college at Texas Tech University. Abbott was given inspiration to form his band after seeing one his favorite bands perform at a local scene in Texas.

Abbott then signed up a few of his fraternity brothers to be in the band with him, and in 2007 the band recorded their first song of “Taste.” Since that first recording the band has released three albums and one Extended play hit “Tuesday Night.” The song was a sensation and reached number 12 on the US Country Charts. The band has seen a lot of success and tours all over the country with their music. 

Dwight Yoakam is a legend in the country music industry. Yoakam has recorded over 21 albums and charted more than 30 singles according to the Billboard Hot Country Songs list. Yoakam recorded his first single, Guitars, Cadillacs in 1984, and the single was self-financed. He has since gone on to achieve five Billboard No. 1 albums, 12 gold albums, and nine platinum albums. Yoakam won a Grammy for “Best Male Country Performance” in 1993 for his song of “Aint That Lonely Yet.” Yoakam tours the United States and was also a recipient of American Music Association's “Artist of the Year Award.”

The Josh Abbott Band played a little over an hour of country songs.

After nearly an hour intermission, Yoakam took the stage complete with a set of drums with “Dwight” on them, along with his band, all decked out in sparkling silver blazers.

There was a beautiful display of fireworks after the concert commemorating the 100th year of the Ski-Hi Stampede.

The Stampede continued Friday morning with a parade in downtown Monte Vista, followed by a PRCA rodeo later that night at the Ski-Hi Complex.

The traditional big bang kicked off parade on Friday. Heading up the parade was Monte Vista Police Department Chief George Dingfelder in a black patrol car, along with Monte Vista City Attorney Eugene Farish, who is also a veteran, marching the color guard.

Lewis Entz, the parade Grand Marshal for Friday, waved from the back of a classic car and was followed by dozens of floats all celebrating the 100th year of the Ski-Hi Stampede.

There were also numerous floats from local businesses and non-profits, including “Kids Connection,” and “Sunflower Bank”.

Some City of Monte Vista staff walked a large float down the route — a cowboy balloon named “Monte” with the logo of the City of Monte Vista on his buckle.

Both the Monte Vista middle school and high school marching bands were in the parade, playing lively music as they marched through town. 

The streets were lined with people watching as just over 40 entries passed one after another. Children lauged and ran into the streets, as people from floats threw candy and sprayed the crowds with water.   

Darlene Salazar said, “This is my first time to the parade. I just moved here, and this parade is so nice. I have really enjoyed it.” 

Esther Martinez said, “This is my second year here, and this parade is much bigger than last year’s parade. I really liked it, so neat to see all the floats this year.” 

The Ski-Hi Stampede continues with a second parade Saturday morning at 10 a.m., rodeos Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, and Wright's Amusements Carnival.