Saguache Hollyhock Festival brings family fun

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Photos by Mechel Meek The annual Hollyhock Festival in Saguache on July 31 featured an art walk and vendors from around the country. Winners of the art competition at the Hollyhock Festival in Saguache on July 31 received cash prizes. The Hollyhock Festival is always held on the last weekend in July in Saguache. The Hollyhock is the town’s official flower.

SAGUACHE — The annual Hollyhock Festival on July 31 was fun for all ages, with many community members bringing the entire family on a hunt for “fairy houses” scattered throughout downtown Saguache.

Adding to the festivities was the annual art walk, an art competition, plus food and drinks sold to benefit the Saguache Volunteer Fire Department.

The winners of the art competition were awarded cash this year as a prize, with the first-place winner having their artwork grace next year's seed cards. The Saguache Chamber of Commerce organized the event and handed out maps to patrons.

Crowds streamed through downtown which hosted artist vendors from all over the country. The art offered at the vendor event was of a wide variety, including jewelry, clothing, sculpture, painting, and even a booth offering reflexology foot massages.

The face painting booth was popular with the kids, with many families coming out to enjoy the sunny day.

According to the Saguache Chamber of Commerce, “The town of Saguache adopted the Hollyhock as the town flower in 2012. Since 2013, there have been self-guided tours of town gardens and yards.”

The Hollyhock Festival is always held on the last weekend in July and celebrates all things Hollyhock.

The hollyhock plant originated in Asia but quickly spread through cultivation to Europe and America due to the plant being prized for its drought tolerance and adaptability. Hollyhocks that grow in the San Luis Valley are likely descended from the first plants brought to the area in the 1800’s. The annual Hollyhock seed cards are available for purchase at the Chamber of Commerce.