Filed under: Activities & Attractions, Family Camping, Family Weekend Trips

Fabulous Fall Camping Activities–Part 4: The Blues Fest

I know that Labor Day Weekend is technically not in fall, but for many campers, it marks the end of the summer camping season and time to switch to fall activities. One destination event worth planning for occurs every Labor Day Weekend up at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico: the Enchanted Circle Festival Labor Day Weekend Blues Fest. Billed as a weekend of music and camping, the event is truly worth attending. The music is free and the camping, Friday through Monday is a mere $25 for the entire festival.

Some of the best Blues acts around are booked every year. In 2012, it was the Taxi Dancer Band for Albuquerque, Gulf Coast Blues Legend Bert Wills, Kathy and the Cruisers and Felix y Los Gatos.

Clearly the headliner, Wills is known in the Texas music scene as a Texas Blues-Rock legend His music ranges in styles from swamp country and Texas swing to Chicago and Piedmont blues, conjuring up a collection of roots music echoes of everyone from Jimmy Reed and Clarence “Gatesmouth” Brown to Guy Clark and Rod Bernard. As for the guitar work, Bert offers a some of the finest playing, shifting effortlessly from blues into jazz tangents of breathtaking beauty.

Additionally campers are strongly encouraged to bring along their instruments as campfire jams are held every night after the scheduled music is done. A large fire pit stands in the middle of the camping area, supplied with a large pile of available firewood. Additionally, a new log stage has been built, just outside of the Bavarian Inn Restaurant that blends beautifully with the Alpine scenery in the beautiful Taos Ski Valley setting, so reminiscent of the Austrian Alps. To encourage relaxation and enjoyment of the music in the beautiful out of doors, double lounge chairs a scattered around the stage and available for many audience members. Pets are also welcome with a special play area set aside for them. Everyone is truly welcome at the Blues Festival.

Terry and I had hiked and summited Wheeler Peak from the William’s Lake trail, an 8.4 mile jaunt and had been pushing ourselves to complete the hike in record time. After cutting 30 minutes off of our time a mere month before, we were in the mood for a bit of R and R when we arrived at the Bavarian’s Kachina Stage about 1:30 that afternoon. It was a delicious experience to enjoy a large burger and a frosty mug of Octoberfest beer on the deck of the Bavarian Inn, then to meander over to a double lounge chair to watch the Taxi Dancer Band that was must getting started. We stayed for the rest of the afternoon, only leaving when the band stopped playing at 5:00 pm.  It was a truly delightful experience and one we will repeat next Labor Day!

Read more about New Mexico camping and things to do in New Mexico.

Last 5 posts by Diane Berry

• Another Winter Family Adventure - February 10th, 2013
• A Winter Family Adventure! - February 3rd, 2013
• The Forest in Winter - January 27th, 2013
• A Lookout in Winter - January 20th, 2013
• Picuris Peak 2: The Royal Road! - January 13th, 2013