The 94th annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair and Powwow is next weekend, Sept. 12-14, in downtown Ignacio, the Sky Ute Event Center, Sun Ute Community Center, and the tribe's multi-purpose field. All are welcome to attend as spectators.

The weekend starts with the tribal fair picnic Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the multi-purpose facility field.

Youth games, for Southern Ute Tribal members and direct descendents only, are Friday at 4 p.m. at the multi-purpose field with competitors divided by age and gender. Contests include cracker and watermelon eating, softball and water balloon toss, foot race, and three-legged race.

The 4th annual Eldred A. Vigil Jr. Memorial 5k Run and 1k Walk is Saturday morning, with registration at 7 a.m. at SunUte Park, and the run starting at 7:30 a.m.

The colorful tribal fair parade will be Saturday at 10 a.m., starting at St. Ignatius Catholic Church and going south on Goddard Avenue through downtown Ignacio. Registration and line-up starts at 8 a.m. at the church. There will be cash prizes for best floats, native dress, native group, royalty float, vehicles, horses, and a chairman's and executive officer's award. There is also a kiddie parade with cash prizes. For information call the Tribal Health Department, 563-4742.

Other Saturday events are:

. Horseshoe tournament at 1 p.m. in the events center infield;

. Jalapeno eating contest which is open to everyone at 2 p.m. at the events center concert stage - be the first to eat five, men's and women's divisions;

. Rez-olution Youth Concerts starting at 2 p.m. in memory of the late Tribal Chairman Jimmy Newton Jr. Bands are Born of Winter, Testify, Unleashing the Catastrophe, The Blissins, Haddonfield A.D., End This Year, DJ Kiosk, a local band TBD, and ending with fireworks and a bonfire;

. The all-Ute 18 and over tug of war challenge at 5 p.m. in the event center infield in front of the grandstand. Sign-up deadline is 4:30 p.m.

Sunday events are:

. Tipi raising contest at 9 a.m. in the event center infield, open to all Natives in teams of three;

. Shinny game at 9 a.m. at the event center north entrance, open to all Ute tribal members;

. Chili (red and green) and salsa contests are open to everyone in the event center exhibit hall, turn in finished entries at 10:30 a.m., judging at 11:30 a.m.;

. Greased pole climb at 11 a.m. in the infield, individuals and five member teams;

. Frybread contest at 11 a.m. in the events center north parking lot, open to all Native Americans, no pre-made dough;

. Duck race at 3 p.m. with ducks released from the Bear Dance Bridge and retrieved at the Highway 151 bridge. Cash prizes. Anyone can buy a duck. Call Amy Barry at 779-3160.

The Fair Powwow starts Friday evening in the event center indoor arena with drumming, costumed dancers, food and arts and crafts vendors. Grand entries are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Gourd Dances will precede the grand entries. There will be prizes totalling $20,000 in each of the Northern and Southern Drum contests, and cash prizes for dancers in categories ranging from tiny tots to seniors.