11 years of Jewels & Jeans: Dancing, dreaming and doing good with Rotary

Photo courtesy Joanne Irons

Kick up your heels at a Pagosa Springs tradition. For 11 years, the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs’ Jewels & Jeans Barn Dance has brought the community together for live music, dancing and hometown fun, all while raising money to feed, educate and empower local youth. This year’s celebration takes place Saturday, Oct. 24, with live music by Vanishing Breed.

By Terri House | Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs

For more than a decade, boots have been scooting, neighbors have been laughing and the community has been coming together for a cause at the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs’ Jewels & Jeans Barn Dance.

Now in its 11th year, this beloved Pagosa Springs tradition returns Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds Extension Building. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Year after year, Jewels & Jeans has offered the perfect blend of country music, dancing, food and friendship. But behind all the fun is a purpose that has remained at the heart of the event since the very first dance: strengthening the Pagosa Springs community and creating opportunities for local young people.

Proceeds support Rotary programs that provide college and trade-school scholarships, weekend meals through the Feed Our Children Backpack Program, dictionaries for every local third grader, teacher mini-grants, youth leadership opportunities, community grants and other projects that make a lasting difference.

“This dance began with a dream of bringing people together for a wonderful night while also doing something meaningful for our community,” said event co-chair Kirsten Bennett. “Eleven years later, it has become a tradition that people look forward to, and its impact continues long after the music ends.”

The evening will feature live music by Vanishing Breed, with Odis Sikes, who was inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024. Known for delivering “the best Texas-style honky-tonk music this side of … well … Texas,” the band will keep the dance floor moving with classic country favorites and plenty of toe-tapping energy.

Guests can also bid on memorable experiences and special items during the silent auction. Past favorites have included an Ouray getaway with fine dining, a horse-drawn wagon ride and a stay at a local bed and breakfast.

A barbecue dinner will be available for purchase for an additional $25. Guests may choose sliced brisket or pulled pork with assorted barbecue sauces, served with coleslaw, white cheddar macaroni and cheese, rolls, sliced onions, pickles and assorted cheesecake bites.

A cash bar, contests for best dressed and best dancer, and plenty of opportunities to visit with friends will round out the evening. Guests are encouraged to pull out their denim, add a little sparkle and come ready to dance.

Jewels & Jeans is more than another night on the community calendar. It is a homegrown Pagosa Springs tradition built by local volunteers, supported by local businesses and embraced by generations of neighbors who believe that having a good time and doing good can go hand in hand.

“When you buy a ticket, you are not just getting a great night out,” said Rotary Club President-Elect Kim Moore. “You may be helping send a student to college or trade school, putting food in a child’s backpack or giving a teacher the resources to bring an idea to life. It is an investment in the future of our community.”

Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door and may be purchased at Tangled, Wednesday Bouquet or online at https://tinyurl.com/3rd6tsp8.

After 11 years, the music is still playing, the community is still dancing and Rotary is still turning one unforgettable evening into opportunities that last throughout the year.

Those who cannot attend but would still like to support the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs and its community programs may make a donation at PagosaSpringsRotary.org.