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Margaret Hair

Margaret Hair's column appears Fridays in the 4 Points arts and entertainment section in the Steamboat Today. Contact her at 871-4204 or e-mail mhair@steamboatpilot.com.

Last fall, event organizers decided to put the Downtown Hoedown & Chuckwagon Chili Challenge and the Festival of the Americas in the same location on the same day, offering locals a chance to sample Western cultures old and new.

On Saturday, Mainstreet Steamboat Springs and Integrated Community are going a step farther, uniting the events in one full-blown celebration to create the inaugural South Meets Old West Festival.

With amping up the cooking competitions to include cornbread and salsa with the standard chili entries, the two participating organizations have crafted a culinary bridge between celebrations that have plenty in common.

Aside from the logistical headache of taking an hour between events to switch out vendors and clean up from the chili cook-off, recognizing the heritage of Routt County in conjunction with the heritage of its varied cultural communities reaches a broader audience.

Those who might have skipped the chili challenge in years past - for scheduling or anti-chili reasons - have a new entry point with the new food categories. And those who might have left the event after the chili ribbons are handed out will enjoy a smooth transition into an afternoon of Latin folkloric dancing and mariachi music.

It's the same idea as reading a newspaper in print instead of online, or listening to a record all at once instead of as a collection of singles. By celebrating Western heritage at the same time they celebrate Mexican Independence Day, those who attend the South Meets Old West Festival are going to see and experience more than they would have with a standalone event. It provides a new level of shared experience.

As an event that's meant for locals, it's commendable to target the South Meets Old West Festival to all locals. Everyone who lives in a given community defines it. By bringing Routt County's history into focus at the same time as its varied population, the South Meets Old West Festival offers a greater understanding of the cultural traditions that make Steamboat Springs what it is today.