Hippie Homecoming, June 21: Body Painting, 10-2 pm, McCarthy Plaza on Taos Plaza, Stick Pony Races, 2-3, McCarthy Plaza. Painted bodies join with "Lady Summer Comes to Town" as "hippie kids and big street puppets strut and stomp around the town" from 2-4 p.m. La Cocina Reunion featuring the Wickham Brothers at Ogelvie's—3 to 6 pm, The Oriental Blue Streaks (Dolly and the Lama Mountain Boys), Taos Plaza Gazebo, 6 to 8 pm. Call 575-758-0998 for more information.
Boogie on down to the FREE Hippie Homecoming Strut and Stomp events on SUNDAY, JUNE 21 beginning at 10 am until 8 pm on McCarthy Plaza (on the southeast side of Taos Plaza) where the Horse Fly office is now located. What better way to entertain your dad than a trip down memory lane on Father’s Day?
Music from the 60s will transport you to times gone by. You can watch well-known local artists (like Ed Sandoval, Elizabeth Jose, Alan Heuer and others) painting live people in psychedelic colors from 10 am to 3 pm (no nudity) followed by a Painted People, Puppet and Hippie parade through town. Stick pony races are a Horse Fly tradition. Pick your favorites and cheer them on or hop on your favorite stick pony steed and race your way to prizes.
The old La Cocina crowd are gathering at Ogelvies for the La Cocina Reunion with the Wickham Brothers music from 3-6 pm. La Cocina was a local bar and restaurant located on Taos Plaza during the ‘60s. Local politicos hashed out the problems of the town over drinks. Hippies mingled with tourists and locals. It was all happening right there, right then. Now it’s the history we’re revisiting like an old friend. You can hear stories from the mouths of those who were there, those who remember, that is.
THE ORIENTAL BLUESTREAKS, once called Dolly & the Lama Mountain boys, are coming back together for a historical summer of love reunion. They were very popular in Taos back in the ‘60s, and they haven’t played together in over 30 years. They’ve added local favorite guitarist Omar Rane to the mix. This music is authentic to the time period and to Taos’ local color. They’ll be playing on the Taos Plaza at 6 pm, Sunday, June 21 as part of the Hippie Homecoming.
And on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, they’ll play at the Kachina for the Horse Fly Institute’s BLUESTREAK BOOGIE dance party starting at 7:00 pm (starting early for the old hippies who no longer stay up late). Barefoot former hippies will join belly dancers and all manor of merrymakers. Also featuring Tommy Hancock’s Supernatural Family Band with the Txana Dames, Kit Nelson, Omar Rane and Carlos Rael to rock the house. You just can’t have more fun anywhere for $10 in advance or $12 at the door. What a blast from the past!
Contact: Sandy Penny, Horse Fly: 575-758-0998
