What to do in Trinidad

     You might think in a small town there is nothing to do.  Well, at least with Trinidad you would be wrong.  Several Fridays ago, the United States Air Force Academy Band sent their brass quintet, "Stellar Brass", to perform in Trinidad at the Mount Carmel Center.  The performance was sold out (the tickets were really free, you just had to get them before they were gone.)  The music ranged from classical to jazz and the performance lasted about two hours.  When the Air Force sends musicians they always perform familiar pieces and some of which that I have never heard.  The group also explains the music which adds much to the evening.  Last fall we were entertained by the String Ensemble from the Academy, an equally excellent and versatile group.  We hope to see more from the Academy next year.
    The Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre is based in Trinidad.  We were fortunate enough to see three of their performances this past summer and the Queen City Jazz Band that they sponsored.  The one that I enjoyed most was "On Golden Pond".  It was not what I remembered from seeing the movie years ago.  It was much better, I thought.  The group had been performing at a theater on the campus of Trinidad State Junior College but they recently obtained their own building on Main Street.  Their opening was "A Dysfunctional Family Thanksgiving Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre".  Over the years the building has been many things but mostly it has been a department store.  So the theatre is named "The Old Historic 'Famous Department Store' Theatre".  They took possession on a Tuesday and gave the performance and dinner on Saturday.  It was a stellar production with such a short preparation time.  The gourmet dinner was catered by Cafe What 'A Grind.  The two families involved were the Uptons and the Bottoms and they were characters, not just in the sense of actors in a play.  The murder was committed (poison in a wine glass) and the audience was left to solve the mystery of who was the poisoner by questioning the cast members.  Eventually, with the help of Lieutenant Dan ( local police detective) the mystery was solved.  Who was the murderer?  A member of the family.
    In addition, we had a lighting parade and the town's Christmas lights were turned on.  We missed this, being in Denver for Thanksgiving.  Up coming is the Senior Center Christmas dinner, the Posada in which Mary and Joseph try to find a place to stay, and a ballet company is coming to town to perform with local dancers.
     Nothing to do in a small town?  I think not.