Music lovers, buckle up! The next few weeks are chock-full of live entertainment from local and national musicians. All performances are part of larger events to benefit local nonprofits in our community. Rest up—it’ll soon be time to dance!
Summerfest Showcases Regional Art & Music, July 29-30
You will need the full weekend to experience all that Summerfest has to offer. In its 43rd year, the annual Center for the Arts Evergreen fundraiser features a broad spectrum of 100 artists whose work includes painting, ceramics, jewelry, photography, metalwork, woodwork, sculpture, glass, drawing and fiber art. The musical artists sharing their talents on stage include Who’s Thomas, Bagpiper Dan, The 3eatles, Dakota Blonde, and Joe Bye on Saturday, and Kicks on the Rails, Bagpiper Dan, The Midday Sons, and Band Kamp on Sunday.
Adding to the festivities will be a variety of food trucks and spirit vendors with margaritas, local brews and more. There will be a dedicated craft and activity area for children. Shuttle parking is free at Bergen Meadow Elementary School, Evergreen Middle School, and Castle Court. The RTD and Castle Court lots are within easy walking distance of the venue.
The festival runs from 10 am – 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5. Children 10 years old and younger can enter free of charge. Event proceeds benefit the year-round programming of Center for the Arts Evergreen, which enriches our community by promoting and cultivating the arts through quality educational programming, exhibitions and events.
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to evergreenarts.org/summerfest-2023
Evergreen Jazz Festival Draws Regional and National Performers
The Evergreen Elks Lodge, Evergreen Lakehouse, Evergreen Christian Church and Troutdale Tavern will be filled with the sounds of saxophones, keyboards, clarinets, horns and drums as the Evergreen Jazz Festival takes center stage for an extravaganza, July 28 – 30. Bands from the Front Range to Southern California and from New Orleans to Nashville and New York City will energize audiences with both traditional and contemporary jazz performances.
In addition to hosting its namesake festival, Evergreen Jazz has a strong focus on education. On the Thursday before the weekend performances, the nonprofit sponsors a student clinic to provide the next generation of “Bix and Satch” the opportunity to immerse themselves in a day of professional instruction on virtually every instrument, vocal stylings, and ensemble work.
For a complete performance schedule, background on the bands, information on host sites, and details on purchasing daily or weekend passes, go to evergreenjazz.org.
Elevate Your Weekend in Conifer
Elevation Celebration, a community festival featuring family-friendly activities, food, live entertainment and local vendors, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, July 29 and 30. Plan to join in the two-day, 10 am – 8 pm event, which also showcases unique, handmade crafts from local artists and children’s activities including games and facepainting. Musical performances will take place on two stages throughout both days of the festival. Visit elevationcelebration.goconifer.com for the latest details.
Get Your Ducks in a Row
August 5 in Downtown Evergreen
Get your ducks lined up for the annual Downtown Evergreen Dam Ducky Derby on Saturday, August 5 and watch them join thousands of bright yellow rubber ducks cascading down the dam spillway along Bear Creek to the finish line at Highland Haven Creekside Inn. Your purchase of ducks will help fund community activities such as the Holiday Walk hosted by the Evergreen Downtown Business Association. A portion of this year’s proceeds will also support the Leadership Evergreen Class of 2022 project to install an eye-catching mural along main street.
There’s nothing like watching the ducks be dropped from high atop an 85-foot fire engine ladder to begin their downstream adventure at 1 pm. Eager fans gather along the creek bank hoping their lucky duck wins. Cash prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500 are on the line for the top three finishers. Winners are announced at the 3 pm Dam Ducky Derby closing ceremony in the main downtown parking lot.
You can purchase 1 or 100 ducks with lots of multi-duck packages available in between. To learn more, go to bit.ly/3JKkwRN.
August 19 Boogie at the Ranch to Benefit Mountain Resource Center
It doesn’t get much better than listening to live music while enjoying hours of relaxation in a beautiful setting among friends. If this sounds good to you, plan on attending the Boogie at the Ranch on August 19 at the Nelson Ranch, 5388 Elk Ridge Road, just a mile from Alderfer / Three Sisters Park. Gates open at 11:30 am with musicians on stage from noon until 7 pm. There will be a variety of musicians performing early sets before KDog and the Howlers begin at 1:30 and headliner Wendy Woo delivers from 4-7 pm.
The event is presented by Boogie Benefits, with net proceeds benefiting the Mountain Resource Center. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the gate. For early tickets and more information, go to boogieatthebarn.com. Onsite parking is included.
There will be beer and wine for purchase and the official food vendor will be Rocky Mountain Wraps. Attendees are encouraged to bring their camp chairs. A limited number of tents will be accepted along the periphery of the venue to provide sun and rain protection. No pets allowed onsite.
The event beneficiary, Mountain Resource Center, is a nonprofit that strives to promote self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life for individuals and families living in western Jefferson County and eastern Park County. The MRC is the only community-based organization along the U.S. Highway 285 Corridor that provides multi-generational services for individuals and families that need support. To learn more, go to mrcco.org.
