Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Is Better Than Ever
The Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17 at Anderson Park, 4355 Field Street, Wheat Ridge. This year’s festivities once again feature the Zoppe’ Italian Family Circus. The circus includes acrobatics, clowns, horses and dog acts. The 63-foot tent will be erected at 7 a.m. Friday morning so if you’re an early riser, come and watch. The first circus performance is 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16 , and performances continue through Aug. 25. Tickets online: http://ezregister.com/promoters/1041 Or starting June 1, walk in tickets available at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St. Also new is the Italian Cultural Village offering Italian food, wine tastings, vendors, artisans and Italian culture.
Returning to the Carnation Festival this year are many of the favorites like the midway, rides, food, fireworks and a parade. Free activities for kids include the Kids Craft Central booth and Lewis, the Magician, performing magic. The Butterfly Pavilion will bring Rosie the tarantula and other interesting insects and HawkQuest will bring birds of prey. Saturday afternoon there will be a remote model airplane demonstration on the baseball diamond.
New this year will be “American Pidol,” a pie-baking contest judged by local chefs in the flavor of American Idol. A fine arts sale will be added in to the Wheat Ridge Art League’s juried show. And the Rocky Mountain Quarter Midget Association will provide a race car demonstration.
Transportation will be easier this year. Jefferson County Schools, in partnership with the Festival, will provide buses Friday Aug. 16 (6-11:30 p.m.) and Saturday, Aug. 17 (2-11:30 p.m.) to shuttle participants to and from parking lots at Everitt, Wheat Ridge Middle (5-8) and Wheat Ridge High. A round trip is just $1 and parking at school lots is free. Children age 2 and under that can to sit on laps are also free. Monies raised will pay Jeffco School for use of the buses. Two paid lots ($5 and $10) will also be available on site at the Festival. The monies generated from these two lots benefit the Wheat Ridge High School Band Boosters.
You won’t want to miss this year’s festival. Mark your calendars today.
