Wheat Ridge is expanding its longest-running festival, adding another day to the line-up and new entertainment offerings, including higher-profile musical acts and more kid-friendly fare. This year’s event, which attracted 25,000 people over its two-day run last year, will kick off on Friday and will run through Sunday at Anderson Park, 4355 Field St.
The Zoppe Italian Family Circus returns this year as a main attraction with seven performances over the course of the festival. Younger festival-goers will also enjoy a larger kids zone that will include a wider array of carnival rides. In addition, a new teen stage will feature more kid-focused options, including a magician, storytelling, craft activities and the teen band Paradox, which won first place in the Colorado You’ve Got Talent contest last year.
For adult fans of the festival, organizers have expanded the beer garden and added such notable acts as Mike Zito & The Wheel and the Eagles Tribute band, The Long Run, bringing the total number of musical performers to 12 over two stages.
The festival also features a range of other attractions and activities including:
- A neighborhood pancake breakfast and parade on 38th Avenue on Saturday morning
- The Automezzi XXV Italian Exotic Car Show
- A fine arts show
- Chili cook-off
- Friday and Saturday night fireworks displays
- Craft and artisan exhibits
“This year’s festival is poised to be the best yet, with something for everyone and the opportunity to celebrate Wheat Ridge’s agricultural roots and community pride,” said Wheat Ridge Mayor Joyce Jay.
The festival pays tribute to Wheat Ridge’s history as the world’s carnation capital. During the 1960s, the city boasted 32 different carnation growers and sent a bouquet to the White House every Monday morning, which was displayed in the front foyer with a card stating: “With compliments to our nation’s capital, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Carnation City.” The Carnation Festival was created when Wheat Ridge was founded in 1969 to celebrate and honor the carnation industry’s accomplishments.
The festival also helps raise money for a variety of causes, including scholarships for Wheat Ridge High School students as well as funding for the school’s STEM program and cheerleader and pom squads. The Automezzi show, which is slated for Sunday, August 16th, benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
To ease traffic congestion and parking concerns, the festival will offer free shuttle service until 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday to and from four stops along 44th Avenue. To view the shuttle stops, visit: www.wheatridgecarnationfestival.org/schedule.pdf
For more information about the festival and a full schedule of festival hours and activities, visit www.thecarnationfestival.com.
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