Golden’s 4th of July Festival turns 50 with music, family fun

It does not get a great deal more American than enjoying are living music and feeding on foodstuff in the shade of a regional park. Most likely the only thing missing was apple pie.

Golden celebrated Independence Day with its 50th annual 4th of July Pageant. The annual event at Lions Park highlighted 3 bands, foodstuff vans, and additional, even though it was missing its regular fireworks.

Hundreds of folks turned out for the competition, arriving by foot, scooter, bike and innertube.

The occasion is cohosted by the city and the Lions Club and raises about $30,000 each year. Co-organizer Sondra Welsh said the proceeds go towards area charities and scholarships for Golden Higher University students.

Quite a few households, like the Patels of Broomfield, have manufactured the pageant component of their Independence Working day traditions.

As his 3 young children have been playing with their new red-white-and-blue pinwheels, dad Jason Patel defined that his family members enjoys coming every single year for the reside audio, the folks and the ambiance.

Meanwhile, Golden’s Sarah and Joe Heywood and their sons Ben and Max, 7 and 4, respectively, had been new to the 4th of July Festival.

Sarah discussed that the loved ones is generally out of town for the getaway. Nevertheless, due to the fact they ended up in Golden this 12 months, they ended up “excited to attempt it out,” she said.

“The music introduced us in,” Sarah ongoing.

Lakewood’s Tanya Spickard introduced her 6-calendar year-outdated daughter, Zoe, to enjoy the reside tunes and Lions Park. Spickard explained she’s attended the pageant ahead of, but she has not been in a few a long time.

“We’re grateful to dwell in such a gorgeous position,” she mentioned. “… We appreciate Golden.”

As considerably entertaining as it is for the attendees, it’s probably even a lot more pleasurable for the performers.

For newcomer Meniscus, the band that opened the pageant, it was a very little reunion demonstrate. The bandmates haven’t performed collectively in 3 a long time, but thought the pageant would be “a fantastic opportunity for us to play our audio for friends, household and new enthusiasts,” lead singer and violinist Eric Ostberg explained.

Keyboard participant Eric Singer additional that the event was amazing with “beautiful folks and wonderful climate.”

Even though it was Meniscus’ first time in the lineup, Ryan Chrys and the Tough Cuts have enjoyed celebrating the holiday break at Lions Park in the latest decades.

Vocalist and guitarist Ryan Chrys explained the site is fantastic: the park has lots of shade and it’s shut to the creek. He also appreciates how the festival is a “true community occasion,” as it has anything and draws everyone — not just tunes enthusiasts.

“Thank you to the Golden local community,” Chrys stated of celebrating Independence Working day at the competition, “and happy birthday, America!”