Skate park Grand opening June 23
Live Local Wheat Ridge
5th annual Kickin’ it 4 Kyle a Success
thursday, July 12 • 5-8 p.m. RSVP at
see page 6
hosted by Right Coast Pizza 7100 W. 38th ave. 303-431-6077
Neighborhood
see page 4
Gazette
WHEAT RIDGE
EDGEWATER
Summer Fun and Festivities Cover Wheat Ridge and Edgewater BY CYNDY BEAL
H
igh gas prices and slender pocketbooks can make summer seem a bummer. Luckily, the communities of Wheat Ridge and Edgewater offer an array of free and low-cost activities, events and festivals through the long days and warm nights of summer.
Wheat Ridge Cruiser Crawl On June 14, around 50 people attended the first Cruiser Crawl bike ride event sponsored by Live Local Active, part of Wheat Ridge 2020. The event celebrated the addition of new bike lanes on 38th Avenue. The group met and started cycling from the 5-8 School (Middle School), then meandered through residential streets to the first stop at Right Coast Pizza, then to Cebiche and then eastward to the final destination, Wheat Ridge Lanes. Plans are in the works for future bikecentric events. Check the Live Local Facebook page. Live Local Active additionally hosts a weekly free community run or walk meeting up at Right Coast Pizza (38th Avenue and High Court) every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Saints Peter & Paul Parish Festival This three-day community festival features food, music, games kids’ rides and a car show. Admission is free. The parish is on Pierce Street between 38th and 44th Avenues. The event runs June 29, 30 and July 1, from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 4 to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Free Family Yoga in the Park On July 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Wheat Ridge 5-8 school’s front lawn. Bring canned food donations to help the Helping Hands for the Homeless Food Bank. Farmer’s Markets Both Wheat Ridge and Edgewater have weekly farmer’s markets running from spring to late summer. As the season progresses, local Colorado produce at affordable prices are available; as well as some local crafts and tasty treats. In Wheat Ridge, the markets run every Thursday, May to October, from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. (44th and Wadsworth, in the Ross parking lot). In Edgewater, they run every Thursday, May to September, from 5 to 8 p.m. (25th Avenue and Chase). Wheat Ridge 2020 Neighborhood Block Party Program A program devised to bring neighbors together and get to know one another, during a block party the street is closed to traffic. Accepted applicants for block parties may receive reimbursements up to $150 for party costs. For an application for a block party or for more information, go to the Wheat Ridge 2020 website, www.wheatridge2020.org/ community-residents/programs/.
THE FirST CoMMUNiTy BiKE riDE on the new 38th Avenue bike lanes was held June 14 with close to 55 people attending the Cruiser Pub Crawl, sponsored by Live Local Wheat Ridge, part of Wheat Ridge 2020. The group made their way east and through some residential streets. Plans are in the works for future bike-centric events. Check the Live Local Facebook page for details. PHOTO BRITTA FISHER carnation Festival, aug. 17 and 18 Admission is free at the 43rd annual Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival, held in Anderson Park, 44th & Field. A number of activities are new to the festival this year. The Zoppe’ Italian Family Circus will erect its tent Friday morning and all are encouraged to watch. The opening performance is Saturday, Aug. 17, and the circus will remain in town for 10 days. Adding to the festival feel of the Italian Circus will be an authentic Italian Village surrounding the tent. Other attractions include Italian food, wine tasting, an artisan marketplace, bocce’ and an Italian car showcase. The first-ever pie-baking contest will be held Friday evening during the spaghetti supper. It is open to bakers of all ages and features local chefs as judges. A fine arts sale, which will be in addition to the Wheat Ridge Art League’s juried show, will include a variety of art media and will be held in the courtyard and lobby of the Anderson gymnasium. A second stage for entertainment will be added this year. Shuttle buses will help make parking easier this year. Jefferson County Schools will provide buses from the lots at the 5-8 school, Wheat Ridge High School and Everett
Middle School to and from the festival. A round-trip ticket is $1. The Rocky Mountain Quarter Midget Association will provide a race car demonstration and mini track this year. As usual, the Festival will have a midway, rides, food, fireworks and a parade. For more information about the Carnation Festival or to sign up for any of the events, go to www.wheatridgecarnationfestival.org.
Edgewater Baseball Skill Challenge On June 27 at 6 p.m. at 24th and Chase is the Rockies Baseball Skill Challenge, a free event for boys and girls 6 to 13 years old. The winners, from three age groups, move on to the state competition. For more information, call Patrick Martinez at 720-763-3010. Annual Third of July Fireworks Fireworks are done courtesy of the Edgewater Fire Department and begin after dusk in Citizen Park (22nd and Benton Street). The following items are prohibited: glass bottles, hard alcohol, canopies/tents and barbecue grills. All consumer fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal in Edgewater and Wheat Ridge. Event parking for a fee is at 20th Avenue
and Depew Street. The fireworks are visible from many locations in Edgewater and Wheat Ridge. Food vendors on 25th Avenue open at 4p.m. This is a large event with previous attendance numbers around 35,000 in this small community. Community Picnic and Kids Fun Run The Aug. 18 Citizen’s Park entry fees go toward school scholarship funds, school supplies and park and recreation programs. The Edgewater Community Picnic follows the race with live music, food and activities. The fee for 5K is $25 until July 31, $30 until Aug. 10, and $35 up until race day. The fee for 1K is $10 or free with donations of school supplies (for a list or more information call 720-763-3010). Third Annual Celtic Harvest Festival In Citizens Park on Sept. 15 and 16, this festival features food, drink, artisans, crafts and entertainment for all ages. Admission is free. For more information or to volunteer, go to www.celticharvestfestivaledgewater.com. To submit other events, festivals or activities in the cities of Wheat Ridge or Edgewater for possible inclusion in future issues of the Neighborhood Gazette, please send an email to editor@ngazette.
Fine Art, Chili & Circus Deals At First Friday Events
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ficionados of fine art and connoisseurs of great-tasting chili can satisfy both urges at the 38th Avenue First Friday Art Walks on July 6 and Aug. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. In conjunction with the increasingly popular Art Walks, the prize-winning chili recipes from last year’s Carnation Festival cook-off will be offered as samples on both evenings on the patio of Cebiche Authentic Peruvian Dining, 7000 W. 38th Avenue. The Art Walks are the brainchild of Terry Womble and Lance Noriega, co-owners of The Art Loft on the second floor of Cebiche. The Art Loft will feature works this month from nationally celebrated artists John L. Mendoza and Peter Max. The main level of
Cebiche will have art as well, with live music starting at 10:00pm. Right Coast Pizza, 7100 W. 38th Avenue, will feature a live painter onsite. Treasures from the Chicken Coop, 6990 W. 38th Avenue, Suite 205, Ed Slack’s Gallery, 7080 W. 38th Avenue and newcomer Teller Street Gallery, 7190 W. 38th Avenue. will round out the fine art offerings. For more info on the art walks, contact Terry Womble, 303669-3077 or t.womble@comcast.net. Gina Hallisey, of the Zoppe’ Italian Family Circus, will be offering attendees “circus bucks” worth $5 off general admission to the upcoming performances. A family four-pack of tickets (a $75 value), including a special meet-and-greet with the circus
artists, will be given away as well. To enter, simply make a donation in any amount to the upcoming Carnation Festival during the tasting. For detail about the festival & circus, visit www.wheatridgecarnationfestival.org or www.zoppecolorado.com. The third annual chili cook-off will be held Sat., Aug. 18, 5-7 p.m., in conjunction with the Carnation Festival, at Anderson Park, 44th Avenue and Field. Awards will be presented for the best red or green chili. Winners will be selected from votes cast by people’s choice. There is no entry fee for cooks. For details about the tasting or to sign up for the cook-off, contact Tim Berland at 303995-2806 or chili@ngazette.com.