It's another fun-filled weekend coming up in Gunnison! Start out Friday evening with the Gunnison Arts Center's Friday at Five with free live music on the patio. The Center is located at the SE corner of Tomichi and Main Street. Follow this with dinner at one of the great Gunnison restaurants and then head out to the Western State College Quigley Band Shell. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and settle on the grass for the WSC-Colorado Brass Band Concert, directed by Steve Asheim. The free concert starts at 7:30pm and marks the 36th year of the concert! Come hear great tradional brass band music. It'll make you want to get up and march.
Saturday will be a full day of activities in Gunnison. The Gunnison River Festival starts at 9am with the Gunnison River Parade. Rafts and boats will start at the Gunnison River northbridge (by Garlic Mike's) and will parade downriver to the Whitewater Park at the east edge of Gunnison by the twin highway bridges. During the day there are activies for the kids, a competitive raft race, kayak freestyle rodeo, food vendors, a raft rodeo, exhibitions, and the popular Hooligan Race from 3:30 to 4:30pm. The Festival concludes on Sunday after the Upper and Lower Taylor Canyon races and river run. For more information on the festival activities go to http://www.gunnisonriverfestival.com/
Saturday morning sees the commencement of this summer's Gunnison Farmers' Market. This is held next to the IOOF Park on the 100 Block of East Virginia Avenue. There will be a tempting selection of fruits, vegetables, baked goods and crafts.
After stocking up at the Farmers Market, head over to Jorgensen Park on East Tomichi Avenue (Highway 50) at 10am for the Public Safety Expo. There will be a wide variety of activities and displays. Some of the public safety services displays include: Gunnison Police Department equipment, the Forest Service and BLM, Gunnison and Colorado State Patrol HazMat, Gunnison Ambulance, Gunnison Fire Department, Airport Fire and Rescue, City Electric and REA, Gunnison Hospital, Public Health, Gunnison Sheriff, WSC Mountain Rescue Team, the National Guard, Park Service, Colorado State Parks, the Childrens' Hospital Junglemobile Safety Van and many, many more displays. Bring the kids out for hands-on, interactive safety instruction. The 4-H kids will be hosting a fundraising lunch.
On Sunday, after breakfast at one of the great Gunnison eateries and watching the final events of the Gunnison River Festival, head to the outdoors and enjoy fishing, climbing, biking, rafting, hiking, or just enjoy the cool summer high mountain air. Finish out the weekend with the Arts Center's Sundays at Seven free music concert at Legion Park. This will be the first time the new Legion Park Covered Pavilion will be used by the performers. This week the concert will feature the "Gunnison Bluegrass Collective". Bring a picnic supper and enjoy the bluegrass musicians. If you can't find something to do in Gunnison this weekend - you're not really trying!
Have a fun and safe weekend.
