Check out my new article about the Gnarly Barley Brew Festival in Loveland, Colorado on August 7, 2010.

At the end of the article, leave a comment letting me know your favorite Colorado beer and you’ll be entered to win 2 free tickets to the event.  The winner will be chosen at random on Monday, August 2, 2010.

Find the article by clicking here.

Photo from the City of Loveland online.

Loveland, Colorado has a lot to celebrate – most recently Money Magazine named it the 33^rd best place to live in America, and in the not so distant past, AARP ranked Loveland as the #1 retirement town in America.

Loveland has a rich agricultural past, and the area is best known for the historic sugar beet industry. However, during the late 1920s, Loveland was home to the largest cherry orchard west of the Mississippi. A chain of unfortunate climatic events occurred and by the 1960s the cherry orchards had been decimated, never to return.

Every summer, the town honors its agricultural history by celebrating cherry pie. This year’s Cherry Pie Celebration will be held tomorrow, Saturday, July 24, at Peters Park next to the Loveland/Museum Gallery at 503 N. Lincoln.

Come early for a presentation on Loveland’s historic cherry industry being held at the Museum from 4 to 5 p.m. The celebration starts at 5 p.m. and includes cherry pie by the slice from Johnson’s Corner and ice cream from Penguins. There will also be free, live music, a cherry pie contest, art and more. Festivities will continue until 8 p.m.

For more information click here. 

This event is hosted by World Beverage and kicks off the weekend with attendees enjoying samples of over 600 wines, appetizers and live music, all in the tranquil ambiance of Foote Lagoon in downtown Loveland.  Get tickets at www.engagingloveland.com.

The rest of SummerFest weekend is free and fun for the entire family. It’s chockablock with far too many activities to list here. There’s live music, a car show, salsa tasting, beer garden, arts and craft vendors and much more. Saturday evening ends with a performance by That Eighties Band and a fireworks display at the Foote Lagoon.

The amusements continue on Sunday.

For an entire schedule of events, visit www.engagingloveland.com/event/summerfest.

HeidiTown Tip: Be sure to hop on over to 5th & Cleveland on Friday and Saturday to indulge in Loveland Loves Barbecue.

Happy 4th of July from the Mayor to you!  Stay safe and be happy.

Fireworks display at Dick's Sporting Goods Field in Commerce City. This is the Mayor's favorite fireworks show because it always follows a Colorado Rapids match. Photo by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer

Here’s a list of where to catch a fireworks show in Northern Colorado:

Colorado National Speedway, July 3 & 4th, 4281 County Road 10, Dacono – NASCAR and fireworks, what’s more American than that?

Estes Park, July 4, Lake Estes – Festivities start at 11 a.m. and include lots of patriotic music and family fun.

Firestone, July 4, Miner’s Park (151 Grant Ave) – A parade at noon, followed by an ice cream social, face painting, music and more.  It’s a whole lot of small town fun.

Fort Collins, July 4, City Park (1500 West Mulberry St) – All day 4th of July activities start with a balloon launch at 5 a.m. and end with the fireworks scheduled for 9:45 p.m.

Greeley, July 4, Greeley Stampede – Learn about this weekend long event that includes a rodeo and big time music stars at www.greeleystampede.org.

Longmont, July 4, Boulder Fairgrounds – Fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Loveland, July 4, over Lake Loveland – The BEST and BIGGEST show in Northern Colorado.  Bring a lawn chair and get there early to stake a claim on a piece of grass at one of the many viewing areas around the lake.

Wellington, July 4, Liberty Park (3800 Wilson Ave) – A pancake breakfast, parade and car show will precede the fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.

Windsor, July 4, Boardwalk Park (100 N. 5th St) – Leash up your pup and join the fun for a 4-legged race starting at 8 a.m. followed by an afternoon of live music and fireworks at 7 p.m.

I can ride a bike, but I am not a “cyclist,” however, I do occasionally tune in to the grand daddy of all bike races to check on Lance and revel in the beauty of the French countryside.

While chatting with several of my enthusiastic cycling friends, I was made aware that while most bars and restaurants are willing to air Tour de France, most refuse to turn on the sound. According to one avid Tour fan, half the fun of watching the race is being able to hear the commentary.

Thanks to the Northern Colorado bike shop owners and employees who helped me with this post, including Peloton, Lee’s Cyclery, ProVelo and Spokes. 

So without further adieu (so excited to have included a French word in this post), here is a list of Northern Colorado venues that will be showing Tour de France with the sound on and the volume up. 

Road 34, 1213 W. Elizabeth, Fort Collins, CO – It’s not just a bike shop, it’s also a bar. This place will definitely be showing the Tour with the sound on. You can’t beat Road 34 for dependably good bar food and affordable beer.  www.Road34.com

Bungalow Coffee House, 1399 Water Valley Parkway, Windsor, CO – This place has been Windsor’s headquarters for World Cup action, and they intend to be the same for Tour de France. In addition to being voted the Best Coffee in Windsor, they also offer breakfast, lunch and ice cream. They have recently obtain their liquor license, so you can ride over and enjoy an ice-cold beer while watching the Tour on their flat screen televisions.  www.bungalowcoffeehouse.com  

CB & Potts, Colindale Golf Course location, 1441 E. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, CO – This past spring, CB & Potts took over the restaurant/bar at Colindale Golf Course, and it’s not just about golf at this place. For World Cup the bar has done promotion with Modelo beer, and because they open early, it was packed for the matches. They intend to pack the house for the Tour as well.  www.cbpotts.com

Mulligan’s Pub, 2439 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, CO – This pub has private booths were you can ask for the sound to be turned on or up on the various televisions. The pub has also just recently opened their Sports Club, and if there’s enough interest, they will be showing the Tour in the club.  www.mulliganspubfc.com

Peloton Cycles, 1310 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO & 3027 E. Harmony Rd., Fort Collins, CO – Both of these bike shops will be showing Tour De France on their flat screen televisions. They invite you to stop in and watch with fellow cycling fans.   www.peloton-cycles.com

This year’s 97^th Tour runs Saturday, July 3 through Sunday, July 25. To keep a close online eye on the race, click here.

Photo by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer

Click here to discover some exciting Colorado excursions your dad is sure to love! 

Authentic reenactments are only part of the fun at this one-of-a-kind festival. Photo courtesy of Colorado Medieval Festival.

Listen up Colorado! This weekend the knights, ladies, and bar maids will be out in force in Evans, Colorado.

It’s the 6th Annual Colorado Medieval Festival, and everyone is welcome to join in the fun! 

Read all about the festival by clicking here.

I’ve researched and put together this list of summer barbecue festivals in Colorado. If you know of others, please let me know so that I can add them to this list.

Royal George Holy Smoke Bar-B-Que Showdown
June 11-12, 2010
Canon City, Colorado
www.holy-smoke-bbq.com

17th Annual Colorado BBQ Challenge
June 17-19, 2010
Frisco, Colorado
www.townoffrisco.com/events/bbq-challenge

Loveland Loves Barbecue
July 9-10, 2010
Loveland, Colorado
www.lovelandlovesbbq.com 

BBQ at the Summit
August 6-7, 2010
Dillon, Colorado
www.summitrotaryevents.com/BBQ-at-the-Summit.php

Pork & Hops
September 10-11, 2010
Grand Junction, Colorado
www.porknhops.com

June 17 – The Jurrassicasters play classic rock and roll hits from the The Who to Peter Gabriel, plus much, much more. The band has been playing together since 1993. Learn more and hear their music at www.reverbnation.com/thejurassicasters.

June 24 – Kizuma is sure to get the Foote Lagoon audience dancing. This Afro-Caribbean band plays salsa, merengue, zouk, soca, kompa, meren-rap, and other Caribbean rhythms. The 11 band members originate from Columbia, Mexico, The Dominican Republic and the US. Kizuma have played the Denver area for 15 years and won the 1^st “Westwards Best Latin Band in Denver” award. Visit them online at www.kizumba.com.

July 1 – Cool Shooz is an award winning a cappella rock and roll band. The five members have been  entertaining Denver area crowds for over twenty years. Visit them on the Web at www.coolshooz.com.

The Elders play the Foote Lagoon Concert Series in 2009. The band out of Kansas City always draws a huge crowd. Photo by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer

July 8 – The Elders are the Mayor’s all-time favorite band. I’ve written about this Kansas City Celtic band here at HeidiTown multiple times. If you haven’t had the pleasure of tapping your toes to The Elders tunes, get to the Foote Lagoon on July 8, or attend the Rocky Mountain Irish Festival in August. Learn more about the band at www.eldersmusic.com.

July 15 – Heidi & the Rhythm Rollers is a band working to keep old fashion jazz and blues alive. Lead vocalist, Heidi Hamill is a native Coloradoan. With locks of flaming red hair and lipstick red lips, Heidi and her Rhythm Rollers are sure to have the lagoon crowd swinging in the aisles. See videos of the band perform at www.heidiandtherhythmrollers.com. 

July 22 – Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem features a fiddle, a guitar, a standup bass, a cardboard box and a suitcase bass drum and tin can cymbals. This band tours the country and Loveland is lucky to have them this summer. Listen to their unique sound and meet the band at their Web site, www.raniarbo.com.

July 29 – Brad Fitch & the TropiCowboy Band play original acoustic folk, family and western music. Based out of Estes Park, Colorado, fans have been known to plan their vacations around Brad Fitch’s performances. Learn more about the band online at www.tropicowboy.com.

August 5 – Wendy Woo is a singer/songwriter who grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Woo is a popular independent artist who has release 8 albums under her own record label. She has played everywhere from Red Rocks to Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia. She’s played the Foote Lagoon Concert Series multiple times and Loveland is happy to have her playing once again. Visit Woo’s Web site at www.wendywoo.com.

Stoll Vaughan at Mandolin Cafe in Loveland, Colorado (Feb. 2010). Photo by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer

I was first introduced to Stoll Vaughan’s music when he opened for The Elders at The Soiled Dove back in January.  In March, I had the opportunity to meet him personally when he played several intimate shows in Northern Colorado.

Stoll Vaughan is a down-to-earth singer songwriter who has been compared to Townes Van Zant and early Springsteen.  I, however, think he has developed a style all his own. Referred to as Americana Folk music, his songs will take you on a road trip through the country and introduce you to new people and places through contemplative songwriting.

Photo by H.M. Kerr-Schlaefer

Vaughan will be playing at one of my favorite places in southwest Colorado, Dolores River Brewery, on June 2nd.  They have great beer and one of the best patios in Colorado. We stayed in Dolores for three nights last May and we visited this brewery every evening. I liked it so much I bought a t-shirt.

On June 4th, Vaughan will be at Avagadro’s Number in Fort Collins, one of the best music venues in Northern Colorado.

For Stoll Vaughan’s tour schedule and to hear his music visit www.StollVaughan.com.

Listen to Stoll Vaughan on WNUK radio on 5/5/10.

THIS JUST IN:  Stoll will also be opening for Darrell Scott at The Soiled Dove on Saturday, June 5.