Small town festivals are a great way to get to know a place, and this one is no exception. On June 5, 2010, Berthoud, Colorado, a town of 5,000, will be celebrating the 56th annual Berthoud Day. The town is situated 45 miles north of Denver and 66 miles south of Cheyenne.
Berthoud’s nickname is the “Garden Spot of Colorado,” and it lives up to the name with tree-lined streets and beautifully landscaped yards in front of vintage homes. Surrounded by farmland, the picturesque downtown supports a small Thursday farmers market during the summer.
Berthoud Day starts with a Boy Scout Troop Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser from 6:30 a.m. to noon at Depot Park. Then at 8 a.m. there’s a 5K run to benefit Habitat for Humanity. The annual Berthoud Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. and runs along Mountain Avenue.
This year’s parade Grand Marshall is BHS graduate Nikko Landeros, a gold medal winner in the 2010 Paralympics. The parade ends at Fickel Park where there will be activities for the entire family, including arts and crafts, vendors, food, a beer garden and lots of fun for the kids.
The festival has two stages. The main stage will play host to three musical acts including the 101st Army Band Centennial Winds, The Kelly Aspen Band and Hindsight. The dance stage will feature the Moriarty-Moffitt School of Irish Dance, the Berthoud Athletic Club Rope Runners (jump rope team), Tap Roots, as well as a pizza-eating contest.
One of the highlights of Berthoud Day is a vintage baseball game that will be played at 3 p.m. in the field between 8th and 10th Street south of Welch Avenue. I’ve attended this event in the past and it’s a real treat. The players sport vintage uniforms and play by 1860s rules, which includes playing gloveless. Even some of the fans come dressed in vintage outfits.
Berthoud Day festivities at Fickel Park run from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m., and entry to the festival is free.
A special thank you to the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor for the use of their Berthoud Day photographs.
See photographs from the 2010 Berthoud Day Parade by clicking here.
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This is a really fun event that embodies small town America. The weather rarely fails either so grab some sunscreen and the kids and I’ll wave at you all from the parade!