Historic Olde Town Arvada Association will celebrate Arvada's history as the site of the first documented gold strike in Colorado in 1850 with the
6 th Annual Gold Strike Festival on
Saturday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m and
Sunday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Grandview Avenue in Olde Town. Historical Reenactments in Rendezvous Park: The authentic and vibrant history of our region will be played out at the First Olde Town Rendezvous. Reenactment artists and actors will set up camp on Friday night, June 8 and bivouac for the weekend. The rendezvous site is at McIlvoy Park, between Ralston Road and 57th Avenue, just east of Upham St. This first time event includes the
Buffalo Soldiers, doing two sabre drills each day and two rifle drills each day,
Mountain Men/Trappers, Tallow River Trappers, the Gold Prospectors of the Rockies and even
President Teddy Roosevelt. All the rendezvous artists are part of non-profit re-enactor organizations and are participating in this inaugural event to support living, interactive history.
On Saturday registration for the
Pets & Kids Parade begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Town Square. The parade takes place at 10:00 a.m. and will be followed by an Awards Presentation from the Main Stage. This year's
Motorcycle Run will take off from Roadie's, 5675 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 9. The route from Olde Town Arvada takes the group through Coal Creek Canyon west to Hwy 119 and down Golden Gate Canyon Road before returning to Arvada. The
Classic Car Show will be held at the St. Anne's School on the corner of Upham and 57 th on Saturday, June 9 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The top 5 vehicles will receive awards along with an additional People's Choice Award.
Texas Hold Em Tournament: The tournament will be held at Bread Winners on Saturday, June 9 from 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. On Sunday, June 10 a hearty
Pancake Breakfast will be served from 9-11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge for a mere $3.Music on the Main Stage includes
Jeffco Brass Band, Keith Wren, Kicked to the Curb, TC & the Domestic Engineers and
Tempa and the Tantrums on Saturday. Sunday's performances include the
O-Tone Brass Band, Drienka and from 3:30 - 5 p.m.,
John Adams performs a tribute to music of
John Denver. Rob Drabkin, Clamdaddy's and
Elephant Revival perform in
Town Squareon Saturday with a performance by the
Whippoorwills on Sunday.
Kid's Corner events include
Magic Rob and Cindy the Clown's comedy/magic show on Saturday,
Science Matters, United Studios of Self-Defense, Rocky Mountain School of Dance along with face painters and balloon artists on both Saturday and Sunday.
Additional weekend activities will include bungee jumping, artisan and tai chi demonstrations, Story Time at the Library each hour, dance demonstration & lessons in Town Square, over 60 food and craft vendors an Ice Cream Social on the lawn at McIlvoy and a beer garden.
For more information about The Gold Strike Festival or other HOTA sponsored events, please call the Historic Olde Town Arvada association office at (303) 420-6100. www.historicarvada.org.