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Carnation Festival to bloom in Wheat Ridge

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Contributed by: Karen Groves/YourHub.com on 8/5/2008

Even though the last of the carnation growers in Wheat Ridge ceased production of the familiar perennial flower used for bouquets and prom night boutonnieres, the tradition of the Carnation Festival in this city carries on.

Jerol Novacek, the owner of Novaceks Green House, said, "We just got rid of all the old plants a month ago. That ends a 58-year history of growing carnations for us."

Novacek, grand marshal of the festival parade in 2007, said the Novacek family used to supply many of the carnations for the festival, as well as for businesses and groups around town.

"The flowers don't mean the same as when they were grown locally, but the festival has become such a tradition it's more a remembrance of the days when Wheat Ridge was the carnation capital of the world," said Novacek.

Novacek said the industry was in its heyday in the late sixties and early seventies and gradually dwindled when foreign growers were able to produce the flower at a lower cost.

Mike Baran, chairman of the Carnation Festival committee said, "The theme is 'Honoring our past.-Celebrating our Future,' This is the biggest event in Wheat Ridge. People look forward to it. I think people have been doing it so long, they know they'll get to see old friends they haven't seen in a long time, it's sort of a reunion."

Committee members gathered at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St., Aug. 5 to tally up the sponsors, go over the budget and make last-minute changes to the program.

Viola Harris, this year's parade marshal, will preside over the royalty float.

A resident of Wheat Ridge since 1971, Harris said she has been working with the festival since 1977.

Charlotte Talbot was prepared for the meeting with a typewritten summary of the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival Art Show, an art show that will be on display at the Anderson Community Building gymnasium, 4355 Field St.

Talbot said she is a member of the Wheat Ridge Art League and has been on the committee since 1969.

Baran said some things would be new this year.

"We plan to have three different stages for entertainment, one will be a folk art stage with ethnic music and dancers and story telling. A main stage will offer a variety of musical acts and bands and a show stage will have "less electric entertainment. The Nacho Men will appear, they're part of the tradition," he said.

Also appearing will be 17th Avenue Allstars, the swing of Wind Jammer Jazz Orchestra, jazzy Gretchen Troop, Nine's A Pair, Driveshaft Doctors, the ClamDaddys, the bluegrass of OTC Varmits, the rocking horn section of Six Foot Joe and the Red Hot Rhinos, the country and new grass of Canyon Station Band; the return of Sweet Loretta's Review and scores of other talented performers.

Baran, who has been involved with the festival for 20 years, said, "The biggest job is to find and then channel people who want to give back to the community. We are totally volunteer.The festival committee had to cut expenses somewhat under a tight economy. We cut out the shuttle bus, and tried to get some entertainers at no cost. We'll have the free miniature horse cart rides for the kids."

Baran said the committee projects were on track and the program will be distributed to local merchants.

"We usually have 50,000 people at this event over three days," Baran said.

This year, the festival kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13 with a free light classical concert by the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra on the lawn south of the emergency department at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, 8300 W. 38th Ave. The vocal group Infinity will perform.

On Aug.15 there will be a softball game between the Blue and the Grays. The Grays' average age is 67. The Blues are members of the Wheat Ridge Police Department. The Grays have a history of winning.

A parade will start at 10 a.m. Aug. 16. Baran said they usually have more than 100 entries in the parade which follows 38th Avenue from Harlem to Upham Street and features everything from cars, to clowns and Girl Scout Troops.

For a complete schedule of events, visit http://wheatridgecarnationfestival.org.

In photo 1: Back row from left are Viola Harris, Reef Abbott, JoAnn Fisher, Karen Thaler, Merle Shirley, Kim Gilson, Tom Meiers, Walt Petitt and Julie Brisson. Kneeling from left are Richard Turner, Mike Baran, Megan and Maddie Abbott, Brett Kelley, Deborah Shell and Charlotte Talbert.

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