Evergreen Jazz Festival July 29-31
The Evergreen Jazz Festival is back after a two-year hiatus, and that means the poster contest also has returned.
For every Evergreen Jazz Festival since 2006, the poster has been created by an Evergreen High School student. It begins with a contest among the advanced art students taught by Andrew Speers. This year’s finalists are displayed at Center for the Arts Evergreen, and they demonstrate a range of talent and creativity that made the judges’ task difficult, according to Jim Reiners, a festival organizer.
The winning poster was designed by senior Harper Wertz, daughter of longtime Evergreen residents Todd and Dalyn Wertz. She says she’s been surrounded by both art and music her entire life. Her grandmother was an art teacher, and she and a friend have a weekly radio show from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays on KYGT-FM in Idaho Springs.
Copies of the poster are available during the Evergreen Jazz Festival, which is July 29-31, on two stages at the Evergreen Elks Lodge, and at Evergreen Christian Church and the Evergreen Lake House. The festival features 11 jazz bands including After Midnight, the Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, Holland-Coots Swingin' West, Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra, Queen City Jazz Band with Wende Harston and more.
The festival is from noon-11 p.m. July 29, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. July 30 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 31. Tickets are available at evergreenjazz.org.
Elevation Celebration and Elevation Run/Walk July 30-31
Conifer’s annual Elevation Celebration summer street fair and the 10th anniversary run/walk are July 30-31 along Sutton Road in Aspen Park.
There’s something for everyone at the free fair: music on two stages, vendors, food, games, a craft beer tent, beer garden, a kids’ zone and more. The festival runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days.
Volunteers are still needed. Visit www.goconifer.com/elevation-celebration to sign up.
The event begins with the Elevation Run/Walk, a fundraiser for the Conifer Lobos Unified Boosters and the Conifer Area Council Trails. The race course spotlights Conifer trails, taking participants around the scenic Aspen Park neighborhoods of Conifer and through Meyer Ranch Park for the 10K runners.
There’s a 10K timed race, 5K USATF-certified timed race and a 2K fun run. The 10K starts at 7:30 a.m. at West Jefferson Elementary School, and the 5K and 2K start at 7:35 a.m. Register for the run at elevation.clubchs.org.
Grove Sale Aug. 6
Looking for a special trinket or a piece of furniture or a used appliance?
Evergreen Lutheran Church is the place to be to shop to your heart’s content from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 6 at the annual Grove Sale, which has returned after a two-year hiatus.
The best part about the sale is all proceeds benefit local charities such as Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice, Evergreen Christian Outreach, Mountain Pregnancy Center, Mountain Resource Center, Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity and Loaves & Fishes food bank.
Donations will be accepted between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Aug. 1-3, and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 4.
Dam Ducky Derby Aug. 6
There’s nothing quite as cool as watching 5,000 plastic ducks fall from an Evergreen fire truck into Bear Creek and float to Highland Haven Creekside Inn. And the prizes for first ducks to make it to the finish line aren’t bad either!
The annual Dam Ducky Derby will be in downtown Evergreen on Aug. 6 with the duck drop at 1 p.m. But the fun starts at 11 a.m. with family-friendly activities in the downtown parking lot. Live music is planned at participating businesses before and after the duck drop.
Ducks are available for purchase: $6 for a duck, $30 for a six quack, $70 for a quack pack of 15 ducks and $110 for totally quackers, which is 25 ducks. Purchase ducks at downtownevergreen.com/events/dam-ducky-derby or on derby day at the tent outside of Seasonally Yours.
First place gets $1,500, second place $1,000 and third place $500. Proceeds from the derby are used by the Evergreen Downtown Business Association for other downtown Evergreen events including the Holiday Walk in December.
