It could be the biggest Territory Days ever.
Boasting an extra block of length, a record number of vendor booths, combined historical reenactors, an additional Indian dance
group, a big-name band (Tiny Barge and the Big Chill), a second outside drinking area and popular features from previous
years, the 29th annual Territory Days in Old Colorado City is set to open at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, May 28.
The Memorial Day weekend event, during which Colorado Avenue will be closed to cars from 23rd to 27th streets, will also
start at 10 a.m. Sunday and Monday. Activities each day will continue into evening daylight hours. In good weather, previous
Territory Days have drawn up to 140,000 people over the the three days.
“It's going to be a fun weekend!” enthused Lynda Dunne of Colorado Main Events, which is organizing the event for the Old
Colorado City Associates (OCCA) merchants group.
Her final count on the booths was 220, which easily beats the previous record of just under 200, she said. The increase was
made possible by adding an extra block to the event. The 2300 block is included this year, which more than compensated for
space that was lost in each block by the City Fire Department requiring a wider emergency lane, Dunne said.
Live bands or dance groups will be performing regularly all three days at the bandshell in Bancroft Park, climaxed by Tiny Barge
at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The two reenactment groups - Gold Canyon and the Gun Fighters Of the Resurrection - will perform between musical sets in the
park, as well as at intersections and a longer set at 10 a.m. Sunday in the park. Some of their acts will be combined this year,
Dunne said.
People wanting to wet their whistles will have two places to go this year - the new Frozen Margarita Cantina and the returning
Beer Garden.
In an effort to attract people to the new 2300 block area, the teepee for the Howell-Seven Falls Indian Dancers will be there, as
well as a children's carousel, Dunne said. The block, like the others that are closed off, will also include two rows of product and
food vendors.
Children's rides will again be scheduled in the 2600 block. Additional rides will be in the 2300 block (a carousel) and along 24th
and 25th streets, according to Dunne.
Also new this year will be the Bowman Dance Team, performing Native American dances for the opening ceremony at 10 a.m.
Saturday in Bancroft Park. The Bowman Dance Team is a branch of the Ha-Kin-Skay-A-Ki Lodge #387 of the Order of the
Arrow, a service organization for the Boy Scouts of America. Team members make their own outfits based on Northern
Traditional Powwow style of dancing.
The festival also will offer popular activities from past years - including street musicians, a territorial jail, gold-panning, a raptor
demonstration, and mechanical bull rides.
In another returning activity, the volunteer Old Colorado City Historical Society (OCCHS) will have a bake sale during Territory
Days in the historic log cabin in Bancroft Park, with sale proceeds going to the Old Colorado City History Center. Also on
display in the cabin will be a variety of historical artifacts from the History Center, according to OCCHS President Bev Disch.
There is no admission fee for Territory Days. However, parking is at a premium and people beyond walking distance can park
at Coronado High School and take a shuttle bus in.
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