Fort Lupton is hosting a series of events the weekend after Labor Day centered on the theme "Settler's Heritage". The schedule of events begins on Thursday, September 8 with the Yellow Ball Golf Classic held at Coyote Creek Golf Course. The 8 am tee-off time event benefits the Kelly Martinez Cancer Fund and the Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce.
Friday evening will feature the "Historic Fort Grand Opening", celebrating 175 years as a settlement while also celebrating Weld County becoming a Colorado county 150 years ago. The evening will not only feature a taste of local history, but also a community celebration complete with a birthday cake and fireworks at dusk.
The Trapper Days action continues at the "Trapper Rendezvous" on Friday, September 9 with flint steel fire-starting, period costumes, and family fun at the reconstructed fort located at Weld County Road 14-1/2 and Highway 85. The rendezvous is open Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. From 12 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, tours will be held at the historic Donelson House and Independence Schoolhouse.
Friday night, September 9th celebration events include Family Night at the Fort Lupton Community Center from 5 pm to 8 pm. There will be food, games, and live entertainment for the entire family to enjoy. Friday evening's events will feature a Beer and Wine Garden while guests enjoy listening to "Felonious Smith"; Acoustic Roots-of-the-Blues at its finest. The Community Center is located on the east end of Fort Lupton at Rollie and First Avenue.
Saturday, September 10th will begin early with a pancake breakfast at the original fire station located at 12th and Denver where breakfast begins promptly at 7 am. The annual Trapper Days Parade begins at 10 am and follows Denver Avenue from 12th to 2nd Streets. Enjoy the talents of the Studio M dancers at 4th and Denver at 9:15 just before the parade begins.
The Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce announced it has named Nancy Penfold as Grand Marshall for this year's parade. Other honored guests include Golden Aluminum as the honored business and the family of Esther McCrumb in remembrance of Esther McCrumb as the honored volunteer.
At the corner of Denver and First (Phillips 66 and R&M Service) the Trappers Roll In will be taking place with classic cars and motorcycles on display. A variety of quilts will be exhibited at the library at 530 Reynolds (corner of Reynolds and Denver). Free shuttle buses will be available after the parade until 3:30 pm at the Community Center, the rendezvous site, the Historical Center, and 4th and Denver, to transfer guests to the various site venues.
Several crowd-pleasing annual events continue at the Community Center on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Guests will be able to watch and participate in an old-fashioned pie-eating contest, a hotdog-eating contest, and a live auction. After the auction. "Slopeside" will be providing a classic rock to contemporary music concert. The Beer and Wine Garden will be open again Saturday until 5 pm.
The Northern Colorado Antique Tractor Association is hosting a tractor pull at the rendezvous site at 10 am on both Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th. The much-anticipated duck races, which are held at Weld County Roads 6 and 19, will be held on Sunday at 2 pm and is sponsored by the Optimists of Fort Lupton.
For more information on Trapper Days call the Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce at 303-857-4474.
