Courtesy Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Don’t know what to do this weekend? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Pull up a seat to the counter, and I’ll tell you about everything that’s hot and happening.
I never heard of the term “First Friday” until I visited my brother in Denver when he lived a block off of Santa Fe Drive. Every month, the art district transforms into a wild block party. Like a pub crawl, we hopped from gallery to gallery, checking out the newest works while catching up with friends and peers. While I felt completely out of my element, it was neat to see him socialize with ease. It opened my eyes to the neighborhood, and to see the tradition spread and be fully embraced by the town of Silverthorne warms my heart.
The first First Friday I went to in Summit County was to see a concert by Uprooted, a reincarnation of the ’90s band Rusted Root. People flooded Rainbow Park last September as the group played memorable old songs and new favorites. It was a great way to unwind with craft beer and fried food after a long week.
I also made it out for May’s offering, a free beer festival featuring more than 30 breweries from around the state. There was whiskey, wine and hard seltzers, too, as well as pork belly from The Raven at Three Peaks and burgers made from Scottish Highland cattle.
I still can’t believe that the party was truly free — I had assumed it was free to attend but then samples were purchased a la carte — and the town merely asked for donations. In the end, the event raised $14,000 for various nonprofits. That’s a nice mix of relaxation and philanthropy.
I’ve lived here for just over a year, and that May night was the first where I recognized, and was recognized by, locals from all over — finally making me feel like I have a foothold in this wonderful community.
Now it’s party time once again for this month’s First Friday. Starting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 2, the evening will be filled with live music and activities. The Frisco Funk Collective will take the stage first, with the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band closing out the festivities. In between tunes, guests can cool off with free ice cream sandwiches or enjoy bounce houses, climbing walls and other family-friendly games.
If you’re the sort who plans ahead, the following month will have The Original Wailers in Silverthorne for a concert on Sept. 6. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for then and all of the First Fridays to come.