Main Street Elizabeth was grooving, bopping, and shaking from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 22, for the annual Town of Elizabeth Music and Art Festival. On the Main Street Stage, the band Our Generation kicked off eight hours of music performed by nine bands, with tunes for a variety of tastes ranging from classic rock to old-time R&B.
According to Rachel Hodgson, Town of Elizabeth community development director, all of the bands featured at this year's Music and Art Festival were from Colorado, including a few from Elbert County.
“It's a really local event, which is cool,” said Hodgson, who anticipated a turnout equal to that of last year's festival. “With so many people coming and going, it's hard to count, but we are estimating over 2,500.”
For most of the day, shoppers strolled Main Street, browsing the many tents and tables displaying photos, paintings and metal fabrications.
In addition to craft and art displays, music and food, this year's event featured several new attractions. The new additions included a beer garden, sponsored by Pikes Peak Brewing, where shoppers could take a break and cool off from the summer sunshine. Also new this year, a chalk art contest opened to artists of all ages and a classic car show where residents took the opportunity to display vintage wheels.
Another newcomer to the Music and Art Festival was RD Texas Style BBQ and Soul Food. Robert and Sylvia Daniel of Aurora said they have been serving up their award-winning ribs and chicken at festivals and catered events for over eight years. Robert's seven-hour smoked ribs and barbeque chicken placed 55th out of a field of 750 competitors at the Pit Masters Barbeque Competition.
For those who thought barbecue was a little heavy on their soul, vendors at the farmer's market offered organic produce, all natural honey, homemade kettle corn, and freshly cut flowers.
Bands appearing throughout the day on the Main Street Stage included Our Generation, Power Flushers, Mitch Goudy & Diana Upton-Hill, Six Foot Joe and the Red Hot Rhinos, Sylvia Murray, Survive the Planet, Chance, Fireweed, and Sibling Rivalry 3.
