Fireworks, classic cars, shopping, dancing and bull riding combine for two days of events in Kiowa on June 27 and 28.
The festivities kick off at 6:15 p.m. June 27 at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa with day one of the Cowboy Up in Kiowa Rodeo. The night's entertainment will include mutton bustin' and a Colorado Pro Rodeo Association performance, followed by a dance featuring the music of the Cactus Jack Band.
June 28 marks a full day of rodeo beginning at 8 a.m. along with the Sixth Annual Kiowa Street Fair and Car Show at Nordman Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Michelle Oeser, Kiowa town administrator, said the street fair includes activities for all age groups, and the park will be filled with nearly 70 vendors when the gates open on the morning of June 28.
In addition to shopping, the fair includes live music by local entertainer Billie Owens, tarot card readings, roping demonstrations, food from Fat Daddy's BBQ and a bounce house for kids.
Local merchants have also sponsored a visit from HawkQuest, a Colorado-based raptor conservation group dedicated to the protection of and education about birds of prey. Visitors can have their picture taken with a bald eagle, as well as have an up-close experience with a gray horned owl, a peregrine falcon and a red-tailed hawk.
Oeser was also pleased to announce the return of a favorite from last year, the plunger toss game, a timed event where contestants attempt to complete a combination of seemingly easy tasks using a plunger, rings and rolls of toilet paper.
The revived Kiowa Street Fair was inspired by a similar event believed to have taken place in 1910; 99 years later, the town revived the fair, though for practical reasons it is not held on Comanche Street, which is now Highway 86.
Running concurrently with the street fair, the Kiowa Car Show makes its return following a two-year hiatus. Classic cars from around the state will be on display, and the event culminates at 2:30 p.m. with a car cruise. All proceeds from the show benefit the Elizabeth Veterans Memorial.
The return of the car show makes 2014 the first year that the street fair, the car show and Cowboy Up in Kiowa have been held the same weekend, so when the activities at the park wind down, rodeo will still be going strong at the fairgrounds.
On the evening of June 28, a fireworks display is scheduled to follow the second day of CPRA rodeo action if conditions permit, and finally the Cactus Jack Band returns to the stage that night for the Home Town Heroes Dance.
Admission to the street fair and car show is free, and tickets for the rodeo are available at the gate, $14 for adults, $7 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and younger.
Tickets for the dance are $10.
Additional information is available from the Town of Kiowa website, townofkiowa.com, and the Cowboy Up in Kiowa website, cowboyupinkiowa.org, or at 303-808-4623.
