The Parker Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is bringing revelry back! The long- awaited return of our hometown festival is here and this time, it's more personal.
President of the Parker Chamber, T.J. Sullivan, says this year's festival is geared more toward family and safety than in years past. The focus will include having more police officers and private security on hand, while also moving the closing hours to 10:00 pm rather than midnight.
Those aren't the only changes happening this year; the organizers have brought in new rides, reserved more space for the carnival rides, and expanded the food areas. Dean Menos, the festival manager, explained that expanding the food and drink area at the main stage will now encompass all of O'Brien Park and allow people to enjoy their food while walking through vendors and kid areas without feeling rushed.
All of your favorite rides will be back. Crowd-pleasers like the Giant Wheel, Freak Out, Fireball, Kamikazee and Pharoah's will be combined with new rides to give attendees 38 options for thrills and chills.
Some of the new attractions include a mechanical bull, axe throwing, a culinary stage featuring demonstrations by local chefs, artisan demos, an electric train running up and down main, and a silent disco!
But perhaps the most unique aspect from this festival is Friday afternoon, when the kiddie rides section is closed for 3 hours to grant exclusive access to special needs customers. They will have free roam of the rides all on their own.
Whatever your inclination, this year's festival promises to deliver. Come early to beat the crowds and enjoy the return of "Colorado's hometown festival."
When: June 10-12
The History
After a two year hiatus, the festival is back! The signature event for our town returns with its splendor and rich history... but what is that history? There are plenty of stories out there about memories and unforgettable moments, but an official history is nowhere to be found.
With a narrative that includes two cancellation periods (1987-1989 and 2020-2021) and even a name change (Parker Country Festival), we think it's a history worth curating. We are on a mission to do just that.
The Parker Days Festival seems to be woven into the fabric of our community. It is the most-attended event our town has and rewrites our weekend plans, as well as the traffic patterns, every June. Whether you attend the festival or not, you know each year when The Festival is happening. And it's been that way for years. An event with this type of impact, turnout, and community involvement would surely have a rich and interesting history. And I'm sure it does; it's just not preserved anywhere. The signature event of our town is wrapped in mystery when it comes to its origin and historical development.
Most people guess the festival started sometime in the early 70's,a simple parade with a few booths selling local wares and goods to celebrate the town's growth. Through the years there have been stories of its evolution; the year the big tent blew over so several men picked it up and carried it to the other side of Parker Road (back when the festival was mainly centered in a field where Home Depot now stands), the tractor pulls and toilet bowl races that took place up Main Street (I am advocating we bring those back!), and the tornado that hit in '91 that flooded downtown right in the middle of the festival.
The history of the festival hasn't been compiled yet, but it's out there. It lives in the memories of our long-time citizens.
We want to hear those stories, we want to compile those memories. So if
you have lived here for long enough to remember its origin, or even just some stories from "back in the day," reach out to us and let us know. Email us at contribute@tuellers.com.
The Map
