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Craig ready for a grand old time this weekend with Grand Old West Days

Humorist Chad Prather serves as the grand marshal for the Grand Old West Days parade in 2016. Comedy from Prather is one element of the Memorial Day weekend event, which includes live music, rodeo happenings and more.
File Photo

With an array of returning favorites and new events alike, Northwest Colorado’s annual kickoff to summer comes roaring back this weekend.

A blend of tradition and newer sensibilities are part of Craig’s Memorial Day festival Grand Old West Days, which runs Friday through Monday.

The most noticeable change is in the slight tweak to the name, dropping the “e” from “Olde.”
Melody Villard, organizing committee member, said this was to “streamline” the title, which already was spelled countless ways by locals and out-of-town outlets.

The focus remains on the Western theme of the weekend with happenings like Bears Ears Sportsman Club’s cowboy shooting exhibition, “Where the Old West Stayed Young,” a display of gun skill, while riding and roping aplenty is in full swing at the Moffat County Fairgrounds with Iron Man Ranch Bronc Riding and the Yampa River Ranch Rodeo.

Registration is full for the Iron Man and its Iron Woman equivalent, though participants are still welcome for the ranch rodeo, Villard said.

The majority of GOWD will take place at the fairgrounds, also the site of family fun like Brown’s Amusements Carnival, Adventure Zone Bounce House Extravaganza and arts and crafts festivals put together by both GOWD and Colorado Northwestern Community College, as well as an original play by David Morris.

Live entertainment by country acts take the stage later in the evening, including Chris Thomas and Tris Munsick & The Innocents Friday and Kyle Allgood and Kyle Park Saturday.

Coming back for another year of fun is humorist Chad Prather, who will not only serve as the grand marshal of Saturday’s parade — registration for floats still available through Downtown Business Association — but also perform a late night Saturday act at Clarion Inn & Suites, tickets available at watchchad.com.

Keeping in mind the holiday, Monday will see Memorial Day services at Craig Cemetery as well as the Murphy Memorial Day Workout to honor fallen soldiers.

For more information on the lineup of events, visit grandoldwestdays.com.

Grand Old West Days and Memorial Day weekend schedule

All events take place at Moffat County Fairgrounds unless otherwise noted.

Thursday

4 p.m. to midnight Brown’s Amusements Carnival

Friday

All day Adventure Zone Bounce House Extravaganza

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where the Old West Stayed Young — Cowboy Action Shooting Match registration, Bears Ears Sportsman Club, Moffat County Road 7

4 p.m. to midnight Brown’s Amusements Carnival

5 to 8 p.m. Open Carry Night, La Cabaña, 994 Yampa Ave.

6 to 8 p.m. National Anthem kickoff and Iron Man Ranch Bronc Riding

6 to 11 p.m. Northwest Colorado Chapter of Parrotheads beer garden

8 to 11 p.m. Live music by Chris Thomas and Tris Munsick & the Innocents

Saturday

All day Adventure Zone Bounce House Extravaganza

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where the Old West Stayed Young — Cowboy Action Shooting Match, Bears Ears Sportsman Club, Moffat County Road 7

10 a.m. Moffat County High School graduation, MCHS, 900 Finley Lane

10 a.m. Yampa Valley Antique Power Club tractor pulls, Fourth and Ranney Streets

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Old West arts and crafts show

11 a.m. to midnight Brown’s Amusements Carnival

3 p.m. Parade, downtown Craig

4 to 7 p.m. Iron Man Ranch Bronc Riding

4 to 8 p.m. Colorado Northwestern Community College art festival

4 to 10:30 p.m. Northwest Colorado Chapter of Parrotheads beer garden

5:30 p.m. Iron Woman Bronc Riding Invitational

5:30 p.m. Yampa River Ranch Rodeo Rustler’s Relay

8 to 10:30 p.m. Live music by Kyle Allgood and Kyle Park

11 p.m. Late night comedy show by Chad Prather, Clarion Inn & Suites, 300 S. Colorado Highway 13

Sunday

All day Adventure Zone Bounce House Extravaganza

8 a.m. JK Bar Bible Ranch Cowboy Church

8 to 10 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where the Old West Stayed Young — Cowboy Action Shooting Match, Bears Ears Sportsman Club, Moffat County Road 7

9 a.m. Old West Shootout, Yampa Valley Golf Course, 2179 Highway 394

9 a.m. Moffat County Horse Power draft horse and mule show

10 a.m. Yampa Valley Antique Power Club tractor pulls, Fourth and Ranney Streets

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Colorado Northwestern Community College art festival and kid’s activities

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Old West arts and crafts show

Noon to 9 p.m. Brown’s Amusements Carnival

4 to 8 p.m. Northwest Colorado Chapter of Parrotheads beer garden

4 to 8 p.m. Yampa River Ranch Rodeo

Monday

All day Adventure Zone Bounce House Extravaganza

8:30 to 10 a.m. Bear River Young Life pancake breakfast

9:30 a.m. Murphy Memorial Day Workout, MCHS, 900 Finley Lane

9 a.m. Moffat County Horse Power draft horse and mule show

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Colorado Northwestern Community College art festival and kid’s activities

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Old West arts and crafts show

11 a.m. Memorial Day services, Craig Cemetery

Noon Brown’s Amusements Carnival

1 p.m. Northwest Colorado Gymkhana series

3 to 4 p.m. Original play “Craig Takes the Pledge” by David Morris


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