The 4th of July is the big local Charry Days festival. We took the entire day off to enjoy the show. It starts early in the morning with a pancake breakfast that benefits the local fire department. Next is the Cherry Days Parade. If you aren’t in the parade, you better be watching it!
The fire department and anyone with a neat old car is in the parade. A Cherry Day Queen and King from the local high school are crowned. Clubs and organizations also participate, from the Boy Scouts to the Rotary. Of course, every politician running for office is also in the parade, and most hand our candy or other goodies. Any Paonia High School class that is having a reunion this year will put in an entry.
The Clown Band has been an institution for at least the last 50 years or longer. Restored old tractors and other equipment get hauled out every year, too. Ranchers and horse clubs also turn out. There’s a fairly big draft horse group locally, and some of the carriages they pull are really nice.
The North Fork Horse Patrol does mountain search and rescues, and it’s made up of local ranchers and anyone with a good mountain horse. They also sponsor the yearly rodeo and bull riding competitions. The parade ends at the town park, with music, a carnival, and booths to enjoy. We had a great time, and then we went to the annual Historical Society Ice Cream Social. It’s our big fundraiser each year.
When we got home, I took a picture of Mount Lamborn. The rule of thumb is that if there is snow on Lamborn on July 4th, there will be decent irrigation water throughout the year. We have more snow left than we have had for years.