Dolores will celebrate a half-century of its signature summer tradition Aug. 8 when Escalante Days returns for the 50th year.
Escalante Days serves as the town’s annual celebration, gathering residents, visitors and local businesses for a day’s worth of family-friendly activities taking place at Flanders Park.
The name comes from the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante expedition that passed through the Dolores River corridor, and this year’s theme is “golden,” marking five decades of the event. On their route from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to California, the expedition called the river the “El Rio de Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores” or The River of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Mimi Genheimer, executive director of the Dolores Chamber of Commerce, said much of the itinerary runs all day, where in Flanders Park 35 local vendors will station a market for local eats, shopping and informational booths from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The event is hosted by the chamber in collaboration with local organizations.
“It’s really just a big celebration of Dolores and our community, and it brings people in from the county too,” Genheimer said.
A 5K run kicks off the day, and the parade follows at 10 a.m., which will go down Central Avenue from Third Street to 11th Street. Genheimer said the parade is free and participates can show up the day of or sign up at visitdolores.com. Parade lineup begins at 9 a.m.
Runner and parade participants can find more information under the “Escalante Days” tab under events and by clicking the “register” button.
Three judges will award winners in the parade who embrace the golden theme with originality, Genheimer said.
The mid-morning through afternoon schedule includes a chainsaw carving competition, arm wrestling, kids’ games, line dancing, watermelon-eating contests, face painting, a dunk tank, water balloon toss and live music.
“Something great about Escalante Days is that it is an all-ages event,” Genheimer said.
By late-afternoon, the annual Kiwanis duck race wraps up the Escalante Days programming at Riverside Park at 3:30 p.m. The Galloping Goose Historical Society will provide free train rides and museum visits from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Live music is anticipated for the park and for local venue Dolores River Brewery in the evening. Genheimer said nearby bars including the Dolores River Brewery, Kelly’s Kitchen, Dolores Bike Hostel and the Italian have extended their bar hours. The full schedule is on the chamber’s website.
“Four of the local businesses directly adjacent to the park have extended their bar hours, people can go there if looking for a nice place to sit, have an adult beverage, and can get some shade,” Genheimer said.
A softball tournament in Joe Rowell Park is occurring in conjunction with the festival Aug. 8 to Aug. 9.
awatson@the-journal.com
