Allowing open containers on the closed portion of Main Street on First Fridays would have been a nice idea for many, but the logistics required to make it a reality proved burdensome. And besides, several local restaurant proprietors have come up with a working compromise on their own: the “floating” decks.
That was the consensus at a recent special events task force meeting.
“We’ve ended up with a kind of accidental drinking in the streets with the deck permits,” said co-chair Jake Boyle. “There are a lot more establishments serving out on Main Street, which kind of indirectly serves that purpose. You could have friends that walk past when you’re out on the deck and be able to socialize without officially going through all the hoops.”
While those deck permits have been heavily utilized by establishments in the core downtown area, the rollout wasn’t completely smooth at first, member and town trustee Marty Silverstein noted.
“There was some good education going on, because not everyone understood it in the beginning that you can’t just order a beer and help yourself to the deck — there has to be a server who brings it out to you — and you can’t pass it to your buddy who’s leaning on the deck.”
That said, he felt any early policy execution hiccups served more as an opportunity than hindrance to its future. All things considered, Boyle thought the rollout of the deck permits went as well as could be expected.
“I think it worked out really smoothly. It’s grown from establishment to establishment — rather than establishing a separate entity to have to police it,” he said. “I’m all for it. It’s a uniquely Carbondale thing for the most part; it checked a lot of boxes for the town and for citizens, and I didn’t have to join another committee,” he added with a laugh.
It checked a lot of boxes, Parks and Recreations Director Eric Brendlinger agreed, but not all. Mainly, the idea of the Special Entertainment District permit that the First Friday committee originally proposed was to create a fundraising opportunity.
“The original idea was to have it be a fundraiser for First Friday, so that’s not happening,” he pointed out.
But even the bottom line is being taken care of by the private business community: First Bank, which is opening a Carbondale branch, has offered to sponsor First Fridays to increase its visibility in the town.
“It’s natural: First Bank, First Fridays,” Silverstein quipped.
Of course, First Fridays aren’t the only special events in the lineup for 2019 — far from it. The draft calendar has been established (published here), but Brendlinger emphasized that it is merely a draft.
“It will be finalized before the Jan. 8 meeting with the Trustees for final approval,” he said in an email.
Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrea Stewart is looking forward to the New Year. The First Bank First Friday sponsorship and deck permits are just the latest developments in an evolving process for Carbondale’s burgeoning downtown scene.
“We are excited for what’s to come in 2019, including additional partnerships, creative highlights and events, all while maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere,” she said.
2019 EVENT CALENDAR
(Draft – subject to change)
First Friday (monthly)
(5-9 pm) Downtown Main Street
First Friday Family Skate Night
Jan. 4 (Friday) 5:30-8 p.m.,
Fourth Street plaza park ice rink
Full Moon Tri
Jan. 19 (Saturday) 4:30-8 p.m.,
Darien Ice Rink & Rio Grande Trail
First Friday “Mardi Gras Parade”
Feb.1 (Friday) 4:30 p.m.,
Downtown Main Street Parade Route
Rassle The Castle Feb. 3 or 16 (TBD) (Saturday), 9 a.m., Redstone Fat Bike
& Snowshoe Race
Green is The New Black Fashion Show March 14,15,16 (Thursday, Friday &
Saturday) Carbondale Recreation Center
Town Easter Egg Hunt
April 20 (Saturday), 10 a.m.
Sopris Park “Where my Peeps at”
5 Point Film Festival
April 25-28 (Thursday thru Sunday),
Carbondale Recreation Center
Festival Las Americas
May 5 (Sunday) 12-8 p.m.,
Sopris Park & Gazebo
Dandelion Day
May 11 (Saturday) 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Sopris Park & Main Street Parade
Bonedale Bike Week, May 17-23 (Friday thru Thursday), Carbondale Recreation Center & other locations within Town
Bike Park Competition, May 18 (Saturday)
9:30 a.m., North Face Bike Park
Art Around Town Art Walk, June 6 (Thursday) 5:30 p.m., Begin at Town Hall
Wild West Rodeo Series, June 6-
Aug. 22 (Thursdays) 7:30-9:30 p.m.,
Gus Darien Riding Arena
8th Annual “Bonedale Skate Revival” June 8 (Saturday), 9:30 a.m.,
North Face Skateboard Park
Summer Park Concert Series
June 9 (Sunday) 3:30-7:30 p.m.,
Sopris Park Gazebo
Downtown Farmer’s Market
June 12-Sept. 25 (Wednesdays)
10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fourth Street Plaza & Park
Fourth of July Parade & Pool Party
July 4 (Thursday) 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Downtown Main Street Parade Route
& Sopris Park Pool Area
18th Annual “Mt. Sopris Music Fest” July 5 (Friday) 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Fourth Street Park
Summer Park Concert Series
July 14 (Sunday) 4-8 p.m.,
Sopris Park Gazebo
Jaripeo y Baile Mexican Rodeo,
July 13 or 14 (TBD) 4-9 p.m.,
Gus Darien Rodeo Grounds
Carbondale Mountain Fair
July 26, 27,28, Friday 12 p.m. –
Sunday 7 p.m., Sopris Park
Compassion Fest
Aug. 9-11 (Friday thru Sunday),
Bonnie Fisher Park & Third Street Center
Summer Park Concert Series
Aug. 11 (Sunday), 3:30-7:30 p.m.,
Sopris Park Gazebo
Jaripeo y Baile Mexican Rodeo
Aug. 10 or 11 (TBD), 4-9 p.m.,
Gus Darien Rodeo Grounds
KDNK’s The Hoot
Aug. 16 (Friday) 5-10 p.m.,
Fourth Street Plaza Park to Garfield
“Our Town – One Table”
Aug. 26 (Sunday) 5-9 p.m.,
Fourth Street (Main to Euclid)
“Cowboy Up” Dance & BBQ
Aug. 23 (Friday) 5-10 p.m.,
Fourth Street Park & Plaza
Rotary Club Running of the Balls
Sept. 6 (Friday) 5-9 p.m.,
Downtown Main Street & Fourth Street
Wilderness Workshop Community Party
Sept. 6, (Friday) 5-9 p.m., Sopris Park
No Man’s Land Film Festival
Women’s Adventure Films, Sept. 12-15 (Thursday thru Sunday), Crystal Theater, Launch Pad, Fourth Street
Clay Center’s Annual Fundraiser
Sept. 21 (Saturday) 5-9 p.m.,
Carbondale Clay Center
Western Slope Pickleball Tournament
Sept. 21 & 22 (Saturday & Sunday),
North Face Darien Pickleball Courts
First Friday “Homecoming & Harvest Fest,” Oct. 4 (Friday) 5-9 p.m.,
Downtown Main Street
Potato Day Parade
Oct. 5 (Saturday) 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Main Street Parade & Sopris Park
Ross Montessori 5k & Marmot Mile
Oct. 5 (Saturday), 7:30-11 a.m.,
Ross Montessori School
“Celtic Fest,” Oct. 11 (Friday), 5-9 p.m., Fourth Street Park & Plaza
“Oktoberfest” Celebration
Oct. 12 (Saturday), 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fourth Street Park & Plaza
Aloha Shaka Cross Series
Race #1 Oct. 20 (Sunday),
Roaring Fork High School &
North Face park (Bike Cyclo-Cross Race);
Race #2: Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day)
First Friday “Dia De los Muertos”
Nov. 1, 5-9 p.m., Downtown Main Street Parade Route
Turkey Cross Trot, Nov. 28 (Thursday),
8 a.m., North Face Park (5k run)
First Friday “Light Up Carbondale”
Dec. 6, 5-9 p.m., Downtown Main Street
“Jingle Bell Run”
Dec. 15 (Sunday), 11 a.m. start,
Independence Run & Hike Store
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