Tradition Marches On:
Lakewood on Parade Festival August 24-25

More Information:

• Festival Website
  303-232-3389

It's time for that local tradition, Lakewood on Parade! The fun-for-all-ages event begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24 at Lakewood's Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St., with the kick-off for the festival. The parade marches through Belmar, Lakewood's downtown, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25. As the parade finishes, the festival kicks off again and continues until 10 p.m. on Saturday.

The Parade:

Bring your lawn chairs to Belmar by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday to wave at the floats, school marching bands, Scout groups and more. The parade begins at Alaska Drive and Vance Street, goes east on Alaska to Quay Street, then south to Virginia Avenue, and finally west back to Vance. The 2007 Grand Marshals are long-time community volunteers Ed and Barbara Heckle.

The Festival:

Admission to the festival is free. Enjoy booths, rides, food, concerts and roaming performers such as jugglers and clowns and kid's activities at the Heritage Center on Friday evening and all day and evening on Saturday.

Entertainment:

The Heritage Center amphitheater is booked with community performers during the day and great free concerts by metro-area bands in the evening.

• Friday, August 24
  5 p.m. - 40 Gallon Still, traditional bluegrass
  8 p.m. - Bop Skizzum, funky rock

• Saturday, August 25
  11:30 a.m. - Mile High Karate
  12:30 p.m. - Mile High School of Dance
  2 p.m. - State of the Arts Dance
  3:30 p.m. - Colorado Mestizo Dancers
  5 p.m. - Deborah Hill, eclectic rock, country, and R&B
  8 p.m. - Opie Gone Bad, rockin' funk & soul

Free Kid's Stuff!

Thanks in part to a grant from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, kids can enjoy free cultural arts activities 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday. Hands-on opportunities include pottery, mystery theater, storytelling, African drumming, musical instruments, mad science, beaded flower crafts, computer animation, sidewalk chalk art, and feather painting.

New This Year!

The 31st annual Lakewood on Parade is pleased to welcome two other nonprofits to the festival. The Tiger Prowl 5K race benefiting Lakewood High School and other programs will host a booth to register participants for the Sunday, Aug. 26 run/walk. Engineers Without Borders is sponsoring a sand sculpture contest from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday to help with projects in Africa and South America. Teams will construct sand creations, and festival-goers will vote for their favorites.