Rist Canyon Mountain Festival

 

Across from Fire Station 1 at 11835 Rist Canyon Road, Bellvue, Colorado

Just 14 miles from downtown Fort Collins and 27 miles from Loveland

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A full day’s lineup of entertainment and activities for the entire family in a beautiful mountain setting is a not-to-be missed event. Mark your calendars for the annual Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department Mountain Festival,10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, across from Fire Station No. 1. This year’s musicians are Liz Barnez, Wendy Woo, Also Known As, and Choice City Trio. All proceeds benefit the volunteer-based, donation-funded Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (RCVFD).

“The Mountain Festival provides us the opportunity to welcome visitors and community members for a day of fun and entertainment for the entire family,” says RCVFD Chief Mark Neuroth. “Equally important is that it allows us to show our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our all-volunteer firefighters that respond to all types of emergencies.”

Come rain or shine, the festival is the perfect way to kick off the fall season. Festival favorites include a gigantic used book sale, silent auction, bake sale, plant sale, firefighter dunk tank, craft and art vendors, food trucks, large-covered seating area, and the 2024 RCVFD commemorative t-shirt booth. Admission, parking, tractor-pulled hayride shuttle to/from the parking area (handicapped parking available), live musical entertainment, large kid’s activity area, farm animals, educational booths and demonstrations, and ice cream all are free of charge.

The RCVFD serves a more than 110 square mile area that includes Rist Canyon, Stove Prairie, and the Buckhorn, as well as providing mutual aid to an additional 50 square miles. The approximately 35 volunteer firefighters provide emergency response to life and property from fires, natural disasters, medical emergencies, motor vehicle and cyclist accidents, and all other rescue/emergency situations.

Funds raised from the Mountain Festival are vital for the financial operation of the all-volunteer, 100% donation-based fire department. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the RCVFD Treasurer, PO Box 2, Bellvue, CO 80512, or made through PayPal at www.RCVFD.org/donate. RCVFD is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Questions? Contact festival@rcvfd.org

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS

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Join our other wonderful community sponsors in supporting the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department! 

So far in 2024, we have an amazing array of businesses and individuals partnering with RCVFD to support the festival.   Sponsorships range from  Presenting Sponsor at the $5,000 level to Festival Friends at $100 with seven levels in between. Sponsorships of specific tents are also available.  In-kind and monetary donations also are greatly appreciated. Contact James Clutter at 970-657-5254 or clutterj11@gmail.com

ENTERTAINMENT

FREE LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY LONG!!!

Wendy Woo and her Band have been part of the Colorado music scene for three decades.  They bring rich harmonies with a fusion of originals and nostalgic covers. Wendy Woo is a resident of Loveland, CO.  She is a singer/songwriter who plays both electric and acoustic guitars and is known for her unique “Slap Tap” acoustic guitar work.  She has recorded more than 100 original songs that span a variety of genres including folk, blues, funk, rock, and pop music.

Liz Barnez and her band bring an eclectic style of guitar playing and songwriting to the stage.  Their music incorporates elements of Folk, New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Country and a hint of Pop.  Having grown up in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, she began her musical career in the Bourbon Street clubs.  She mixes Funk with Gospel, Soul and Dixieland music.  She has created a signature “Acoustic Swamp Rock ” style.  She brought her music to Colorado Stages in the late 80’s and hasn’t slowed down since.

AKA (Also Known As) has been part of the Northern Colorado music scene since 1996 when they played as Prairie Dog Companion at New West Fest in Fort Collins, CO.  They play an eclectic brand of Americana music they call “City and Western.”  Their music has influences from Bakersfield to Cajun Louisiana and from Nashville Newgrass to Memphis Rock-A-Billy.  They are a six piece band featuring a wide range of musical instruments and powerful vocals.

The Choice City Trio features riveting vocals by area resident, Alan Anderson.  He sings alongside an acoustic 12-string guitarist and an electric bass and percussionist.  They feature original songs plus a variety of traditional favorites.  They emphasize community connection through a unique method of musical storytelling.

FIREFIGHTER DEMONSTRATIONS AND DUNK TANK

One of the highlights of the festival is the opportunity to dunk a firefighter! Get ready to make a splash and support our local heroes! Take your best shot at dunking a firefighter and help raise money for the fire department. This is a great way to support your local volunteer firefighters and have some fun at the same time. We also will have firefighter demos where you will be able to see all the gear that we use to help our community. Please stop by the firefighter tent and say hi to all first responders.  We are happy to answer any questions or just chat with you.

VEHICLE SHOW

Mountain Vehicle Show – New for 2024! 

Do you have a truck, jeep, tractor, or other vehicle that loves the mud or snow in the mountains? The Vehicle Show is a chance to see and share vehicles that live, work, or play in the canyon or mountains. If you are a dealer, enter your vehicle to show your vehicle to prospective customers where they live or play. Festival attendees can make a $1 donation or more to vote for your favorite vehicle in the show.

For more information or to register for the vehicle show, please contact Josef Dvorak at vehicle_show@DvorakHome.com

BOOK TENT

Come visit our massive book tent – thousands of books!!! Hardback and paperbacks. Large selection of non-fiction categories, books on tape/cd, DVDs, music CDs, jigsaw puzzles, vinyl records, comic books, and large selection of children’s books.

If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Stanley at 970-221-2024 or email at cloud9sewing@gmail.com

SILENT AUCTION

Two weeks to go for the Festival Silent Auction, and we have some GREAT items for you! You can learn to knit at My Sister Knits, learn to write (with a one-on-one writer’s workshop with Laura Pritchett!), train your dog, get a facial, get a haircut.  Bring your friends to whitewater rafting, movie nights, dinner for two or ten (catered by Bama Breeze) or twenty (at Sky Corral Ranch), visit a dairy (Morning Fresh), go bowling, or go to a museum. There are great deals on tools, jewels, and mules (ok, just a mug). There is amazing art from local artists, an awesome backyard grill/smoker/firepit/oven from Downtown Ace Hardware, rare books, liquor, and everything else, from a buffalo skull to a hand-knit emotional support chicken. Visit the Auction website Festival.rcvfd.org/silentauction for more information, updated daily!

FOOD TRUCKS AND BOOTHS

We’ll have some great food selections to delight every diner at the festival! Returning this year are: La Campechana, which offers a large menu of Mexican food; Schmickel’s, serving their juicy grilled burgers and hot dogs; and the ever-popular Waffle Lab will have its full menu of chicken and waffle concoctions. New to the festival this year are Charlotte’s Lil Kitchen, offering gyros, chicken shawarma, and vegan protein bowls; and Flat Iron Pits with tasty Texas barbecue! As always, we’ll have Kettle Korner serving up
their hot and sweet kettle corn; and BuzzHut serving smoothies and coffee drinks. Something for everyone!

VENDOR BOOTHS

We have a full house of 47 vendors attending the festival this year!  Many returning favorite vendors as well as lots of new vendors.  Stroll up and down several aisles to enjoy and shop artisan jewelry, woodcrafts, metal art, original art, pottery, handmade items, and so much more.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to discover local craftsmanship.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND EDUCATIONAL BOOTHS

Come join us in the non-profit and educational area. There will be over 20 non-profits, various Larimer County organizations and many emergency vehicles.  Some examples include the Wolf Sanctuary, Poudre Wilderness Volunteer, and Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. For additional information contact Trisha at tajohnLMT@gmail.com.

PLANT SALE

The Plant Sale next to the Free Ice Cream station will have an amazing selection of
house plants this year. Our plants are home grown by volunteer community members and 100% of proceeds benefit the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department. Our selection is different every year; past years’ highlights include heirloom award-winning African Violets in bloom, a 100-year-old Easter cactus, and a fruit-laden tomatillo. This year’s selection includes Monstera deliciosa cuttings with local rocks amongst the roots (come early, they go fast), a plethora of Friendship plants, Pothos, Philodendrons,
Spider plants, and Jade. If you’re short on cash, no worry, most plants are between $5 and $20. If you love plants or would like to learn more about them, there are still spots available to volunteer in this beautiful mountain meadow.

BAKE SALE TENT

The Bake Sale Tent at the RCVFD Mountain Festival offers lots of delicious homemade baked goods donated by local community residents. Whole pies sell for $20 or by the slice for $5. Cookies, bars, brownies, cinnamon rolls, muffins, breads, and other tasty treats are sold from 50 cents to $10. Please visit us and purchase something yummy to snack on at the festival or to take home. All proceeds go to our incredible RCVFD that keeps our area safe.

ICE CREAM TENT

Free Scoop of Ice Cream in a cup or on a cone! Every time you enjoy a scoop of our mouthwatering flavors, you show us how much you care for our Volunteer First Responders. We have multiple local ice cream producers donating up to 6 gallons of Ice Cream each. Some amazing flavors they have
donated are Cappuccino, Strawberry, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Bean, Andes Mint, Chocolate, Cookies-n-Cream, Matcha Vanilla, Bing Cherry, Almond, and many more! Non-dairy ice cream will be available upon request. Enjoy a scoop and drop a Donation in the Boot to show your appreciation for the hard
work of our Volunteer First Responders!

KID’S ACTIVITIES

Bring the whole family to our Kid’s Area and enjoy a variety of activities while supporting our local fire department.  Some of the FREE activities include calf roping, games, races, coloring tables, farm animals and BUBBLES! Hope to see you there!

T-SHIRT AND HOODIES

Show your support for the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department ALL YEAR LONG when you’re outfitted with some amazing RCVFD supporter swag. We have some great offerings this year including a black RCVFD Supporter shirt, a heather blue logo’d unisex tee, and new this year, a heathered olive women’s fit logo’d tee, a purple logo’d women’s tank, and a heather blue logo’d hoodie. From summer to winter, you can show your support! Stop by the merchandise tent early because these new offerings are not going to last long!

CONTACT US:

Contact information for the various festival activities, information, or how you can be involved, is available from the following Friends of the Festival:

We look forward to having you join us!