‘It’s just a Golden thing’: Longtime attendees share what makes Buffalo Bill Days special
What started as a 100th birthday celebration for a Wild West icon has evolved into Golden’s largest event of year.
For almost 80 summers, thousands of people have flocked to downtown Golden for Buffalo Bill Days, and every summer, thousands of them have returned for varying reasons.
Some love the music; others, the food; others, the parade and other family-friendly activities; and for many, their favorite aspects of Buffalo Bill Days have changed as they and their loved ones have grown older.
From left, Mac, Ace, Frankie and Greg McKee enjoy Saturday morning’s parade during Buffalo Bill Days in the heart of Golden. Credit: Sara Hertwig
But, whatever the exact reason, longtime Buffalo Bill Days attendees said they love the tradition and how the festival has endured despite numerous internal and external changes.
“I’m glad they keep doing it,” 30-year attendee Judy Cline said of the festival. “ … I like that it has a history to it and has been able to manage (its) growth.”
‘It’s a ritual’
Golden’s Jim and Linda D’Epagnier have been coming to the festival since they moved here in 1978, bringing their children and now their grandchildren.
“It’s a ritual,” Jim said.
They described how much the festival has changed since they first started attending, recalling events like the buffalo-chip toss, water fights and the Westernaires’ gymkhana-type demonstrations.
Overall, they said the festival’s atmosphere has also evolved. More attendees were locals when the D’Epagniers first started attending; but now, it brings in “people from all over,” Linda said. Because of that, they don’t feel the same community spirit as they used to. There are also more traffic jams now too, they added.
Vehicles large and small ride in The Best of The West Parade Saturday morning. Credit: Sara Hertwig
However, the two clarified that the festival, particularly the parade, is “still fun” and that they enjoy getting together with their family. Jim said his sister was visiting Golden for the festival, and he and Linda’s grandchildren were looking forward to the rides and dancing to the musical acts.
Anita and Mike Rakstraw, who live in unincorporated Arvada, have been coming to Buffalo Bill Days for 30 years. Anita said she still feels and loves the festival’s “small-town atmosphere,” saying how “everyone is friendly and having fun.”
For many years, the two enjoyed bringing their family on the festival’s Saturday, stopping by the pancake breakfast and then going to the parade.
However, their grandchildren have outgrown the parade; so now, a big draw for them is the music. Sunday afternoon’s The Long Run is a particular favorite.
Additionally, Mike said he appreciated how close the festival was to them, and Anita added that it’s very well-organized.
People shop at the vendor tables during Buffalo Bill Days in Golden. Credit: Sara Hertwig
“We love everything,” she said, listing the arts and crafts vendors, the music, the food and more.
Music is also a big draw for Lakewood’s Sandy Lardinois, who’s been to Buffalo Bill Days 10 or 15 times over the last 30 years. She’s a big fan of Chris Daniels and the Kings, and enjoys running into her friends and fellow fans at the festival.
“It’s always a pleasant setting,” she continued, adding how she liked the food options and all the arts and crafts vendors.
Bruce Lowder, who lives in unincorporated Jeffco, is a relative newcomer. He’s only been attending the festival for five years.
He particularly enjoyed the previous years’ car shows. However, he said he now returns for the beer and the music. He’s also frequented the Sunday morning worship service in the park, and has enjoys bumping into friends and neighbors at the festival.
Among them was Judy and Steve Cline, who used to live off Golden’s 19th Street but now live near Lowder in unincorporated Jeffco.
Members of El Jebel Shrine Rocky Mountain give high fives to spectators along the parade route. Credit: Sara Hertwig
Like the D’Epagniers, Judy said she’s also noticed the festival’s changing demographics and atmosphere. However, while she said there have been a mix of positive and negative changes, she believed most changes have been positive.
Buffalo Bill Days may have drawn mostly locals in earlier years, but now, people travel from out of state every summer, she said. It’s also become a tradition for multiple generations of visiting and local families, like hers.
Overall, she said Golden has “a small town feel,” and Buffalo Bill Days “is part of it.”
Click through additional photos from the festival’s July 25 events:
Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley wave to people as they ride in The Best of The West Parade on Saturday morning for Buffalo Bill Days. Credit: Sara HertwigThe Golden Women in Business skated their way down the parade route with bubbles Saturday morning. Credit: Sara HertwigPeople gather along Washington Avenue to see The Best of The West Parade as it makes its way under the Welcome To Golden sign. Credit: Sara HertwigAnnouncers toward the start of the parade introduce each participant as they round the corner onto Washington Avenue. Credit: Sara HertwigPeople wave from one of Golden’s fire trucks during Saturday morning’s parade. Credit: Sara HertwigThe Golden Fire Department finishes Saturday’s parade lineup for Buffalo Bill Days. Credit: Sara HertwigAnnie Oakley waves to people along The Best of The West Parade route Saturday morning for Buffalo Bill Days. Credit: Sara HertwigTammi Cohen runs her booth selling handmade musical frogs, pigs, crickets and owls made in Thailand. Part of the proceeds from www.musicalfrogs.net go back to the artisans and their villages. Cohen said, “It’s fun and we’re feeding the villages.” Credit: Sara HertwigPeople shop at the vendor tables during Buffalo Bill Days in Golden. Credit: Sara HertwigSaturday’s Buffalo Bill Days festivities started with their annual parade down Washington Avenue. Credit: Sara Hertwig
The post ‘It’s just a Golden thing’: Longtime attendees share what makes Buffalo Bill Days special appeared first on Colorado Community Media.
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