Steamboat Springs — Dancers twirling about in line with the two-step, savory barbecue wafting through the rafters and children happily exhausted, asleep in their parents arms.

It’s memories like these that come to mind when Dana Duran, executive director of the Northwest Colorado Boys & Girls Club, remembers the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs’ annual Community Barbecue & Barn Dance.

This weekend, Duran’s memories will once again become a reality for the multigenerational event, which will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Wandering Creek Ranch (33850 Routt County Road 14) in an effort to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Steamboat Springs and other Rotary charities.

“This event is great for engaging the community to celebrate fall in a really neat atmosphere,” Duran said. “I don’t know if we have anything else like this in Steamboat.”

This year, the eighth annual Community Barbecue & Barn Dance will feature barbecue from Rex’s Catering, along with music and dancing from local band, Sundog. Kids games will also be available, including the popular bounce house and a fire truck for hands-on activities.

As Rotary’s biggest fundraiser of the year, people from all walks of life come together to support the event and the organization, which is dedicated to bolstering Routt County youth.

“The community found a huge need for what started out with just a handful of kids but now has over 900 kids. It serves a huge part of our community,” said Carol Parish, owner of Elevated Olive and co-chairman of this year’s event. “We felt like it was such a good fit for Rotary to raise funds and donate to this organization (Boys & Girls Club) because it touches so many lives.”

In keeping with its mission to support the youth of Routt County, this will be the sixth year Rotary has donated to the local Boys & Girls Club. In addition, 10 percent of proceeds will go toward a water project in Africa the Rotary Club is working with to supply clean water for children there.

“The Boys & Girls Club here might not be what it is today or be here without the Rotary Club’s support,” Duran said. “We are really lucky to partner with them to put on such a great community event.”

Providing a safe, positive place for kids in Craig and Steamboat, the Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Colorado has been in place since 2009 and offers educational and youth-development programs for kids.

Duran said funds from the event go toward the organization’s character and leadership programs with a service learning component.

“I think Rotary’s Four-Way Test really falls in line with the Boys & Girls Club and what we do with those funds, because the programs help these kids develop quality character and leadership roles,” Duran said.

Tickets for the Community Barn Dance & Barbecue are available at Central Park Liquors and Zirkel Trading. The cost is $75 for a family up to five, or $35 per adult and $10 for children under 16.

To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1