Oak Creek Labor Day gets Routty with more live music, vendors than ever before
Alison Berg/Steamboat Pilot & Today archive
Labor Day in Oak Creek has a deep history that dazzles many when they think about the longstanding existence of the event. However, the growing event also hints at a bright future for the South Routt town, as the festivities not only hold strong year in and year out, but grow and draw more people.
Labor Day 2022 has the theme of “Let’s Get Routt-y” and kicked off on Wednesday, Aug. 31, with live music at Franciosi Brothers and continued with a bar crawl and Karaoke on Thursday, Sept. 1. Friday keeps the party going with three live shows at Franciosi Brothers, Oak Creek Tavern and the Colorado Bar.
Franciosi Brothers opened two years ago, Oak Creek Tavern was given life under a new owner last fall, and Lupitas recently underwent renovations, all moves that have combined to revive the main street of the old mining town.
New this year is the Oak Creek Farmers Market, which will feature more vendors than ever at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4.
Mayor Nikki Knoebel said events like Labor Day bring in more people to the town of 889 as people passing through on a busy travel weekend can experience the best of Oak Creek.
Saturday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 5 have the most jam-packed schedules.
Saturday begins with a cribbage tournament and a fishing derby as well as a pancake breakfast, which benefits Soroco Middle School Science.
Free Family Fun Day kicks off at noon on Main Street with a bounce house, mechanical bull, a hula hoop contest and more.
Courtesy photo
Monday starts with a No fun Run at 10 a.m., followed by a parade down main street and field games, food and vendors. Later in the day are volleyball, corn hole and horseshoe tournaments at Decker Park at 1 p.m.
“On Monday, after the parade, the field games down at the park are like no other,” Knoebel said. “It’s one of the most amazing parks in the county and we love the field games. We have races with grandparents and kids and brothers and sisters and tug of war. We just really love this weekend. It’s been a highlight of our year.”
The Car and Motor Show is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and will be giving away door prizes decked out in the 10-year anniversary crest in addition to the new t-shirt design as they do every year.
“We don’t have a specific class. It’s whatever you got,” said event founder Rhonda Crawford Wisecup. “If it’s a rat rod, or a classic or a cool 4×4, we encourage everybody to bring anything they want to show off.”
Perhaps the most important event of the weekend takes place at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Colorado Bar.
“We do a live auction on Sunday and that is what helps us raise money to keep Labor Days going. That’s our fundraiser effort,” Knoebel said. “We also give out scholarships with the coal queen and we donate back to the high school with our adult prom. We really give back to the community with that money. As long as we keep raising money we will add things every year to make it bigger and better.”
Shelby Reardon is the assistant editor at the Steamboat Pilot & Today. To reach her, call 970-871-4253, email sreardon@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @ByShelbyReardon.
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