Creek Fest celebrates nature, kicks off summer
Most times when one thinks of Boulder — a city named after a rock fragment — they think of, well, rocks, mountains, the Flatirons and perhaps hiking, biking and rock climbing.
However, the Boulder Creek Fest — the annual welcome summer festival that’s held alongside the signature creek that flows through the heart of the city — returns this weekend for its 75th year to remind us that, hey, we have water here, too.
Although the creek has received some bad press in recent months ( don’t dunk your head in to drink the water), the watercourse remains an important facet of the community, and the three- day festival is a good way to celebrate and appreciate the natural beauty that Boulder has to offer.
Creek Fest will bring in more than 30 bands on three stages, a Creekside Beer Fest, live dance performances, stand- up comedy sets, family magic shows, kid activities and more.
Festival organizers have moved away from the event’s more traditional carnival- style atmosphere and have expanded its offerings with new activities for families.
“It feels much more homegrown, which has been an intentional choice of the organizers, and with us,” said local musician Paige Doughty, one- half of the nature- loving wife- and- husband duo Jeff & Paige.
The other half, Jeff Kagan, agreed and said Creek Fest is an especially good time for kids to have a chance to interact with nature.
“Having that natural waterway that kids can play in, and cool off in, and just watch the water flowing in spring — that’s what makes this festival so special,” Kagan said.
Boulder- based Kagan and Doughty are longtime local superstars on the children’s music circuit who specialize in belting out songs about nature, science, ecology and geology. The two met in graduate school while getting their master’s degrees in environmental education. United by a love of nature, they began making music for fun, until one day they found their niche — writing and performing educational tunes for kids.
“Our shows are a mix of songs but also educational theater, quick costume changes and tons of audience participation,” Kagan said. “It’s kind of like a nature musical for kids.”
In addition to playing two shows at the festival, Jeff & Paige are set to host the event Creekside for Kids at 10 a. m. today on the community stage.
The event will kick off with a family- friendly DJ dance party — also known as the Dino Disco, complete with inflatable dinosaurs. More dancing and movement will follow at 11 a. m., when Mimi Ferrie of Amina Arts will take the stage to lead an interactive dance and flow class.
The 30- minute session will focus on water movement, inspired by Boulder Creek, and will include giant parachute games for kids. Creekside for Kids also will feature face painting, Lego creators, hamster wheels, familyfriendly booths, snacks and snow cones.
For a more robust food offering, guests can look forward to a large selection of food trucks and tents at the wider Boulder Creek Fest, which kicks off at noon.
Angelie Timm and Zdenek Srom, owners of the Bohemian Biergarten, are another power couple in the Boulder Creek Fest universe.
Together, the pair are behind not one but two of the food vendors within Creek Fest: the Bohemian Wurst food truck as well as a food tent within the Creekside Beer Festival, specializing specifically in European- style hot dog sandwiches.
“With the food truck and the tent, as opposed to serving food at the restaurant, it’s fun because the energy is so fast- paced, super casual, and you get to meet and share food in a different way,” Timm said. “It’s just a different experience, and super fun. It’s exciting.”
The Creekside Beer Festival will taste much like a local beer tour that’s all condensed into one convenient creek- side ( aptly named) location.
More than 20 breweries are participating in this year’s festival, including Boulder- based Upslope, Avery and Asher Brewing. It requires a ticket — $ 30 for an unlimited two- hour beer tasting.