Grand Valley Days boasts rodeo, parade and a street dance

PARACHUTE - Grand Valley Days festival takes over the town of Parachute today through Saturday for its 98th year.

The festival includes a rodeo tonight and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Grand Valley Park Association Arena in Cottonwood Park. Rodeo events include calf riding, junior barrel riding and a calf ribbon race. Saturday's rodeo will feature a raffle drawing for varied prizes.

The "Rough and Rowdy Round Up"-themed parade will stomp through town at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by Firemen Street Sports. The Parachute Police Department is sponsoring Saturday's kids bike rodeo, also after the parade.

A pie social will be held at the Morrisania Community House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Saturday's free street dance, held at Cottonwood Park, lasts from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and features live music from Exit 42, who Fran Storm, events coordinator for Battlement Mesa, calls a "hot band."

The Grand Valley Days Bike Poker Run takes place Saturday, July 28, and participants can sign up at the Grand Valley Pub and Grille.

<I>Contact Samantha Pal: 384-9105, spal@postindependent.com