New Castle is set to host its 51st annual Burning Mountain Festival in downtown this weekend, according to a newsletter.

The Burning Mountain Festival has been a New Castle tradition since 1973. The festival highlights the town’s mining history and is named after the iconic Burning Mountain, in which a coal seam still burns.

A parade, musical performances in Burning Mountain Park, craft and food vendors, classic car show, kid’s carnival and activities furnish the two-day festival.

The park opens at 4 p.m. Friday with food and craft vendors. At 5 p.m. comes a beer garden and live music from Mitt Spicy & the Blues Bandits. The evening will close with Whiskey Stomp performing at 7:30 p.m. The beer garden will close at 9:30 p.m and music should be wrapped up by 10 p.m., according to the newsletter.

On Saturday, the beer garden opens early at 2:30 p.m. in preparation for the opening act from the Basement Brothers at 3 p.m., Dustin Elliot & the Broken Radio at 5 p.m. and closing this year’s festival with A Band Called Alexis at 7:30 p.m. The beer garden closes at 9:30 p.m.

Anyone motorists traveling through New Castle this weekend should take note that parking spaces on Main Street will be conned off between 10 p.m. Friday-11 a.m. Saturday. In addition, Main Street from Elk Creek Elementary School to Burning Mountain Avenue will be closed from 9:45-11 a.m. to all traffic for the festival parade. The detour route will be through Castle Valley Boulevard.

Any questions or concerns? Call the New Castle Police Department at 970-984-2302.

LIST OF ADDITIONAL FESTIVITIES

Fire in the Hole 5K

The River Center’s Fire in the Hole 5K will kick off the Saturday events for Burning Mountain Festival. Please be sure to register and ready to run at 7:15 a.m.

Burning Mountain Festival car show

Come check out sports cars, classic cars and bikes during Burning Mountain Festival between 9 a.m.-noon. The show is downtown on Main Street at Kamm Avenue.

Burning Mountain Festival parade 

Bring your chairs and bags for candy and join the town of New Castle downtown for its annual Burning Mountain Festival parade starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The parade will kick off with Classic Air Medical with a helicopter flyover down main street. Parade floats will travel down main street following the theme “If You Can Dream It.” Come find out who will take first place this year. The New Castle Recreation Department will have its foam machine blasting the streets to be set up in the park following the parade. You don’t want to miss this.

Food and craft vendors

It wouldn’t be a festival without vendors, Starting at 4 p.m. Friday  and running until nightfall on Saturday, swing by Burning Mountain Park for a full day of local craft vendors and enjoy good eats from Rolling Fork Food Truck, Colorado Snow, Aspen Mini Donuts and more.

Strider Bike Race

This year’s Strider Bike Race will start at the old schoolhouse by Burning Mountain Park. Keep an eye out for the start line near the parking lot. This event is open for kids ages 5 and under. Races will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Pie Eating Contest, Tug-O-War and more

Join the fun at Burning Mountain Park on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. Saturday for fun games and good times.

Wood splitting contest

Think you got what it takes to win this game? Come down to Burning Mountain Park at 2 p.m. and find out.