MEEKER I A full slate of activities and events, some new and some returning, will take place in downtown Meeker as part of the annual Range Call Celebration.
On July 3, view paintings from the Plein Air art competition, meet the artists, and enjoy a glass of champagne during a “champagne toast” from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at 640 W. Main St., in Meeker. Then place your silent auction bids on these original landscape paintings from the surrounding area. The awards ceremony and silent auction winners will be announced Friday, July 4 at 3:30 p.m.
On July 4, get the holiday off on the right foot with the Run For Your Life 5K run/walk downtown, sponsored by the ERBM Recreation and Park District, then fill your belly with stacks of pancakes at the Rio Blanco Masonic Lodge pancake breakfast, an annual favorite for locals and visitors alike.
The Fourth of July parade, sponsored by the Meeker Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 10 a.m. on Main Street, between Seventh and Fourth streets. This year’s theme is “Reflections and New Beginnings.”
After the parade, the Plein Air artists will participate in a “quick draw” on the courthouse lawn. This year, vendor booths will be at the fairgrounds, freeing up the courthouse square for live music by local bands Casserole Beans and Dave Main and Clover Loafers, a “bounce house” for the kids, and the annual barbecue luncheon, pie sale, and root beer floats. In addition, many local non-profit organizations will have informational booths set up downtown.
The barbecue, hosted by Faith Baptist Church, is $8 a plate and includes a pork sandwich, potato salad, watermelon, cookie, pickle and water or lemonade. For dessert, members of the Meeker United Methodist Church are once again offering their homemade pies for sale.
Also returning this year is the annual Main Street Madness Three-on-Three basketball tournament sponsored by the ERBM Recreation and Park District. The tournament will start at 1 p.m. on the old elementary school courts.
Rounding out this year’s downtown events will be the Rio Blanco County Historical Society’s Bank Robbery reenactment at 3 p.m. in the intersection of Sixth and Main streets.
