Timnath celebrates Founders Day in a big way

By Dan MacArthur
Fossil Creek Current

On the cusp of its suburban conversion, Timnath on Sept. 8 invites its neighbors to share in the celebration of its rural history and heritage at the second annual Founders Day.

A parade, antique car show, live music, historical riding tours and great zucchini race will highlight the event beginning at 9 a.m. in greater downtown Timnath.

After a slow and chilly start last year, the event was advanced by two weeks and funding secured from the town council to expand and improve the celebration for its reprise.

"I think we'll get a much better turnout," said Denise Fisher, a member of the Columbine Club and Timnath Community Garden, principal organizers of the event.

"We want it to grow year after year," she said, "to preserve the character of Timnath before it all changes."

Vendor booths offering handmade and homemade arts and crafts will be located on Fourth Street along with the community garden booth. Children's offerings include face-painting, a balloon artist, jump castle and petting zoo open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Check-in for the vegetable contest opens at 9 a.m. Judging by Colorado State University Extension Service Master Gardener Susan Bonsall will follow from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A bake sale begins at 9:30 a.m.

The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. headed by grand marshals Edith and Raleigh Brooks. Long-time Timnath residents and boosters, their most recent contribution was leasing the site for the community garden.

They will be joined by alumni of the former Timnath High School that closed in the 1960 consolidation of Colorado school districts. Entries will honor and celebrate the history of Timnath and rural America prior to that time. School and class photos from that earlier era will be on display in the gym.

The 2008 Larimer County Fair and Rodeo Queen Pelar Conaway and her lady-in-waiting Keaton Ramm will also be in the parade and available for autographs afterward.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with entertainment provided by the Goal Diggers 4-H Club demonstrating swing- and line-dancing. An antique car show begins at the same time and continues until 2 p.m.

The Rhythmettes Band will perform starting at noon. Composed of Jane (Blehm) Wilkins, JoAnn (Blehm) Jaerger and Mary (Becker) Donnel, the Timnath hometown trio will play oldies on the accordion, steel guitar and keyboard until 2 p.m.

The first of three history tours will be at 1 p.m. with the other two at 3 and 4 p.m. They will be easy on the feet this year with history buffs riding on a wagon pulled by a tractor.

Registration begins at 1:30 for the crowd-pleasing Great Zucchini Race sponsored by the Timnath Community Garden starting at 2 p.m. "It was a great hit last year," said Fisher. With a defending champ this year, she said the competition is expected to be fierce.

Entries are limited only by imagination and the necessity of incorporating a zucchini into the thundering green racing machines. The vehicle can be no more than 13 inches wide and 14 inches high. Power will be provided only through an incline ramp. Ribbons will be awarded to race winners 12 and younger and 13 and older, as well as for the most creative entries.

The T-Band will perform bluegrass from 2 to 6 p.m. followed by the Luke Ham Sandwich Band from 4 to 6 p.m.

The celebration will conclude with a barbecue beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Entries are still being accepted for vendors and parade participants. Call Scott Beethe at 472-8558 for more information.