Same as it ever was
Mountain Fair bills itself as a “Music, art, pie-bakin’, wood-splittin’, fly-castin’, belly-dancin’, fun-lovin’ festival since 1972.” Remarkably little has changed in 50 years in that respect.
The opening blessing and drum circle led by Laurie Loeb kicks off the festivities on Friday afternoon. Artisans fill Sopris Park with everything from pottery and paintings to jewelry and handcrafted goods (booths report over a million dollars of sales over the weekend).
Crowd favorites such as the wood-splitting contests, pie and cake competitions, horseshoes, limbo, bike races, fly-casting and the singer-songwriter contest continue to give Mountain Fair the feel of an old-fashioned country fair.
Live music remains the heartbeat of the weekend. Fifteen bands will grace the main stages over the three days, with tunes spreading out across downtown Carbondale.
The tug-of-war contest between Carbondale’s fire and police departments is a hallmark of Mountain Fair, happening this weekend in Sopris Park and downtown Carbondale.Aspen Daily News file
While many bands are Colorado-based, the fair brings in national bands and artists as well.
Friday’s headliner Dizgo blends jamtronica with deep-pocket funk, deep-groove soul, and psychedelic rock. Saturday’s headliner is High Step Society, a “high-flying, beat-dropping, big band dance party with an ear to the past.” Moontricks will close the festival Sunday, mixing organic folk, roots rock and old-time blues with modern electronic production.
Other artists and bands performing at earlier times over the weekend include Carbondale’s Tommy the Animal, Della Mae, Marfa, Antonio Lopez Band, StarFish Enterprise, The Psycodelics and more.
Over the past several years, Mountain Fair introduced the Oasis Block Party, which extends from Sopris Park onto Main Street, transforming what was once primarily a children’s corner into an all-ages community gathering space featuring a second music stage, beer garden, interactive activities and performances ranging from line dancing and Latin social dance to breakdancing and community workshops.
“We wanted to make it an all-inclusive environment,” Stout said. “Not just somewhere parents take their kids, but another place where everyone can participate.”
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