Mark your calendars: Hootenanny at River Bend to take place on August 28th

The Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) and Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund (LEAF) are teaming together for a second year to bring you a fun-filled family-friendly event. The end of summer Hootenanny at River Bend is set for Sunday, August 28th from 2pm to 7pm. There will be something for everyone: live music, kids zone, dance performance, silent auction, cornhole tournament and the ever popular rubber ducky race. I cannot think of a better way to support two of my favorite non-profit organizations in town. Since LEAF has had difficulty sourcing food for Lyons Community Food Pantry, it would be greatly appreciated if you could bring one or more of the following food items to donate: sliced bread, condiments (ketchup, pickles, jam, jelly, honey, mustard, mayo, etc), cereal, snacks (crackers, chips, fruit snacks, etc), tomato products (tomato sauce, paste, pasta sauce, etc), canned meals like ravioli, stew, soup (but not chicken noodle!). LEAF’s van will be parked outside the entrance. Feel free to drop by donations as you enter the event space.

The Hootenanny will feature live music from Daniel Rodriguez and friends. You may know this singer-songwriter as he is based in Lyons. He was a founding member of the band Elephant Revival. Rumor has it that Dan is currently on tour with the Lumineers. Boulder Weekly refers to Rodriguez’s voice as “A timeless voice, deep and hearty, weathered but comforting.” We are very grateful that he has accepted to entertain us from 3-4:30pm.  Perfect for a Lyons Hootenanny! 
In addition to musical entertainment, we will feature two dance performances by Lyons’ very own Mayama Dance Company. We always look forward to seeing what the fantastic local dance company has in store. Besides, they will show us some moves to try out. So, be sure to wear your dancing shoes or cowboy boots. They will be performing from 4:45pm to 5:15pm.
For the kiddos, we’ll have a wonderful children’s area designed and presented by Rainbow Lightning Productions, whose mission is to keep the inner child inspired. This nonprofit based out of Crestone, Colorado creates playscapes and activities where kids can have an exploratory and fun experience. Colorado Fairy Hair will pay us a visit from 2-5pm for all of you who are looking to add a little sparkle to your hair. 

The rubber duck race will take place at 5:30pm when we will be dropping the ducks in the river from the bridge on Highway 36. Watching the ducks float down the river is so much fun! You can still sign up for your duck numbers at the Sandstone concerts on Wednesday, August 17th and 24th. You can also register the day of the Hootenanny from 2-5pm at the LEAF tent. The cost per ducky is $5. A raft of ducks cost $20 for five. The cash prize for 1st place is $100, 2nd place is $50, and 3rd place is $25. 

There will also be a cornhole tournament for cornhole lovers of all ages. We are offering a $100 cash prize for the winners of the Cornhole tournament. That’s right, there’ll be a cornhole tournament with help from Longmont’s former Cornhole Champion! Teams of two can sign up at the LEAF booth at the Hootenanny. The tournament will start at 3pm. Plan to get there early to participate. The cost is $20 per team of two. 

Since this is a fundraiser, we are planning a silent auction, too. We will be featuring chances to win mountain getaways, a local staycation or a stay in a lovely Mexican casa near the ocean. We will offer all kinds of services from oil changes to massages to estate planning. We will also have local art, concert tickets, dinners, airplane rides and more! Come to the Hootenanny to shop and check out an awesome way to take away something for yourself while supporting LEAF and LCF. 

But wait, there’s more! What if you get hungry or thirsty? There will be three food trucks at the Hootenanny, with a variety of food for sale. McDevitt Tacos will have a variety of tacos on offer, including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan choices. For you seafood fans, check out The Rollin’ Lobster, with lobster, crab cakes, and whoopie pie. For dessert, you can also indulge in ice cream treats from Sweet Cow. Yes, the MooMobile will be at the Hootenanny, dishing out your favorite flavors like Ozo coffee and chocolate chip cookie dough in cups, cones, or ice cream sammies. 

Ah, but you’ve worked up a mighty thirst with all this activity, so we will have a choice of beverages for purchase, including wine, Oskar Blues beer and hard seltzer or Spirit Hound vodka lemonade to quench your thirst on the last of these summer days by the river. 
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We want to thank all the sponsors of the event who are helping to pay for the overhead costs. We appreciate your generosity. If you bring a motorized vehicle, we are asking for  $5 for parking. Please leave your furry friends at home. Come out and have some fun and help those in need at the same time. It’s definitely a win-win at the Hootenanny!