Work resuming on Floyd Hill; expect overnight closings

PAGE 7 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLJune 5, 2025

Plenty of festivals, activities

planned for June, summer

Now that June has arrived, local groups are planning a

plethora of activities around Gilpin County, Black Hawk

and Central City in the weeks ahead.

Here’s a list of some of the upcoming events:

· Saturday, June 7- Opening day for the Gilpin

Arts Society’s 78th annual Juried Arts Show at 5 p.m.

in Washington Hall, Central City. (See related story in

· Thursday, June 12 – History Colorado will host a

program about Gilpin County’s Lincoln Hills’ historic past

from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at its location, 1200 Broadway, Denver.

RSPVs are recommended. (See related story.)

· Saturday, June 14 – Madame Lou Bunch Day in Central City. The 51st annual

event includes bed races on Main Street, live music, performances by the Backroom

Cabaret dancers and other activities. The day will conclude with the Miners and Madams

Ball.

· Monday, June 17 – The Belvidere Foundation will host the annual Central City Opera

Family Picnic from 5 to 7 p.m. at the pocket park next to the Belvidere Theater in Central City.

The event and tour of the theater is free and open to the public.

· Saturday, June 21 – Central City Opera’s annual Yellow Rose Ball. This 90-year-

old tradition occurs at the opera property along Eureka Street and features a ceremonial

waltz.

· Saturday, June 21 – A parking lot party, honoring the late Jimmy Lewis, will feature sev-

eral local bands at JKQ BBQ @ Crook’s Palace, Gregory Street, Black Hawk.

· Sunday, June 23 – The annual Family Fun Fishing Clinic, hosted by Gilpin Parks & Rec-

reation, will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at William C. Russell Jr. Park in Central City.

· Saturday, June 28 – Central City Opera’s summer season will begin and run through Aug.

3. Featured this year will be “The Barber of Seville,” “The Knock” and “Once Upon a Mat-

· Saturday, June 28 – Central City’s annual “Stills in the Hills” event on Main Street.

· Saturday, June 28 – The city of Black Hawk’s third annual “Founders’ Day” activities

will return to Gregory Plaza following a one-year hiatus.

· Friday, July 4 – Independence Day.

· Friday, July 4 – Barn Dance to benefit Gilpin County Schools music department

from 1 to 9 p.m. at the barn adjoining the Gilpin Community Center.

· Friday, July 11 through Sunday, July 13 – Gilpin County’s 32nd annual

fair on the grounds of Gilpin Community Center. A parade to kick off the annual

activity is planned to travel through Central City and Black Hawk on Friday morn-

ing, July 11.

· Monday, July 21 through Friday, July 25 – The Fjallraven Classic, an outdoor

trekking experience for 300 pre-registered participants, will cover 30 miles in north-

ern Gilpin and southwest Boulder Counties.

Annual picnic to show

It’s time for the annual Central

City Opera Family Picnic, a time

when the Belvidere Foundation

will dedicate the Shoo Fly portion

of the Belvidere Theater’s restora-

tion. The free event will feature

food, although picnic ants are not

invited.

Every year, the non-profit

Belvidere Foundation and Central

City join forces to host a picnic for

those involved with Central City’s

Opera before the commencement

of the opera’s annual season,

which begins on June 28. Tradi-

tionally, the event takes place in

the gardens next to the Central

City Opera House on Eureka

Street.

This year, however, the event

will move to the pocket park be-

tween City Hall and the Belvidere

Theater on Nevada Street, accord-

ing to Peter Droege, president of

the Belvidere Foundation.

“The event is open to anyone

and everyone,” said Droege.

As in the past, several opera

cast members will perform during

the picnic, which will include food

and drinks. The foundation leader

said JKQ BBQ will have its barbe-

cued items available for the first

125 people who attend the picnic.

This year, however, the event

will feature a dedication ceremony

marking the completion of the

Shoo Fly – the western part of the

theater building. The new Central

City Visitors’ Center is situated

on the lower floor of the Shoo Fly,

having relocated from Eureka

Street a few months ago.

More than 10,000 bricks were

replaced during the initial phase

of the Belvidere, which opened

in the 1880s. It changed owners

and was used for various purposes

throughout the 1900s before fall-

ing into disrepair before the end

of the century. Several years ago,

it was listed as one of Colorado’s

“Most Endangered (Historic)

Central City eventually became

the owners of the building and

partnered with the Belvidere

Foundation to secure grants and

donations to help finance the res-

toration process, which included

removing asbestos.

With the restoration of the Shoo

Fly portion of the building nearly

complete, the Belvidere is working

on the second phase of the prop-

erty’s largest part. Droege said

this phase will include restoring

the theater’s interior, installing an

elevator for ADA compliance, and

revitalizing ground-level spaces to

accommodate community gather-

ings, educational programs, and

commercial tenants.

“This next chapter is not just

about building improvements—

it’s about reigniting a beacon

of culture and togetherness for

Gilpin County,” according to a

foundation brochure.

To date, more than $4.3 million

for the Belvidere Theater restora-

tion has been raised from grants,

private foundation grants, historic

restoration funds, and private

contributions from individuals

and events.

For additional information, visit

TheBelvidere.org.

Work resuming on Floyd Hill; expect overnight closings

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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