The Dinosaur Journey Museum has been working with neighboring businesses to promote events, activities, and commerce south of Interstate 70 in Fruita. In addition to networking among the individual businesses, the group has formally organized themselves under the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce as the Southside Marketplace in 2016.
The Southside Marketplace will host the third annual Family Fun Fair on July 3rd as a family-friendly festival preceding the city’s fireworks display at the James R. Robb State Park – Fruita Section. This is one of the largest festivals on the south side of Fruita. Julia McHugh, Curator of Paleontology, has been tightly coordinating with the group to plan the event. The Family Fun Fair will take place in the Kokopelli Commercial Park area on the Southside (near Rib City, US Bank, Pablo’s Pizza, etc.) and Kokopelli Avenue will be closed from the Frontage Road to Jurassic Court to create a safe walkway for kids and families between the different areas of the festival. The Family Fun Fair is FREE to the public and runs from 5-9 pm, with the fireworks starting at 9 pm. It will feature old fashioned games, food, music, vendors, a biergarten, prizes, face painting, and more. A shuttle bus will take visitors to the event from parking areas on the north and south sides. We are still planning the event, so details will be materializing soon. Keep an eye out for posters and promotions with more information as we get closer to July 3rd.
Other events in 2016 will include the popular Rimrock Rodeos through the summer, Dinosaur Day on June 11th at Dinosaur Journey, Trick or Treat Street and Monster Mash on Halloween, The Southside Chocolate Walk on Dec. 3rd and more. Visit Southside Marketplace here, or go on Facebook to here to see the full calendar of events.