Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
World Classic Rockers headline Saturday night’s show
El Dorado’s biggest party of the year returns this year to its original home – downtown. Gold Fest is ready to paint downtown Gold with community festivities, live music, tasty food and fun – and most of it for free.
The festival will return with no entry free or festival button requirement to enter and almost all events will be free to participate in. The decision was made this year to make Gold Fest the fourth weekend every September moving forward, allowing ease of scheduling each year. The festival will be held at the intersection of Central Avenue and Main Street.
The fun begins on Saturday, September 20 with the Gold Rush 10K, 5K and 1K races. The races take off at 8am in East Park. Participants must register online at experienceeldo.com/gold-fest. Race fees vary. See website for details.
The fun continues Sunday, September 21 with Chalk the Walk sponsored by Equality El Dorado. The competition will span all ages from Sept. 21-25 as artists create their best chalk art for a chance to win $100 in Gold Fest tokens.
The mysterious Medallion Hunt begins on Monday, September 22 with the first clue being posted online and on City Hall front doors at 9am. Additional clues will be posted each morning thereafter until the medallion is found. The medallion will be hidden on city-owned property. The founder is instructed to bring it to City Hall for a $500 cash prize. Previous winners are not eligible. This event is free to participate in.
The festivities will end with an all-day block party on September 27. From 2-10pm, festival goers can enjoy an artisan market, food court, a kid zone, rock climbing wall, mechanical bull, competitions, photo pop-up, live music and more!
The classic competitions held include a pie eating contest, burger eating content and battle cry and best beard contests sponsored. Prior registration is not required, but can be done online at experieneeldo.com, or at the Experience El Dorado booth during the block party on the day of. Contests are free to participate in, and winners will receive exclusive prizes.
The two musical acts for the night, 24K Magic: The World’s #1 Bruno Mars Tribute Show, will kick off at 7pm before the headliner, World Classic Rockers, closes Gold Fest with a show beginning at 8pm.
The World Classic Rockers is a “supergroup” band, founded in 1995 by Nick St. Nicholas of Steppenwolf. Members of the band features former members of Journey, Santana, Steppenwolf, Boston and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
A full schedule of the week’s events will be included in Saturday’s edition of the Butler County Times-Gazette.
