Fully intending to live up to its moniker, “Where FUN happens naturally!” Paonia is hosting its 62nd annual Cherry Days this weekend.

The events run from July 3-5 in downtown Paonia and at the town park.

Thursday, July 3,  is Downtown Day with numerous festivities planned. Paonia Public Library will have its book sale from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. From 10 to 5, walk from gallery to gallery for the Art Gallery Walk. Many different artists will be featured at the Blue Sage Gallery, Expressions Book Store and Gallery, Wild Women Gallery, HunterGatherer Gallery and the Elsewhere Studio.

Come decorate your bike at Poulos Park from 10-3 and then ride it in the July 4th parade.

Enjoy free lunch from 11-2 on Grand Avenue by First Colorado National Bank, Paonia State Bank, the North Fork Bank and Homestead Market. Stop by the Paradise Theatre for a special family matinee at 1 p.m.

Cherry Cook-Off judging will take place at the HunterGatherer Gallery at 6:30 p.m.

Other activities on July 3 will happen at Paonia Town Park. From 3-5:30 p.m. will be the free  children’s old fashioned carnival. There will be face and finger painting, a bubble station, Play-Doh fun, snake painting, mask making, stamp arts, make an ornament and make edible necklaces. Races for kids 3-10 years of age start at 3. Included are potato sack races, three-legged races, a hula hoop contest, a tug-of-war and much more. On the gazebo from 5-6:30, Tommy Paxton will perform music and stories for kids and families.

The Brown’s Amusements Carnival opens at 5 p.m. and runs through July 5. There will be rides for all ages and include the Expo Wheel, a new Merry-Go-Round, Raiders, Super Slide, Yoyo and Tilt-A-Whirl. Carnival wrist bands pre-sale are $17 or $25 at the gate. They are now on sale in Paonia at Dependable Lumber, North Fork Bank and the Paradise Theater; in Hotchkiss at the Creamery Arts Center; in Crawford at the Desperado; and in Delta at City Market.

Pink Helmet Band hosts a dance from 7-10 at the Paonia Teen Center. Admission is $3 or $5 for couples.

Independence Day begins with the traditional pancake breakfast by the Paonia Fire Department served at Paonia Town Hall from 7 to 9 a.m.

The big Fourth of July parade begins on Grand Avenue at 10 a.m. Follow the parade to the town park where arts, crafts and food vendors will be open until 6 p.m. Western Slope Environmental Resource Council will have a silent auction. The carnival opens at 11.

There will be special entertainment in the park at the gazebo until 5 p.m. The music starts at 11 a.m. with Russ Chapman followed throughout the day by The Sunshine Singers, Mike Gwinn, Hard Pressed, Yvonne Meek and Jed Kovach, Devon Meyers and Michael Meadows and Pink Helmet Band.

Cherry Days ceremonies at the town park start at noon. The Ute Trails Car Club will have their classic car show from 12 until 4. Don’t forget to bring your camera.
Parade winners will be announced at the gazebo at 1:15.

At 2 p.m., stop by the Paonia Chamber of Commerce booth for cherry cobbler and ice cream.

Cherry Days button prize winners will be announced at 3:30.

There will be four exciting events held at different locations. Enjoy an ice cream social at the Paonia Historical Society Museum off Highway 187. Then continue down to the North Fork River Park at 5:30 for the annual Duck-A-Thon when rubber ducks race down the river to benefit the new Paonia Library. The North Fork Horse Patrol will have a bull riding competition at the arena at 7 p.m.

The night of July 4th culminates with fireworks by the Paonia Fire Department at Volunteer Park. Sponsored by the Paonia Chamber of Commerce, this will be the first fireworks extravaganza in nine years. The chamber of commerce requests carpooling. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and be sure to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
Saturday, July 5, starts with a 5K for adults and the Kids’ 1-Mile Run/Walk at the north side of Paonia Town Park. Registration is at 7:30 a.m.

There will be another day of arts, crafts, food vendors and carnival rides at the park all day long.

Live entertainment at the gazebo will be from noon to 5 p.m. with Harry Seavey, the comedy troupe Ship of Fools, Jon Hickham, Roundabout, Ellen Stapenhorst, Bill Power and the Silvertone Devils and Halden Wofford and the HiBeams.

Saturday night, activities move to downtown with a youth dance party with DJs Skip and Patty at the Blue Sage Center at 7:30. At 8 p.m., Halden Wofford and the HiBeams perform dance music at the Paradise Theatre. Baby sitting will be available upstairs at the Blue Sage. The cost is $10 per child or two for $15. Call 527-SAGE to reserve child care space.