Town Prepares for 135th Anniversary Celebration
Rick Langenberg
The Green Box Arts Festival concluded its 17th season with a bang, and with bullish event organizers wondering how they can beat 2025, when it comes to attendees and overall energy.
Plus, the two-week gala, complete with 150-plus events, reaped the benefits of Mother Nature’s kinder grace for the Ute Pass community this time of year, with no major rain storms during event times and only one cancelled event. That fact alone is enough for a post-festival party, especially at the beginning of Colorado’s often turbulent monsoon time.
“This far exceeded our expectations,” said Chris Keesee, co-founder of the event, and the trustee for the Kirkpatrick Family Fund as the festival wound to a conclusion on July 12 with the local Farm Stand filled with dancers during the final Silent Disco party. “We are very happy with how this year’s event turned out.”
Nope, Johnny Travolta won’t get his title of disco king stripped away from his antics in Saturday Night Fever but the overall enthusiasm displayed by participants of a variety of ages from pre-teens to plus 70-ers in Green Box’s final party commanded considerable attention. This high-energy level became a trademark feature for nearly every event.
“We were very happy with this year’s festival,” said Scott Levy, executive director of the festival. Levy estimated that the art gala and the various displays generated more than 16,000 participants this year. “All of our events were sold out, and there was just a lot of energy,” said Levy.
And although it can’t be documented yet, the 2025 festival appeared to generate more participants from outside of the area, compared to previous years.
Levy contends that one of the stand-out features, which still will remain in place for another two months, was the signature art display, “Off the Beaten Path.” This is designed by Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics and encompasses a 6,000-square-foot kinetic sculpture, resembling a living tapestry and canopy of color suspended above the lake and Gazebo Park. Composed of ultra-light, kite-like materials, the installation is inspired by natural phenomena like the murmuration of birds and schools of fish.
The display became a big crowd-pleaser around sunset hours and during the weekend. In fact, when the display was temporarily taken down due to environmental concerns over certain particles shedding and trickling into the lake, many locals and preliminary festival-goers expressed much disappointment, posing the question, “What happened to the giant kite display?”
But technical changes were made, and the sculpture was re-installed, with a much better protective netting mechanism, just prior to the official opening of the Green Box Arts Festival.
“All of our art installation were very popular,” said Levy.
He also cited much enthusiasm over the events, with a focus this year on Colorado fine arts. Performances by the Colorado Ballet received stellar reviews, as did The Moth Project and the opening of the GMF Horse Wellness Open House, offering rehabilitation services for former race, performance and ranch horses, as they adjust to a new chapter of their lives.
Levy also mentioned the community events as a huge success with a completely filled-to-capacity July 4th block party, showcasing a revving performance by Badda Boom Brass Band, infusing the sound of New Orleans street music into an electric mix of hip hop, funk, party anthems and world music. This provided a definite unusual combination, but after all, this is Green Box.
“There wasn’t a parking spot in town,” said Levy.
In fact, many insiders say the biggest winner of the festival deals with how the community and crowds of visitors have embraced the festival. Seventeen years ago, festival-goers were left with the feeling, “What the heck is going on?”
That is not the case anymore, when it comes to Green Box Arts. Levy attributes a big turnaround with its year-round focus and artist-in-residency program that houses individuals for specific projects. In fact, some of these art endeavors become part of the regular Green Box festival.
Fire Scares
If there was a downer for the 2025 gala, organizers regret the forced temporary closure of the Blue Moose Tavern and Cantina Verde restaurant, resulting from an electrical fire in the basement of the building on the afternoon of July 3. Fire trucks were summoned from the GMF/Chipita Park Fire Department and an investigation was launched into the blaze that was quickly doused. On the upside, no injuries occurred and the overall exterior building remains unscathed. On the downside, both businesses were shut down, just prior to the busiest days of the season. A small hand-written sign remained attached to the Blue Moose, with a Happy July 4th message to their regular customers.
“It was unfortunate that these local businesses did not get the full benefit from the festival. That is really is our only regret,” said Larry Keigwin, co-founder of the Green Box Arts Festival.
However, Mayor Todd Dixon, at the mayor’s forum, stated that luck still prevailed for GMF as if the fire occurred early in the morning, the town could have lose an entire block.
With the closure of these eateries, other local business had to make up the difference, with Painted Bear shop selling out of ice cream cones and typical tourism-related items.
Business co-owner Mike Frey said they noticed a record number of people from Colorado Springs. “We were slammed,” admitted business co-owner Margaret Frey.
No letup is in sight for GMF, as this Saturday the town prepares for the 87th running of Bronc Day, showcasing one of the more scenic and unique parades in the region. This year’s Bronc Day celebrates the 135th anniversary of Green Mountain Falls. According to Bronc Day organizers, the event “prides itself on its authentic Colorado charm-with horses, cowboy hats and western music and dancing.”
