From reggae to rock, and now mariachi, the Greeley Downtown Development Authority’s annual Friday Fest celebration has outdone itself this year. 23 performances over 16 Summer Fridays have given the Greeley community a fantastic opportunity to socialize and see all that the downtown district has to offer.
The final Friday Fest for 2024 took place from 6-11 p.m. Sep. 13 in downtown Greeley on Ninth St. Most are probably no stranger to the event, as it has been going strong for over 10 years. But the summer event is always evolving and adding new incentives to take your weekend out on the town.
The main draw of Friday Fest is the music. For the final 2024 performance, the lineup was magnificent. Two different mariachi bands performed to celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month on Sep. 15. This date was chosen to celebrate the anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence on Sep. 16, 1810. Mariachi Aguila, a professional band from Commerce City, and Mariachi Ositos, a K-8 band from Greeley, provided authentic Hispanic music for a crowd that could not stop dancing.
The UNC Marching Band also performed, as a celebration of UNC being recognized as a
Hispanic-Serving Institution. Daniela Hernandez, the Marketing and Events Coordinator for the
Downtown Development Authority, spoke about how these two events aligned perfectly for the
final Friday Fest performance to become a celebration of Hispanic pride.
“We’re also celebrating UNC night,” Hernandez said. “UNC became a Hispanic-Serving Institution, so we wanted to pair that with our Mexican independence celebration.”
The music isn’t the only draw of the event. One thing that many will find interesting at
Friday Fest is the “Go Cup” which is a reusable cup that you can use at one of the many
participating bars and lounges and then take it elsewhere while you socialize. For example, you
could grab a cocktail at Gentry’s and then relax in the speakeasy at The Kress.
“There definitely is some history behind it. I took over for, her name is Alison Hamling, and she basically helped Go Cup begin and pass the legislation for it," Hernandez said. "She helped to make sure we had all our ducks in a row, putting in certifications for it, we have to apply for it. So the whole incentive behind it is just to create an experience downtown.”
It may sound like a relatively simple concept, but the work it took for the Go Cup to
become a reality says otherwise. Hernandez spoke of the long process it took to get this cup into
the hands of consumers.
Even if it doesn’t feel like a night for drinks, there is still much more to see and enjoy.
Balloon makers and face painters lined the streets for kids and kids-at-heart alike. And, of
course, it’s impossible to go to Friday Fest and not see the fire spinners.
Friday Fest is mainly aimed at creating a community hub for Greeley residents, along
with showing those new to Greeley that there is more than cows and farms. Keegan Russell, A
fifth-year UNC student who attended Friday Fest for the first time, said that he was surprised by
everything that the downtown district had to offer.
“It was a great experience. The community, the music, the drinks, it was all awesome," Russell said. "As a Hispanic student, it was really cool to see my culture be recognized like that. I would definitely go again.”
If you missed out on Friday Fest, don’t worry. There are many upcoming events being
planned by the Downtown Development Authority, such as Oktoberfest on Sep. 27 and 28.
Anyone interested can find more information at greeleydowntown.com.
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