Downtown Fort Collins girds for NewWestFest

FORT COLLINS — Marked by some venue changes and tightened security, the 11th annual Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest will draw its usual throngs of music lovers to Old Town Fort Collins next weekend.

Produced by the Downtown Fort Collins Business Association and Bohemian Nights LLC with support from the Bohemian Foundation, the free music festival will showcase more than 70 Colorado bands, six stages of continuous entertainment and more than 250 specialty, art and food booths during its Aug. 14-16 run — with purchases made with nonrefundable “festival bucks” that can be purchased at booths around the site.

Old Town Square still will be open to pedestrian traffic and businesses will be accessible, but — unlike previous years — no music programming will be staged there this year. The Downtown Development Authority’s $3.9 million renovation of the square it owns, which began last spring and was to have been completed in time for NewWestFest, was delayed by issues including rainy spring weather, according to DDA executive director Matt Robenalt, who estimated in a memo to his staff that it would be completed by Oct. 18.

SPONSORED CONTENT

The many benefits of simple, coordinated healthcare

Kaiser Permanente combines health care and coverage in one connected system to maximize employee health and minimize employer costs.

The DDA and general contractor Mortenson Construction “are in close coordination with the Bohemian staff and Downtown Business Association staff regarding the plaza’s accessibility and safety for NewWestFest,” Robenalt wrote.

Several new security measures are in place this year, according to festival organizers. All personal items will be subject to search throughout the festival area, Smoking will be prohibited in all areas of the event, and “selfie sticks” also will be banned.

Festival hours will be 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The complete schedule is online at bohemiannights.org.

Besides the Colorado bands, three nationally known acts will perform as well: Flobots, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and — to lure a somewhat older demographic — the Steve Miller Band, whose 1970s hits include “Fly Like an Eagle” and “The Joker.” That band’s 8:30 p.m. Saturday performance will be simulcast at three locations: the Library Park Stage, on the screen at the northwest corner of Library Park, and the Downtown Business Association’s Kids’ World Stage.

Performances by Colorado bands on the Mountain Avenue Stage will be broadcast live on KRFC-FM 88.9 and streamed online at KRFCFM.org. Many bands will be signing their compact discs after their performances. All proceeds from bands’ merchandise sales go directly to the artists. With every purchase of $10 or more of Colorado band merchandise, festival-goers will receive a free pair of Bohemian Nights sunglasses or earbuds.

Among the area artists scheduled to perform are Firefall, a group founded in Boulder that also had a string of national hits in the ’70s including “You Are the Woman” and “Just Remember I Love You,” and the Denver-based Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, who channel such soul greats as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave. That band was featured earlier this month on NBC-TV’s “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and will release its debut album later this month.

Since the bands represent many different styles of music, members of the Fort Collins Musician’s Association will staff an “Ask Me About Local Music” booth to offer customized Colorado music recommendations and sample music from all of the Colorado bands.

Volunteers from Bohemian Nights and the Downtown Fort Collins Business Association will fill more than 650 shifts over the course of the weekend. Volunteer positions with Bohemian Nights are still available. Volunteer shifts are available for all three days and range from two to five hours. Shifts begin as early as 8 a.m. each day. Those interested in volunteering with Bohemian Nights can view more information online, or call 970-227-1933.

Two main sections are specifically designed for children. Located in the Library Park Courtyard, Kids’ Music Adventure will allow children of all ages to make their own instruments, interact with real instruments, enjoy live musical performances, participate in music workshops and more. Also, a Kids’ World produced by the Downtown Fort Collins Business Association will include bouncy castles, a giant slide, a petting zoo, pony rides, an obstacle course and a carnival.

A Bohemian Nights mobile app for iOS and Android mobile devices is available to provide schedules, maps and other festival information including updates in case of inclement weather or other unplanned occurrences.

The MAX fixed-guideway bus rapid transit system along the Mason Street corridor will operate during all festival hours, including extended hours until midnight on Friday and Saturday, as well as Sunday service from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Other Transfort routes will not have service beyond their regular hours.

Attendees are encouraged to use temporary bike parking, available for the duration of the festival on Walnut Street near Linden Street and near the southeast corner of Peterson and Olive streets. Bicycles left at temporary parking after the conclusion of the festival will be removed at the owner’s expense.

Vehicle parking is available in the Old Town Parking Structure at Remington Street and Mountain Avenue, as well as the Civic Center Parking Structure at Mason Street and Laporte Avenue across from the Downtown Transit Center. Parking in those structures will be at regular rates on Friday, $5 all day Saturday and free all day Sunday. Parking also will be available on public streets except those streets closed for the festival. A map showing street closures is online.