It doesn’t look much like fall today. The mountain is obscured by gray skies and falling snow. The first snow brings it’s own simple magic. 

But two days ago, the landscape looked much different. Fall was still putting on a show with golden leaves and a deep blue Colorado sky. It was perfect, and a perfect backdrop for one of the most festive days of the year in our small town. It was the culmination of Homecoming week, and it is quintessentially small town America. 

For a entire week, all local students, from the tiniest little kindergartener to the seniors in high school participate in spirit week. High school students create a carnival for elementary students. All three schools, elementary, middle and high school, have daily, fun activities and contests for the kids. The high school hosts a dummy hunt and bonfire for it’s students.

It’s an entire week of fun but the highlight is Friday. A sloppy joe luncheon sponsored by the FFA kicks off the day, followed by a good, old fashioned, small town parade complete with floats, horses, classic cars, tiny cheerleaders and bantam league football players, a band, the local sheriff and fire departments, and even a goat cart! Yep! A GOAT cart.

Members of the community take a break from work and busy lives to line Main Street, visit with friends and cheer for their favorite float while children chase the candy raining down from parade participants.

Following the parade, it’s all football. First, the high school girls play a powder puff game, then of course, Friday night finds the boys taking the field. During halftime the Homecoming Court is always accompanied by little escorts.

In a couple of weeks, Main Street will once again be closed to traffic. Straw bales, pumpkins, ghosts and goblins will hang from homes and street lights.  In the crisp, night air festive homeowners, business, churches and community members will pass out candy, hot chocolate and apple cider. One homeowner traditionally builds a bonfire where people gather to visit and warm themselves. Children, adults and even an occasional dog will don costumes and fill the street expressing small town community yet again. 

This is October. This is our community. Celebrations and festivities traditionally reserved for high schoolers or small children spanning multiple generations. The magic isn’t in the activities. There’s nothing unique about Homecoming or Halloween. The magic is the tradition. It’s the sense of coming together, young and old. It’s the community and it’s everything we love about small towns.