The annual Black Forest Festival took place Aug. 15 at the newly constructed Black Forest Log School Park. The festival included a dedication ceremony for the log school and the memorial that commemorates the 2013 Black Forest fire.The festival began with the traditional Boy Scouts pancake breakfast and a parade. Vendors were set up in the log school park, and festival attendees had a chance to peruse various arts and crafts and partake in pony rides, a petting zoo and a dunk tank.During the dedication ceremony, emcee Leif Garrison said that previous festivals had been held on the same site; but, after the fire, everything had been torn down. The new park was built using wood reclaimed from the burned trees. ìBlack Forest as a community is still standing, and will always be strong,î he said.Gov. John Hickenlooper addressed the crowd during the fire memorial dedication ceremony: ìWe are the national model of when disaster hits, how you should respond. Weíve got more rebuilding to do, and the state is here beside you as you do that rebuilding.îU.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn also spoke during the ceremony, with Pastor Ken Hohag from the Black Forest Lutheran Church saying a few words of devotion.A live band performed under the newly built park pavilion, and Firehouse Barbeque and Beauís Roadhouse provided the food, with a percentage of the sales going to the Black Forest festival committee and local charities.
