Every summer, the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival gives royal titles to three community members who’ve positively contributed through their participation or service in the city.
This year’s 2023 Royal Court honors Countess Janace Fischer, Count Scott Shields and Grand Marshal John Bandimere, Jr.
The 2023 Carnation Festival takes place Aug. 11 through 13 at Anderson Park, West 44th Avenue and Field Street, in Wheat Ridge.
The Royal Court will ride in the parade on Saturday morning, attend festival award presentations Saturday afternoon and wear a sash with personal pizzazz.
Countess: Janace Fischer
Janace served as the principal at Wilmore-Davis Elementary School for six years until it recently closed. She’s been a Wheat Ridge Rotary Club member for three years.
For her, Wheat Ridge has always been about a family feel.
“People have lived there for generations and they’re so committed to helping each other out.”
She’s looking forward to the next chapter in her career, staying within the Jeffco school district as Assistant Director of Community and Family Partnerships, overseeing the Family Response Service Team (FRST).
Janace says she’s honored to be named a royal for the Carnation Festival.
“It’s so thoughtful. It’s a really nice way to wrap things up with the school. I really appreciate it.”
Meanwhile, she’s enjoying the outdoors, yoga, cooking, reading and time with her husband, dogs and two teenage kids.
Count: Scott Shields
Scott spent the last 25 years in Wheat Ridge working at Family Tree, an organization that provides services for children suffering from neglect or abuse, and survivors of domestic violence.
He says most of the team lives in Wheat Ridge and the location is ideal because it is central and gives them easy accessibility to serve all seven counties. Scott says he feels Wheat Ridge has a very family-oriented mentality and city leadership is very community-focused.
Scott is looking forward to his role as Count in the parade, especially as a sense of closure after working there for over two decades.
He recently announced his departure as CEO from Family Tree: “It was not a decision I came to easily but I’m looking forward to a new challenge.”
While he looks for his next chapter, he’s enjoying live music, mountain biking and time with his kids and wife.
Grand Marshal: John Bandimere, Jr.
The name Bandimere should ring a bell for most people in Wheat Ridge. The family has been part of the community since 1939. They’re probably best known for the Bandimere Racetrack in Morrison, which opened in 1958 and just held its final season before moving to a new location.
Throughout the years, the Bandimere family has come to know almost everyone in the area. John delights in telling the stories of various people and places that make up Wheat Ridge’s history. He also credits the local bowling alley as the place he met “the most important part of his life,” his wife Lorraine, a Wheat Ridge native.
He says being Grand Marshal of the parade is a nice conclusion for the Morrison racetrack.
“We have a whole group of people that have become family,” he says.
In the meantime, he’s enjoying the shops and people in town. Be sure to ask him where to find the best cinnamon buns!
Carnation Festival Schedule
The 2023 Carnation Festival takes place Aug. 11 through 13 at Anderson Park, West 44th Avenue and Field Street, in Wheat Ridge.
Please leave pets at home.
No alcoholic beverages are permitted outside of festival grounds.
For more information, visit https://thecarnationfestival.com
Friday, Aug. 11, 4 to 11 p.m.
5 p.m. Free Shuttle service Starts
• FirstBank, 44th Ave. & Wadsworth Blvd.
• St. James Episcopal Church, 44th Ave. & Brentwood St.
• Pennington Fields, 44th Ave. & Jellison St.
• Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, 44th Ave. & Kipling St.
• Clear Creek Church – 10555 W. 44th Ave.
4-11 p.m. Beer Garden, Food Court, Carnival Rides & Vendors
4-9 p.m. Wheat Ridge Art League Fine Art Show, Anderson Building Gymnasium, plus Outdoor Art Demonstrations
4:30-8 p.m. Famous Spaghetti Dinner, Food Court Main Tent
4:30 p.m. Live Music – Brothers of the Son, Carnation Pavilion
5 p.m. Live Music – Rooster, Main Stage
6:30 p.m. Live Music – Forever Man, Carnation Pavilion
7 p.m. Live Music – Just a Girl, Main Stage
8:30 p.m. Live Music – My Blue Sky, Carnation Pavilion
9:05 p.m. Live Music – Sisters of Rock, Main Stage
9:15 p.m. FIREWORKS!
11:30 p.m. Free Shuttle service ends
Saturday, Aug. 12, noon to 11 p.m.
7 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Grange Pancake Breakfast, 3850 High Court (Behind Wheat Ridge Cyclery)
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Carnation Festival Grand Parade, 38th Ave. between Ames and Upham Streets
Noon Free Shuttle service Starts
• FirstBank, 44th Ave. & Wadsworth Blvd.
• St. James Episcopal Church, 44th Ave. & Brentwood St.
• Pennington Fields, 44th Ave. & Jellison St.
• Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, 44th Ave. & Kipling St.
• Clear Creek Church, 10555 W. 44th Ave.
Noon-11 p.m. Beer Garden, Food Court, Carnival Rides & Vendors
Noon-9 p.m. Wheat Ridge Art League Fine Art Show, Anderson Building Gymnasium, plus Outdoor Art Demonstrations
2:30 p.m. Parade Awards, Main Stage
2:30 p.m. Live Music – Grunge Lite, Carnation Pavilion
3 p.m. Home Baked Pie Contest Judging Starts(Bring Your Pie Entry between 1:30 and 2:50 p.m.)
3 p.m. Live Music – Hey Lady!, Main Stage
3:30 p.m. Home Baked Pie Contest Winner Announced, Pie slices available for purchase from 4 p.m. until gone.
4:30-8 p.m. Famous Spaghetti Dinner, Food Court Main Tent
4:30 p.m. Live Music – Edison’s Medicine, Carnation Pavilion
5 p.m. Live Music – Message in a Bottle, Main Stage
6:30 p.m. Live Music – Fire and Ice, Carnation Pavilion
7 p.m. Live Music – Nick Schnebelen Band, Main Stage
8:30 p.m. Live Music – Bad Colorado, Carnation Pavilion
9:15 p.m. FIREWORKS!
9:10 p.m. Live Music – That Eighties Band, Main Stage
11:30 p.m. Free Shuttle service ends
Sunday, Aug. 13, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
No shuttle service on Sunday
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Big Wheels on the Farm Car Show
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Beer Garden, Food Court, Carnival Rides, Vendors
11 a.m. Live Music – The Delta Sonics, Main Stage
Noon – 4 p.m. Wheat Ridge Art League Fine Art Show, Anderson Building Gymnasium, plus Outdoor Art Demonstrations
1:30 p.m. Live Music – Hazel Miller and the Collective, Main Stage
3:50 p.m. Live Music – Chris Duarte Group, Main Stage
