Hayden Daze Returns July 17 With New Cardboard Regatta and Home Run Derby

“‘We’re very excited about all the events that we have that really highlight all the community’s done for the town, the town’s appreciation for the community, and to bring everybody together to meet your neighbor,’” said Recreation Director Rhonda Sweetser.

It’s a simple goal for an event that has become the heartbeat of Hayden, but getting there requires showing up. The annual Hayden Daze celebration returns this Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, transforming Dry Creek Park (513 Poplar St.) into a hub of local activity. Art Director Sarah Stinson and Sweetser have spent months curating a schedule that balances old favorites with new additions, ensuring the weekend remains focused on fun and entertainment for all ages.

The party kicks off Friday night at 6 p.m. in the beer garden, where live music will run until 10 p.m. The set features Constant Change, a local band that Sweetser noted hasn’t played the event in some time. Her excitement about having them on stage isn’t just professional courtesy; it’s a signal that Hayden Daze is looking inward, prioritizing homegrown talent over outside draws.

Saturday starts early for those willing to rise before the sun fully clears the valley. At 8 a.m., yoga begins on the green, followed immediately by the Josh Webster Memorial Disc Golf Tournament. Registration for both happens on-site, meaning you don’t need to pre-register or worry about missing a deadline. If you sleep in, the volleyball tournament starts at 9 a.m., with registration available online at HaydenColorado.com.

Then comes the parade at 10:30 a.m., which serves as the traditional anchor of the day. But look past the floats and flags, and you’ll see where the town is heading. The cornhole tournament follows at 11:30 a.m., leading into two entirely new events this year: the Home Run Derby at 12:30 p.m. and the Cardboard Regatta at 1:30 p.m.

The Home Run Derby offers no official prize — just bragging rights — which Sweetser hopes is enough to keep it on the calendar if locals embrace it. The Cardboard Regatta, organized by the town’s arts council, is Hayden’s twist on the winter season closer at Steamboat Resort. Competitors design and decorate cardboard boats, don group costumes, and launch them into the pond at Dry Creek Park.

Throughout the day, food trucks line up alongside artisan vendors. Face painters keep kids occupied while adults contribute to a community mural. Added last year, the 8-by-8-foot “giant paint-by-number” project is Stinson’s favorite part of the weekend. It’s a tangible way for residents to leave their mark on the Hayden Center building, literally adding color to the space they use every day.

Since its inception in 1978, the core of Hayden Daze has remained mostly unchanged. Originally dubbed “Hayden Appreciation Day,” the event was designed to honor individuals and companies investing in West Routt County. A clipping from the 1979 event reads, “The purpose of the day is to honor and appreciate the individuals and companies who have invested in West Routt County and tried to make it a better place to live.”

That purpose holds true today. The events shift, new activities are added, but the recognition of local craftsmanship remains central. Sweetser emphasized that all events are open to visitors and anyone who wants to participate, reinforcing the idea that this isn’t just for residents, it’s for everyone who calls Hayden home.

Stand there long enough and you can see the effort in the details: the specific spot where the cardboard boats will float, the empty space on the mural waiting for a neighbor’s brushstroke. It’s not just a schedule of events. It’s a community showing up for itself.