North and South Table Mountain
Photo by Liz Erickson
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Thursday, Sep. 3rd
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Golden History Tours
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden Sports
- All day - COMMUNITY CENTER UPSTAIRS CLOSURE
- 9:15-9:45AM - Baby Time - Registration Required
- 10-10:30AM - Call In: Mid-Morning Meditation
- 10-11:30AM - Coffee with a Curator
- 10:30-11:30AM - Art Sprouts
- 1-2:30PM - Computer Foundations: Navigating the Internet
- 3-9PM - 8 Years Anniversary Party @ Coda Brewing
- 3-4:30PM - Vaccine, License & Microchip Clinic
- 4-6PM - Weekly Demonstration - What do you stand for?
- 4-11PM - Cheese Night with Cheese Ranch!
- 4-5:30PM - Collage - Art in Pieces
- 5-8PM - Furst Thursday Yappy Hour
- 6PM - Run Club
- 6PM - Trivia Night @ Launch
- 6-7PM - Ukulele Thursdays
- 6:30-7:30PM - Trivia Night @ Scully's Cafe
- 7:30PM - Taco Town
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
10-11:30AM Coffee with a Curator @ Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave
Join a member of the museum staff as they share some of the items in the collection. Includes coffee, light refreshments, and admission to the museum.
September’s spotlight is on a letter from an Argentinian Gaucho written to his patron in Buenos Aires in 1893 while he was touring with the Wild West. Includes coffee, light refreshments, and admission to the museum. The event is for ages 12 and up. To register visit this link.
Location:
Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave
987½ Lookout Mountain Road (Map)
10:30-11:30AM Art Sprouts @ Foothills Art Center - Astor House
Join us every first Thursday of the month at Foothills Art Center’s Astor House for story time and a hands-on art activity inspired by our book of the day! This class encourages creativity, sensory play, and early art exploration in a fun, welcoming environment. It’s the perfect opportunity for toddlers and their caregivers to explore art and imagination together. Free. More information.
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Astor House
1133 Arapahoe Street (Map)
4-5:30PM Collage - Art in Pieces @ Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
This 6-week hands-on art workshop invites young artists into the exciting world of collage — transforming everyday materials into imaginative works of art. Participants will explore self-expression, learning how to show their ideas and personal identity using basic collage techniques. Through weekly guided sessions, we will experiment with various techniques and work with color and composition. The students will contribute to a community project, work on individual pieces of art weekly, and by the end of the workshop create a unique self-portrait with the collage techniques learned. Register.
Location:
Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
809 15th Street (Map)
5-8PM Furst Thursday Yappy Hour @ Golden Mill
Dogs and their humans can come to The Golden Mill on the first Thursday of every month for live music, dog friendly treats & drinks, fun pup-friendly activities and adoptable dogs. More information
Location:
Golden Mill
1012 Ford Street (Map)
The Golden Word - 09/03/26
Live Music for Thursday, Sep. 3rd
- 5-8PM Kory Montgomery @ Golden Mill
Golden Mill - More Live Music
5:30-8:30PM Josh Blackburn @ Wrigley’s
6PM Strange Brew @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
6PM Mystery Night @ New Terrain Brewing
6:30-9:30PM DJ Drake @ Goosetown Station
7-10PM Meadows & Fields @ Columbine Cafe
8PM Karaoke @ Rock Rest Lodge
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: Mr. Parfet's Park
Summer morning in Parfet Park
Click to enlarge
101 Years Ago
The September 3, 1925 Colorado Transcript announced that the Golden Kiwanis Club wanted to name their new park in honor of George W. Parfet. The Kiwanis Club was new at that time, having been formed in 1921. Mr. Parfet was the club's first president and was serving in that role when he died in 1924. The plans for the park were already underway when he died, and making this new park a tribute to him seemed fitting.
The southeast corner of 10th and Washington was originally the site of one of Golden’s first buildings, the Boston Company. For a number of years, into the early 1920s, that area served as an unofficial town dump.
Transitioning the land from dump to park required significant clean-up. Some of the trash was removed, while some was shoved over to the east side of the park, where it remained for a few more years. The park was dedicated in 1929.
Shared Ownership
In 1924, Golden opened a new high school on the other side of 10th Street and the new park was intended to serve a dual purpose--both city park and recreation grounds for the high school.
For a number of years, Parfet was Golden’s only downtown park. Formal and informal summer camps were conducted there beginning in 1935. Softball, football, and tennis were played in the park. Scout troops often met there. Frequent band concerts were held in the park, and many organizations used it for picnics and potlucks.
Council approved a plan to build restrooms in the park in 1945, but it took until 1955 before they were built, with labor provided by the Golden Lions Club. The restrooms were repeatedly vandalized, with plumbing appliances pulled out of the walls. (“Hoodlums” also smashed picnic tables and threw them in the creek.)
The Mill Race
Parfet Park was bisected by a mill race (a ditch) for many years. The water running through the mill race powered the grinding operations at the Golden Mill. It was an attractive nuisance, and reportedly several children drowned in the water. The final death was a 19-month-old boy in 1949.
In 1952, the city negotiated a deal with the Peery family, who owned the mill. It paid them $12,500 for the water rights so they could close the ditch. The ditch was filled in 1954. According to the Transcript, Jesse Quaintance dug the ditch to power his mill in the 1870s and his great-grandson, Arthur Lowther (the City Manager) filled it in 80 years later.
Complications of Shared Ownership
Ownership and maintenance of the park was an ongoing subject of dispute between the city and the school district. The school district complained that the city wouldn't let them develop the property as a playground or athletic field. The city said the school maintained the property very badly, letting it go to weeds. Gym teachers had their students run laps around the perimeter of the park, leaving bare dirt all around the edges. One teacher cut down a tree to make more room for his classes. Issues over maintenance continued for many years, and finally in 1972 the school district deeded the land to the city.
Today, despite not having any playground equipment, Parfet is probably Golden’s hardest-working park. During the summer, Buffalo Bill Days is followed by Movies in the Park, National Night out, the Golden Fine Arts Festival, and the Chili Cookoff. In January, UllrGrass fills the park and in the spring, there’s the Easter egg hunt. On any given day, dozens of people hang out there. Through it all, the City does an impressive job of maintaining the grass and trees.
The concrete bench and artfully arrayed boulders were designed as a memorial to George W. Parfet and the bronze plaque on the central boulder is inscribed with his name.
Weather
Overnight: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. West southwest wind around 7 mph.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 89, with temperatures falling to around 87 in the afternoon. Southeast wind around 7 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Low around 63, with temperatures rising to around 65 overnight. West northwest wind around 8 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 63°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 89°F
Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 64°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny, 89°F
Saturday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 65°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 87°F
Sunday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 64°F
Labor Day: Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 86°F
Monday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 62°F
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 84°F
Tuesday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 61°F
Wednesday: Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 82°F
News About Golden - September 3, 2026
CDOT will begin resurfacing CO 46 at Golden Gate Canyon State Park in September
By Colorado Department of Transportation
EIN Presswire
Gilpin & Jefferson County – The Colorado Department of Transportation and contract partner, Martin Marietta, will begin resurfacing Colorado Highway 46 on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The purpose of the project is to improve safety and mobility along this six-and-six-tenths-mile, two-lane highway that runs from Colorado Highway 119 through Golden Gate Canyon State Park to the Jefferson County line. The project will last for about eight weeks, with anticipated completion by Oct. 31... Read more...
The Golden Roundup
City of Golden
In this issue... Download PDF below.
Supporters
Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden? If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!
Sponsors:
($100/month or $1,175/year)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Battery, Foothills Art Center, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Clothilde Elingbow, Michael Mason, Earth Sweet Boutique, and Colorado Railroad Museum
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $575/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Vic DeMaria, Unite Fitness, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $285/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, in memory of Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, Kurt & Janet Siegfried, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Robert Thresher, Tonie Mattox, Steve & M.L. Richardson, Jeremy & Stephanie Keller, AC Development, Golden PT & Pilates, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Mary Eiberger, and Jonathan Landman & Bonnie Vangilder
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $115/yr)
Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson, Kevin Nichols, Ed & Carol Freza, Laura and Curtis Moore, Ruth Hund, Shelley & Jerry Devitt, Eileen Masterson, Kate Olivier, Amy Korengut, Pam Logan, Clare Shier, Wendy Weiman, Marge Frueh, Edgar Walker, Bivy Beer Bar, Nancy Cooper, Jane & Mike Templeton, Vicki Greivel, Kim McDonough, Carie Chimbel, Peggy Brochtrup, Cindy & Matt Finley, Kelly Fry, Esther Kettering, Tom & Susan Roberts, Vicki Greivel, and GoGood Golden
Followers:
($5-9.99/month or $55/year)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Bob Hamilton, Steve Stevens, Vicki Olson, Emily Kurzinski, Peyton Gibson, Sally Berger, Kristen Morgan, Joyce Sutton, Mary Rains, Craig Champlin, Stan Swisher, Bill Way, Chris Toney, Alicia Zimmerman, Tamara Feucht, Golden Brokers, Elizabeth Coil, Diane Tiberi, Cathy Larocca, Dave Cole, and Rachael Kenney-Reid
