Lobster Fest crawls into Carbondale

CARBONDALE, Colorado — When the town of Carbondale cut the June Music & Lobster Fest out of its events budget for this year, local music impresario Steve Standiford wasn't inclined to let the tradition, albeit a relatively new one, end.

Eight years ago, Standiford began the music portion of the festival, with a weekend devoted to showcasing local musicians and a variety of venues around town, including his small listening room on Fourth Street known as Steve's Guitars.

A few years later, he teamed with the Carbondale Recreation Department to broaden the event into what became the Music & Lobster Fest. Standiford organized the music, while the town worked with a vendor to cook up Maine Lobster flown in fresh just for the event.

The festival was a hit with music and seafood connoisseurs alike. So when the town decided not to do the lobster feast this year, Standiford teamed up with the GreenSprouts Foundation to put on the event as a fundraiser for the new Carbondale-based nonprofit organization that works to bring green building practices and education into area schools and communities.

So, the Music & Lobster Fest returns after all this weekend, with free live music at different venues Friday evening and all day Saturday in Sopris Park, where lobster dinners will be cooked up starting at noon by Ian Kipp of Ella Restaurant in Carbondale. There will also be lobster specials at some local restaurants on Friday night.

Tickets for the lobster dinners are available at the Carbondale Recreation Center, Glenwood Music, the Carbondale Chamber and Steve's Guitars. A full lobster dinner is $35, with six separate seating times at noon, 1:30, 3, 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m.). Dinner tickets may also be purchased on Saturday.

The Greensprouts Foundation will be operating the beverage garden with beer, wine, margaritas and soft drinks. There will be other food options in the park as well, along with games and activities in the kids carnival area.

Earlier in the day will be the 5th annual Lobster Crawl 5K and 10K runs and “Kids Sprint,” which will also benefit GreenSprouts.

Check-in will start at 7 a.m. at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center, 511 Colorado Ave. The 5K and 10K runs will start at 8 a.m. from the Rec Center and continue along the Rio Grande Trail for an out-and-back course.

Registration is $35 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under, in advance or the day of the race. The “Kids Sprint Lobster Crawl” will be held in Sopris Park for kids ages 2-12 beginning at 10 a.m., with a prize drawing afterwards.

Register for the runs in advance online at Active.com or at Independence Run and Hike in Carbondale.

For more information about GreenSprouts, visit www.greensproutsfoundation.org.