The 5th Annual Joe’s Valley Bouldering Festival will be taking place on September 26 through September 29 with the main hub for the festival held at the Emery County Recreation Center located at 75 South 400 East in Castle Dale.
The four-day event kicks off on Thursday with a few events like Ghost Tours, Petzl Night Bouldering and a chance to meet Isaac Caldiero who is the American Ninja Warrior Champion. “We’re really excited about that, he’s been a wonderful bridge between the two communities. Locals love American Ninja Warrior and climbers have a connection with Isaac because he’s actually the last author of the guidebook and he’s from Provo, so he’s like a local Utah kid,” said Board Member, Adriana Chimaras. The local schools will have an opportunity to host and meet Isaac Caldiero at an assembly on Friday during school.
The Friday activities and events will kick off that afternoon with a discussion on the geology of Joe’s Valley, plus Yoga in the Park, artisan clinic on making beef jerky, rodeo classes and cowboy games. “Friday is usually the big kick off with the rodeo, people love it. Really, it’s not a rodeo we call them Cowboy Games, really because they are just that. So, we do a hide race, we do steer riding, we do mutton bustin – if we can get enough kids, chicken chase and so it’s a really fun opportunity to see climbers that’s like way out of their perspective,” said Chimaras. The evening will wind down with Ghost Tours, a discussion of the Legends and Lore of Joe’s Valley and Petzl Night Bouldering.
Saturday is full of activities and events like a Trade Fair, two Artisan clinics where you can make pizza and/or caramel apples, and enjoy climber games. “We do free meet ups for locals, some climbing clinics with pro athletes and we do climber games, so little fetes of strength that we like to do to entertain ourselves kind of like the Cowboy Games,” said Chimaras. The evening will close out again with Ghost Tours and Petzl Night Bouldering.
To see the entire schedule or to learn more about the Joe’s Valley Bouldering Festival visit their Facebook page or their website at https://www.joesvalleyfest.com/
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE’S VALLEY BOULDERING