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Board approves 2025 special-events calendar, narrows long First Friday street closures to improve safety
Summary
The Carbondale Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Special Events Task Force’s 2025 calendar and street-closure plan after staff and trustees discussed shortening long First Friday closures, volunteer crossing support and security needs for big events.
Carbondale trustees voted unanimously to approve the Special Events Task Force’s 2025 calendar and recommendations for street closures and event operations, including changes aimed at reducing public-works overtime and improving safety at First Friday downtown activations.
The task force presented a calendar that lists about 98 unique event days on town land across 2025 and proposed limiting long First Friday closures (Main Street full closures that previously ran from Went to Snowmass Drive) in favor of shorter closures that run from Went to Third Street during winter months and a segmented-closure approach during the May–September season. The board approved the calendar and associated closures following a discussion about safety, volunteer support for crossings and the logistics of access to Soper’s Lodge.
Eric, a Special Events Task Force representative, described problems public-works staff faced on long closures: “People not, you know, literally, you know, almost running them down sometimes. And then having to get the people who aren't abiding by the no parking, get out of that space when it's activated and there's pedestrians.” He said the task force wants to keep short closures in winter (January–February) while offering longer closures in summer months with new mitigations.
The mitigations approved by trustees include segmenting Main Street into controlled crossings (using Type 3 and Type 1 barriers at Second and Third Street), asking event organizers to provide volunteer crossing-guard support for some zones, additional public education about event traffic and parking, and exploring harder barriers or removable bollards for higher-risk closures. Public-works staff and the police chief will continue researching barrier options and staging (including use of a vehicle staged at access points) to deter vehicular incursions and address security concerns.
Trustees and staff also discussed tactical details for other 2025 events: extended music hours for Mountain Fair (Friday/Saturday to 10 p.m., Sunday amplified music earlier, latest by 9 p.m.), continued security and shuttle strategies for the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo, routing changes and larger detours for Dia de Los Muertos processions to avoid crowd squeeze points, and multiple running races and parades on the calendar.
The board also discussed a pending RFP for summer park concerts and acknowledged that current budget offers may be low compared with regional market rates; staff said the upcoming RFP will be realistic about the number and cost of concerts. Trustees encouraged partnerships with local organizations (tourism council, concert producers) to enhance promotion and funding.
After discussion, Trustee Collins moved to approve the 2025 special-events and street-closure calendar as recommended by the Special Events Task Force; Trustee Erica seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Trustees and staff said they will continue to refine volunteer roles and public messaging and that event organizers must submit required permits and paperwork for any liquor licenses or concessions before events proceed.
The approved 2025 calendar and the task force minutes will be posted with event-specific permit conditions and contact information for event organizers.
