“The Best of the West” Parade returns for Bu alo Bill Days

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Starting in 2024, Golden retailers won’t be able to sell avored tobacco products.

e Golden City Council unanimously passed an ordinance ending the sale of avored tobacco products in city limits, e ective Jan. 1. e goal, as city o cials described during the July 25 meeting, is to address the youth nicotine crisis, particularly around vaping.

In Je erson County, about 16.5% of high school students had vaped in the last 30 days, which is higher than both the state and national averages, according to statistics provided by the county health department.

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

During the nal weekend of July, Golden’s cowboys and cowgirls ride again.

e Bu alo Bill Days festival hosted its annual “ e Best of the West” Parade July 29, as thousands of people lined Washington Avenue to see their favorite reenactors, horseriders, re ghters and more. e parade, which was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, returned last year. e event is a quintessential part of the four-day festival, drawing thousands of people to the festival and downtown Golden, organizers have said.

Dozens of local businesses, nonpro ts and equestrian groups like the iconic Bu alo Bill Saddle Club ride or march in the parade every summer. Attendees over the years have shared how much they appreciate the parade’s traditional Western air.

Golden City Council considered a similar measure in 2019 but didn’t pursue it, as councilors believed the Colorado legislature was moving forward with a statewide ban. When that didn’t materialize, Mayor Laura Weinberg said, several municipalities decided to proceed on their own.

Edgewater, Boulder, Glenwood Springs, Aspen and other municipalities have already enacted

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

One by one, the riders came forward to introduce themselves to the crowd, sharing their names and