Denise Ferguson added her personal touch to the children’s mural at the People’s Fair at Civic Center on Sunday by slowly painting her first name.
The 7-year-old and her friend Courtney Hoselton, 9, chose from an assortment of brightly colored paints, crayons, pipe cleaners, foam shapes and even noodles to add to the mural. Courtney selected a flower and a cat like the one she has at home.
This is the first year a children’s mural has been integrated into the festivities. Fair organizer Michelle Zimmer didn’t know where the finished project would end up but thought it would be something fun for the kids to do, she said.
“We came to people-watch,” said Tammy Ferguson, Denise’s mom. “The People’s Fair is all about watching the people.”
A large crowd gathered in the afternoon sun around the Bally’s Fitness Center booth and watched as mostly men swung a mallet, trying to ring a bell at the top. A ding meant a chance to win a free membership to the fitness club.
The fair “is a good example of Denver,” said Rita Clunies-Ross, who was visiting from San Francisco. She and her husband, Hamish, sat and took it all in, with Hamish snapping an occasional picture of whatever caught his attention.
Vendors sold everything from original artwork to dog pouch carriers, and food vendors lured customers with good smells and berry kabobs, among other things.
The assortment of food and the culture of Denver attracted Daniela Vallez and her boyfriend, Koan Goedman, both of Boulder, to the fair. The two will be moving to the Capitol Hill neighborhood soon and wanted to get to know the area.
“It’s a beautiful day – we might as well walk outside,” Goedman said.
The fountain pool on the north end of the park was full of water and children Sunday, very different from Saturday, when the weather was cold and rainy.
The People’s Fair “is the start of summer, and the Taste of Colorado is the end,” said Kevin Wirtz as his 3-year-old daughter, Julia, played in the pool. Wirtz and his wife have been going to the fair since it was at East High School.
“We’re both Colorado natives,” he said, “so it’s a no-brainer to come down here.”
Staff writer Bianca Prieto can be reached at 303-820-1201 or bprieto@denverpost.com.
