Our View: Please host more events

With the conclusion of last weekend’s River Festival, summer events in Green River have ended for the year.

While fall brings its own excitement to the city’s residents, we can’t help but feel that Green River should have more going on during the summer months.

The city hosts three major events during the three months, two of which occur in June. While we understand the tremendous number of volunteer hours needed to pull off The Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo, Flaming Gorge Days and the River Festival, we think Green River would benefit from a few smaller-scale summer events.

One of the most obvious events Green River could host is something celebrating trona. As we all know, if it wasn’t for trona, Green River would look vastly different and smaller than it does today. A simple public picnic taking place on Expedition Island would be a great way to celebrate trona and the city.

Other small-scale events, such as some athletic events or a mine safety demonstration, could take place as well. All of this would spice up an otherwise sleepy Saturday afternoon and give Rock Springs residents a reason to visit Green River.

Another interesting event a volunteer group could host is a hot-air balloon day. Several years ago, Rock Springs hosted a similar event. However, it was eventually discontinued.

As Green River is a more photogenic location than Rock Springs, an event focused on bringing hot-air balloons to the city would give plenty of people reason to stop by Green River and enjoy a lunch in town as several balloonists fly through the sky.

Of course the hotels would benefit as well, as the balloonists would stay in town prior to the balloon day.

Another small-scale event that could take place is a barbecue afternoon celebration of the Pony Express.

While the express trail doesn’t pass through Green River itself, a number of members from the National Pony Express Association live here. A public barbecue hosted by the Green River Chamber of Commerce or Sweetwater County Travel and Tourism could bring in people interested in following the express riders during their annual reride.

One or two more summer events could help the city not just make a few extra dollars in sales tax, but make a weekend or two a bit more interesting. They might just help show visitors Green River is the Oasis of Sweetwater County.