If you’ve ever been to Salida, CO during FIbArK, you’ll understand the full meaning of the word shenanigans. It all started years ago when a bunch of mildewed river monkeys got together to celebrate a month when the Arkansas river is usually at its peak flow and running it is a wet riot. It’s turned into a full blown mildewed river monkey circus complete with parades, free beer and bodies strewn on lawns in the mornings. Homer Simpson said it best, “ah beer, is there nothing it can’t do?”

There are some redeeming values to the four day event. The music in the park is top notch every evening and it’s free.

This year the water level in the Ark was less than a third of most years. It certainly takes the bite out of the action but not everyone’s enthusiasm. The Hooligan race is probably the highlight for most pedestrians. Dozens of different versions of floatable and semi-floatable raft concoctions race through the whitewater course. Carnage is expected and delivered from almost every entry. The worse the floating device the better. I think the announcers have more fun than anyone.

The circus came to town this week.

FiBArK