Barbara Lawlor, Central City.  Neon orange safety vests moved slowly up the gulch towards Central City, stopping now and then to spear a piece of trash and shake it off into a black trash bag. Piece by piece, the gulch looked as if someone cared about it.

Central City volunteers were on a mission on Friday, May 18, they were cleaning up the streets, preparing for summer events that draw summer tourists to take part in the kind of street fun that is a tradition in the mining town. The workers gathered at the Big T parking lot to pick up bags, gloves, trash pokers and water before they headed off to the streets.

Five-year-old Jacoda Mitchell likes to help with the trash pickup and says this is his third year in a row of helping people make the city look better. It’s fun to stab at the abandoned wrappers that are stuck in the green sprouts of spring grass.

Summer events are abundant in Central City, bringing back an atmosphere of the days before gaming became the main attraction.

Soon, opera buffs will be heading to the Central City Opera House for this summer’s offering of The Magic Flute and li travatore.

The Gilpin County Arts Association Juried Art Show opens May 21.

Sat. May 26: Central City museums open for the season.

Gilpin History Museum Tues. - Sun. 10 a.m - 4 p.m.

Coeur d’Alene Mine Shaft House.

Washington Hall (Private tours to Teller House, Opera House, Thomas House and St. James Methodist Church)

Sat. June 16: The Annual Madam Lou Bunch Day & Famous Bed Races.

Central City Wild Bunch on Main Street; Every Saturday through August; Noon to 4 p.m. on the hour.

Sun. June 17: Annual Gilpin County Parks and Recreation Father’s Day Fishing Derby at William Russell Park.

Sat. June 30: Stills in the Hills - Colorado Distillers Tasting.

Sat. July 21: Beat the Heat WingFest.

Sat. July 28: Bonanza/ EZ Street – A Night of Good Fortune.

Sat. Aug. 25: Great Central City Beer Fest.