Though the crisp morning air and cooler evenings are signaling fall\u2019s arrival, the Greeley area offers plenty of chances to soak up some sun this weekend.<\/p>\n
Here are three options \u2014 two outdoors, one indoors \u2014 for this week\u2019s Best of the Week.<\/p>\n
Hops for Hunger<\/p>\n
While there will be plenty of festivals to sample a few craft brews this weekend, only one supports a nonprofit that feeds some of Weld County\u2019s most vulnerable.<\/p>\n
Hops for Hunger is scheduled to run from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday at Windsor Boardwalk Park, 100 N. 5th St.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you\u2019re a craft beer enthusiast or simply looking for a great night out with friends, Hops for Hunger is a chance to enjoy some of northern Colorado\u2019s favorite breweries while making a meaningful difference in our community,\u201d an event description reads.<\/p>\n
The festival supports the Weld Food Bank, which distributed 14.5 million pounds of food to the county last year, according to the nonprofit\u2019s website.<\/p>\n
Tickets include unlimited craft beer tastings and food. Ten Cent Prophet<\/a>, a cover band specializing in classic rock, \u201990s throwbacks and dance tunes, will provide the soundtrack for the evening.<\/p>\n Nine local breweries will be in attendance: Horse & Dragon, Odell, Peculier Ales, Salt Road, Timnath Beerwerks, Mash Lab, TightKnit, WeldWerks and Yetters.<\/p>\n Tickets cost $45 and are available at WeldFoodBank.org\/Hops<\/a>,<\/p>\n The Great Aardvark Embark Hot Air Balloon Launch<\/p>\n Hot air balloons will fill the sky bright and early Saturday morning high above the Aims Community College campus in Greeley.<\/p>\n Parking opens at 6 a.m. Saturday at Aims Community College, 5401 W. 20th St. Balloons are expected to launch from 7-7:30 a.m. for the ninth year of the event.<\/p>\n Before balloons take off, professional balloon pilots will give attendees an up-close look at the inflation process. Attendees will not be allowed to get in the balloons before they take off, and rides in the balloons will not be given.<\/p>\n Breakfast burritos and coffee will be available to purchase, and a limited number of Aims frisbees will be given away.<\/p>\n For more information, go to events.aims.edu<\/a>. To request accommodations, call 970-339-6565 or email accommodations@aims.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n Giovannie and the Hired Guns<\/p>\n Country, rock, Americana, punk and more will mesh Sunday in downtown Greeley as Giovannie and the Hired Guns<\/a> and Ronnie and the Redwoods<\/a> roll through northern Colorado.<\/p>\n Doors to the show open at 7 p.m. at the Moxi Theater, 802 9th St., and the show starts at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n \u201cWith a sound that blends alt-metal, Red Dirt country, Latin pop and Americana, the band draws a diverse audience of cowboys, metalheads and skate punks,\u201d an event description reads.<\/p>\n Since forming in 2015, Giovannie and the Hired Guns has released four studio albums and one live album, as well as 10 singles.<\/p>\n \u201cRamon Ayala<\/a>\u201d reached No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Rock Airplay chart in 2021. \u201cOverrated<\/a>\u201d in 2022 and \u201cQuitter<\/a>\u201d in 2025 have also reached the top 25 of various Billboard charts.<\/p>\n