Colorado’s Peach Fest Has a Big Parking Change This Year

If you're heading to the Palisade Peach Festival from Grand Junction, we need to talk. The biggest mistake people might make this year is assuming you can drive to Riverbend Park and find parking. Not this year. This year, there is no public parking at Riverbend.

If you want to attend the Peach Festival, you’ll need to either catch a shuttle from Grand Junction or head to a predetermined parking area in Palisade and board a shuttle from there. Knowing your shuttle plan before you go will make the rest of the weekend a lot sweeter.

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Riverbend Parking in Palisade Is Off the Table This Year

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Read More: When Palisade Peaches & Pueblo Chiles Hit Colorado Stores

This parking announcement will come as no surprise to those who regularly drive down US Hwy 6 to West 8th Street, from Clifton to Palisade. Those who do not might be surprised that a festival as popular as Peach Fest will not be able to accommodate parking this year. Just wait till you see the work zone around Elberta Avenue. For this year’s festival, the only ones parking anywhere near Riverbend will be those in need of handicapped parking and festival staff. Everyone else will need to arrive and depart via shuttle.

Grand Junction Has Its Own Peach Fest Shuttle

I know, it’s Peach Festival, and we normally drive straight to Riverbend Park. This year we need to adapt. The festival is offering Grand Junction residents a $5 round-trip shuttle from Horizon Drive or Downtown to Riverbend Park. There are pickups at three locations on Horizon (tap the link for shuttle info)  and downtown in front of Tru by Hilton. On Friday, shuttles start at 2:30 p.m. and run hourly at the half-hour; Saturday service begins at 9:30 a.m. The festival says buses can carry up to 50 passengers.

You Can Park in Palisade and Ride for Free

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Read More: New Crowd Limits Could Change Colorado's Riverbend Park

If you would rather drive to Palisade and catch a free in-town shuttle, you can find Peach Festival parking at the following locations: Palisade High School, Mount Garfield Middle School, and Central High School (during select hours). The free Palisade shuttles will begin running at 2:30 p.m. on Friday and start again at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Find the complete guide to Palisade Peach Fest Parking here.