The Town of Paonia is northeast of Hotchkiss on Highway 133 and southwest of McClure Pass, Paonia Reservoir, and Somerset. Somerset is home to several coal mining companies - Bowie Resources, Mountain Coal, and Oxbow Mining - which figure significantly in the economy for both Delta and Gunnison counties.

Paonia is well known for its fruit harvests. This reputation began with the establishment of the town in 1881 by Samuel Wade. The town is also famous as a haven for many talented musicians, artists, and artisans. Several venues in downtown Paonia provide a wide mix of musical styles. They include the Paradise Theater, Louie’s, and the Blue Sage Center for the Arts, all located on Grand Avenue.

The Paradise Theater has made a name for itself by bringing in many quality concerts, comedy acts, big name movies, small independent films, and documentaries. Something of interest is always happening at the Paradise. Louie’s offers an intimate setting and a great opportunity to meet the locals. Count on interesting conservations as well as talented musicians from the area and beyond. The Blue Sage Center for the arts occupies two buildings on Grand Avenue. In 2007, the Blue Sage Gallery featured talented local artists like Diane Sylvain, Kathy Steckel, Hendrika Cegielski, Pam Archer, Tony Buxton, photographer Celia Roberts, and many others. Next door, the center stage is the scene of plays, classical concerts, rock shows, a speakers series, poetry readings, and much more. They offer a variety of workshops.

Paonia is host to two major community events, Cherry Days and the Mountain Harvest Festival. Cherry Days is a great four-day event in July. It begins July 1 and continues for a grand finale complete with fireworks (weather permitting!) on July 4. Numerous class and family reunions are held during these days, which look back fondly to the past. The Paonia Teen Center hosts a Cherry Days dance. Typically on July 3, the local banks host lunch out on the sidewalk along Grand Avenue. Downtown stores offer special sales. The Paonia Public Library has a book sale. A flea market is also planned. July 4 starts with an old-fashioned Cherry Days parade, which like a pied piper leads the crowd to the park for a day of entertainment. The Paonia Town Park will have a carnival with amusement rides, booths, a pancake breakfast hosted by the Paonia Volunteer Fire Department, a Ute Trails Classic Car Show, a community barbecue, and a silent auction run by Western Slope Environmental Resource Council. A dance is planned for by the Paonia Teen Center.

Cherry Days is a great time to tour Paonia Historical Museum and Bowie Schoolhouse. The North Fork Historic Preservation Society invites everyone to step into the past by visiting Paonia’s two museums. Both the Parks House and Bowie Schoolhouse are located off Highway 187 near the bridge. The Paonia Museum is located in the Parks House, which was built in 1904. One of the museum’s popular features is a computer with a video history of Paonia. Visitors can access black and white photographs as well as text.

The historic Bowie Schoolhouse was donated to the society in 1979 by the Adolph Coors Company. It was moved that year to Paonia from the coal mining camp of Bowie. A total of eight grades, four per room, were taught in the schoolhouse. Visitors can see textbooks the students used, trophies they won, and carvings on the desks. The museum is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1-4 p.m., through Labor Day.

The Annual Top O’ the Rockies BMW (Beemers) motorcycle rally is hosted each year by Paonia at the town park. A tradition is the annual softball game between the Beemers and the Paonia Volunteer Fire Department.

The Dreamtime Festival also took place between July 19-22, 2007. The Dreamtime Festival is an annual event located on Stucker Mesa just outside of Paonia. The festival uniquely combines art, celebration, and music, plus educational seminars, workshops, training, and a film festival. Visit www.dreamthefuture.org for more information.