Named for the flower Peonies, Paonia is really just a spelling error, in name only. Peonies and many other beautiful varieties flourish in Paonia. Plants from the original stock are said to be growing today in Paonia Town Park more that 100 years later.

Paonia is a unique community, filled with activism.  KVNF (90.9) is a Paonia-based public radio station that broadcasts from Grand Junction to Lake City to Naturist.  It has music to fit every taste plus the national shows/news.  Many of the NPR commentary writers are from this area.  The Blue Sage is a community-owned performing arts center.  Check the schedule in their front window because often nationally known artists/writers are presenters.  The High Country News is an internationally award winning environmental newspaper published in Paonia.  The music scene in Paonia includes a valley symphony, a valley youth orchestra, various chamber groups plus more contemporary groups/entertainers.

The only two-story foundry in Colorado has brought many artists to Paonia.  The large art community includes weavers, quilters, PleinAir artists and sculpturists.  Many specialty furniture craftsmen have studios here.  Not only does the Paradise Theater have standard movies but during the winter months it presents foreign films every other week.

The Fourth of July Cherry Days has been celebrated for over 50 years.  If you are looking for a small town old-fashioned holiday book early at one of the Bed & Breakfasts or at one of the town's motels.  Earth Day is celebrated every spring with a day-long festival and the Chili Cookoff is held every fall.  The town also hosts a huge BMW weekend in the summer.  Mountain Harvest Festival is relatively new, but with the support shown this event is here to stay. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the beauty and the bounty of the North Fork Valley and also spotlight its diverse artistic community.

The shady town park to the east of main street is a wonderful place to stop for a picnic after a stroll down Grand Avenue.  The south end of Grand is the "financial district" of Paonia.  Between 2nd and 3rd on Grand is where the shopping is found.  Most of our restaurants are within a few blocks of town.

Outside of town are the orchards and vineyards.  Paonia sits in the middle of the West Elks American Viticulture Area, a nationally designated grape growing area.  Quiet back roads make enjoyable bike touring.  There are four wineries in Paonia.  Fresh fruit is available at the orchards. The season runs from cherries in early July, peaches in August, apples and grapes in the fall. Natural food and organic foods are a specialty in Paonia. Color season starts with the orchard blossoms late April and ends with the gold Aspens in mid October.

Contact the Paonia Chamber Website at http://paoniachamber.com