STERLING, Colo. -- The Overland Trail Museum opened its doors to the public this morning for the 2025 Heritage Festival.

The Heritage Festival brings together musical entertainment, tours of living history and an opportunity to visit the expansive museum facility.

Museum Curator Kay Rich said the annual event has a history of more than 20 years.

"My name is Kay Rich. I'm the curator here at the Overland Trail Museum. We are celebrating our annual July 4 Heritage Festival," she said this afternoon.

The grounds of the museum were filled with reenactments of trades from the past and entertainment for adults and youth.

She describes the July 4 event as "a great full day filled with live music, kids games, heritage crafters, just a little something for everyone."

"This is our 20th, probably 25th year. I've been here for 20 years and this event was going on before I came. It's just a great community event," she said.

Events included gold panning, a kids train, leather crafting, a blacksmith, squirt gun fights, and corn hole.

Ingrid Griffin shared the stage with Mud County, previewing her July 5 opening of July Jamz. July Jamz is a weekly concert series in July held at the courthouse gazebo.