It includes three days of events with music, carnival rides, a parade, a bed race, a baking and canning contest, a youth pet and talent show, two stages of music, and arts and crafts vendors. The event is celebrated on the last full weekend in September. Transportation Air The nearest commercial airport is Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) in Grand Junction east. Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, and SkyWest Airlines (flying as both United Express and Delta Connection) provide direct service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Charter companies Colorado Flight Center and Denver Air Connection providing connections to nearby regional destinations. Bus Fruita is on Route 8 of the Grand Valley Transit, the operating regional bus transportation system. The bus connects Fruita stops with the Mesa Mall on U.S. Highway 6 and 50 at the 24 1/2 Road. Highways Fruita lies off exit 19 of Interstate 70, along U.S. Highway 6 and 50 and at the western end of State Highway 340. The State Highway 139 connects west with the northern city of Rangely and Dinosaur National Monument. Rail The nearest passenger train station is southeast at the Grand Junction Amtrak station. This station is served by the California Zephyr train. It was originally built by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. The mainline, now used by the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, runs east–west along the city which serves industrial rail use. Notable people John Otto (1870–1952) – trailblazer and first superintendent of the Colorado National Monument Elmer Riggs (1869–1963) – paleontologist from the Chicago Field Museum Pat Ament (born 1946) – climber, author Maggie Baird (born 1959) – actress, screenwriter, singer-songwriter, mother of singer Billie Eilish George Elder (1921–2022) – Major League Baseball player See also Colorado Bibliography of Colorado Index of Colorado-related articles Outline of Colorado List of counties in Colorado List of municipalities in Colorado List of places in Colorado List of statistical areas in Colorado Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area Colorado National Monument Fruitadens Grand River Grand Valley James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park Mike the Headless Chicken Old Spanish National Historic Trail References External links City of Fruita website CDOT map of the City of Fruita Fruita tourism website Fruita Chamber of Commerce Dinosaur Journey Museum Cities in Mesa County, Colorado Colorado Western Slope Cities in Colorado