Tag Archives: Event

15th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss – Manitou Springs, Colorado

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Let it Hurl

You may have recycled the tree, put away the presents, and eaten the leftovers but have you dealt with the dreaded fruitcake from Aunt Mabel? If not, this is your opportunity. Head to Manitou Springs, January 9th and have fun disposing of the fruity, nutty "treat."

happy-ladyTucked between Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods, Manitou is immediately west of Colorado Springs. The visitor’s bureau calls the town "magical", I call it quirky. You’ll find characters and class – and, a whole lot of panache. This is a town that knows how to have fun and take a lighthearted look at life.

youth-catapult

How better to cap off the holiday festivities that to join in the hurling and launching at the 15th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss? Competitors and spectators will gather at the Manitou Springs High School Track for a final holiday “send off”. Bring your own cake in one-, two-, or four-pound sizes or "rent" one for $1.00.  Fruitcakes must contain glaceed fruits, nuts and flour – they cannot contain anything inedible. Don’t wrap in foil, duct tape, etc., all fruitcakes must be visible to the "Fruitcake Toss Tech Inspectors."

Events start with the Kids Toss – three age groupings, boy and girl winners, and the Fruitcake Toss – one person physically throwing a 1 pound cake. Then, they get down to the serious stuff: the Fruitcake Launch using a mechanical device and the Pneumatic Spud Gun or canon division using pneumatic devices brought to the competition by the contestant. It doesn’t stop there, they also have the team “Catch the Fruitcake” competition, and Accuracy with targets place on the field of "battle". The entertained crowd gets to vote for the Most Creative Launch and the Best Showmanship. Teams are asked to "dress" for the event. fruitcake-target   ready-the-arms1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bob almost wept the first time he saw all the flying fruitcakes crushing to earth. This is a man who never saw a fruitcake he didn’t like. Imagine how happy the squirrels are to clean up after the event. After the competitions we "squirrel" away for a delicious healthy lunch at Adams Mountain Cafe.

Map picture

When You Go: The Great Fruitcake Toss runs from 10am – 2pm, Saturday, January 9, 2010 with registration beginning at 9am. Entry Fee is one canned food item or one non-perishable food item to be donated to the local food bank.

Hammonds Candy Cane Festival – Denver, Colorado

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9th Annual Candy Cane Festival

Red Candy Canes Along with thousands of others we stopped by Hammonds Candy Factory for the 9th annual Candy Cane Festival today. After a week of extremely cold temps, grey skies and snow everyone was ready to bask in the pleasantly warm sunny day, visit with Santa and stock up on holiday sweets.

Families waited patiently for tours of the factory to see candymakers at work. Lines also formed for rides on ‘Lil Spike’ the motorized train and hay rides drawn by a handsome team of draft horses. Entertainment, story time, face painting and inspecting emergency vehicles kept visitors busy. Blue Face

Of course, there was a full array of Hammond candies for sale. Buckets of the hand-formed candy canes in a rainbow of colors and flavors, baskets of old-fashioned ribbon candy, giant lollipops and peppermint pillows tempted shoppers. Bags of candy coal reminded us of those who were more naughty than nice this year.

Although the 2009 Candy Cane Festival is over one can always stop by the factory for a free tour or visit the retail store Monday – Saturday.

View the slide show for more photos of the 2009 Candy Cane Festival. A sweet time was had by all.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – New Mexico

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Albuquerque Balloons and MoreBalloon Liftoff

Clear blue New Mexico skies splashed with vibrant color, cottonwoods lining the Rio Grande River turned to a rich gold, the aroma of roasted chiles – October in Albuquerque. For nine days more than 600 hot air balloons take flight from Balloon Fiesta Park with tens of thousands of appreciative spectators craning necks skyward. The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, October 3-11, 2009 draws balloon pilots and visitors from around the world.

Ideal hot air ballooning conditions occur in the early morning hours after sunrise. Headlight leads our way to the park each day. I’m not a great morning person but as soon as we walk among the balloons preparing for liftoff  I shed any grumpiness from my own early rising. Weather permitting, ascensions are scheduled each morning at 7am, hundreds and hundreds of hot air balloons drift oSpecial Shapes Balloonsver Albuquerque on weekends.

Wednesday’s Flight of the Nations features International balloons from nearly 20 countries – Slovenia to South Africa, Brazil to Israel. Competitions and prize grabs challenge balloon pilots on other days.

Special shape balloons take to the skies Thursday and Friday mornings. Four new shapes join 83 returning favorites. Stinky the Skunk, Lady Joker, a fire engine and as a tribute to Army aviation history Eddie and Rickenbacker make their Fiesta debut in 2009. Only the ever popular and sometimes utterly amazing special shapes lift off from the field those nights and participate in the evening Glowdeo.

Night skies light up with balloon glows five evenings during the Fiesta. The sight may be even more spectacular than morning ascensions, well worth returning to Balloon Fiesta Park in late afternoon. A firework show caps each of the evening sessions after the glows.Blue Balloon

Most morning everyone’s packing up and heading out of the park by ten o’clock, there’s still a perfect autumn day ahead for additional events. Albuquerque easily entertains her guests with a full slate of activities, scenery, museums, culture and arts. Worthy of attention any time of year, I share ideas in the immediate area we’ve enjoyed and that  fit nicely into Balloon Fiesta’s schedule.

Click each activity to read more about the delightful options.

More activities posted soon.

AppleFest – Cedaredge, Colorado

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Festive Fun – Apples, Art, Activities

Apples, Apples, Apples – Fuji, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious – the harvest of locally grown gems produces perfect cause for annual celebration in Cedaredge, Colorado the Apples - Red and Green first weekend of October. Pioneer families planted the first orchards in 1882. Credit the altitude, soil and/or weather – crop flavor and quality have produced prize winners for more than a century.

Cedaredge sits in the Surface Creek Valley at 6, 230-feet above sea level on the southern shoulder of Grand Mesa. As fall arrives apples, pears and grapes ripen and aspen atop the mesa turn to gold. Locals and tourists turn out for AppleFest fun. Cedaredge Town Park hums with classic car and motorcycle show, 150 art and craft booths, live music, antique tractors and plenty of opportunities to purchase award winning apples and apple entrees.

Events begin October 1, 2009 with a chili supper cook-off benefitting the Cedaredge Volunteer Fire Department. Golden Gala, an evening of food, drink, music and dancing fills Friday evening, Oct. 2. The 32nd annual AppleFest events in Town Park are scheduled for 9am-6pm on Saturday, Oct. 3 and from 10am on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Elk Fest – Estes Park, Colorado

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Estes Park Celebrates Elk

Elk Fest in Estes Park, Colorado salutes these awesome animals October 3&4, 2009. Educational exhibits and seminars help further our understanding of the mammals and their habitat, and teach us how to observe them in the wild. Modestly priced elk viewing tours is a stress-free way to observe without driving hassles. The guided tours leave from Bond Park in downtown Estes Park each afternoon of the festival.

Elk Head Shot A Mountain Man Rendezvous and Native American storytelling and live music enhance the weekend experience. Vendors offer an array of elk-ivory jewelry, wildlife art, scrimshawed antler knives, antler furniture and antler chandeliers. Food options include elk cuisine.

Anyone with the ability to imitate the haunting call of elk rut may enter the Bugling Contest on Sunday afternoon. Amateurs or professionals, adults, youth and junior youth (6 years old and younger) using vocal chords, horn or diaphragm are welcome to demonstrate their skill and compete to see who sounds most like a bugling elk.

I’ll need a great deal of practice on my bellow, whistle, and grunts to join in the annual bugling rite.

Taos Fall Art Festival – New Mexico

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Art, Art and More Art

Always a major focus in Taos, the local art community ramps it up a notch September 25th with the opening of the 35th annual Taos Fall Art Festival. Three shows at the Taos Convention Center highlight the works of Taos County artists duringTaos - Kilborn Opening the two week festival.

The region has hosted a large concentration of artists for more than a century. Works in the three shows are all by artists who live at least 75% of the year in Taos County. The works of emerging artists or those living in the region for at least one year can be seen in the Taos Open show. Artists living in the county for at least five years and whose portfolios have been accepted by the jury committee are featured in the Taos Invites Taos show. A special exhibition, Taos Living Masters, highlights the works of nationally and internationally recognized artists who have been residents for at least 15 years. The inclusive shows represent local Hispanic culture, as well as the Pueblo and Anglo communities. All works in the three show are for sale. Patrons will see the latest from known favorites and  discovery the up-and-comingTaos - Plein Air Painter new masters.

The exhibitions open with a reception Friday evening, September 25th, at 5pm in the Taos Convention Center, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. A feature this fall will be artists creating new works in the venue. The show can be view daily through October 12th from 10am-5pm.

Fall is a favorite time for a Taos visit with sunny days, evenings with a slight nip in the air, whiffs of pinon wood fires, and flowering chamisa. Taos museums and galleries feature special exhibits such as a one person show by Teruko Wilde at Total Arts Gallery or Walt Gonske and Jerry Jordan at Parsons Gallery of the West. Both have artists receptions on September 26. Join in the celebration of Taos art.Taos - Jirby Gallery

 

When You Go: For information to plan your Taos visit contact the Taos Chamber of Commerce Convention and Tourist Bureau. 

 

 

*Colorado Weekend* – July 31-August 2, 2009

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Corn, Covered Wagons and County Fairs

Colorado Gold Panning Championships and Demonstrations – July 31-August 2, Breckenridge.

Buena Vista Gold Rush Day – August 1-2, Buena Vista.

2009 State Games of America – July 30-August 2, Colorado Springs. More than 10,000 athletes compete in over 30 sports.

Conifer Mountain Music Festival – August 1, Conifer.

Crested Butte Art Festival – August 1-2, Crested Butte.

Covered Wagon Days – August 1-2, Del Norte

Art in the Park – July 31-August 2, Durango.

Conference for Fiber Artists – July 30-August 2, Durango.

Bluegrass & Beer Festival – August 1-2, Keystone. Great music and 25 Colorado microbreweries.

Colorado Renaissance Festival – August 1-2, Larkspur. Last weekend for the 2009 festival.

Olathe Sweet Corn Festival – August 1, Olathe.

National Little Britches Rodeo Finals – July 27-August 1, Pueblo.

Steamboat Wine Festival – July 30-August 2, Steamboat Springs.

Telluride Cajun Festival – July 31, Telluride.

Vail International Dance Festival – July 27-August 11, Vail.

Crankworx Colorado – July 30-August 2, Winter Park.

Mountain Arts Festival – August 1-2, Woodland Park.

The great American tradition of county fairs is in full swing this weekend in Colorado. Join local festivities at one of the numerous fairs, many including rodeos, throughout the state.

Archuleta County Fair – July 30-August 2, Pagosa Springs.

Baca County Fair & Rodeo – July 27-August 1, Springfield.

Bent County Fair & Rodeo – July 25-August 1, Las Animas.

Boulder County Fair, Livestock Show & Rodeo – July 31-August 8, Longmont. The oldest county fair in Colorado, since 1869.

Chaffee County Fair – July 25-August 2, Salida.

Cheyenne County Fair & Rodeo – July 28-August 2, Cheyenne Wells.

Douglas County Fair & Rodeo – August 1-9, Castle Rock.

Eastern Colorado Roundup – July 29-August 2, Akron.

Elbert County Fair – July 25-August 2, Kiowa.

Fremont County Fair – July 25-August 2, Canon City.

Larimer County Fair – July 31-August 4, Loveland.

Logan County Fair & Rodeo – July 30-August 9, Sterling.

Montezuma County Fair – July 28-August 1, Cortez.

Morgan County Junior Fair – July 31-August 6, Brush.

Sedgwick County Fair – July 29-August 2, Julesburg.

Teller County Fair – July 28-August 2, Cripple Creek.

 

*Colorado Weekend* – July 24-26, 2009

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Arapahoe County Fair – July 22-26, Aurora.

Collegiate Peaks Music Festival 2009 – July 24-26, Buena Vista.

Carbondale Mountain Fair – July 24-26 , Carbondale.

Old Town Showdown – July 25-26, Colorado Springs.

Crested Butte Land Trust Wine and Food Festival – July 23-26, Crested Butte.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival – July 25-26, Denver.

Fiesta Days – July 23-26, Durango.

Eagle Championship Ranch Rodeo – July 24-26, Eagle.

Empire’s 2nd Annual Art Walk – July 25, Empire.

Evergreen Jazz Festival – July 24-26, Evergreen.

Breckenridge Adventure Xstream Adventure Race –  July 25, Frisco.

‘Vettes on the Rockies – July 26, Frisco.

Golden Buffalo Bill Days – July 24-26, Golden.

Mesa County Fair – July 21-26, Grand Junction.

Greeley Arts Picnic – July 25-26, Greeley.

Keystone Mountain Art Gathering – July 23-26, Keystone.

Bent County Fair & Rodeo – July 25-Aug. 1, Las Animas.

Crowley County Days – July 25, Ordway.

Telluride Americana Music Weekend – July 23-25, Telluride.

Alpine Artaffair – July 25-26, Winter Park.

Winter Park Jazz – July 25-26, Winter Park.

3rd Annual Protecting the American Dream Bike Rally – July 24-26, Woodland Park.

*Colorado Weekend* – July 17-19, 2009

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Fee-Free Weekend –  National park entrance fees will be waived at eight Colorado parks and monuments.

Aspen Arts Festival – July 18-19, Aspen. Free event with 170 exhibitors offering jewelry, pottery, sculpture, glass, ceramics, paintings, prints in Wagner Park.

Kidspree – July 18-19, Aurora.

Downtown Boulder’s Artfair – July 18-19, Boulder

Breckenridge Beer Festival – July 18, Breckenridge.

Cheyenne Wells Tumbleweed Festival – July 18-19, Cheyenne Wells.

Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb – July 19, Colorado Springs.

Orthodox Food Festival and Old Globeville Days – July 18-19, Denver. Sample foods from Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Eritrea, Greece and Mexico at the 6th annual festival in Argo Park. Includes music, dance, arts, tours of
historical landmark Orthodox church.

Copper-Penny Horse Show – July 17-19, Estes Park.

2009 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships – July 16-19, Granby. Thousands of amateur and professional mountain bikers compete on the terrain of SolVista Bike Park, SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch.

Cattlemen Days – Through July 19, Gunnison. Ten days of events wrap-up with a parade, rodeo, cowboy church and draft house pull.

Pagosa Springs Renaissance and Pirate Festival – July 18-19, Pagosa Springs.

Logger Days Festival – July 17-19, South Fork.

High Country Kitchen and Garden Tour – July 18, Steamboat Springs. Event benefits the Strings Music Festival, tour 6 kitchens and 7 high altitude gardens, 10am-4pm.

Fat Tire Classic – July 18-19, Winter Park. Family-friendly pledge event benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled and the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross.

*Colorado Weekend* – July 10-12, 2009

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  • Aspen Antiques & Fine Arts Fair – Aspen, July 9-12. Forty exhibitors from around the world showcase fine antiques, paintings, jewelry and objets d’art at Aspen Ice Garden.
  • Blue Columbine
  • Crested Butte Wild Flower Festival – Crested Butte, July 6-12. Enjoy a rich variety of wildflowers and butterflies while hiking, birding, biking or 4×4 touring. Classes include art, all levels of photograph, medicinal with botanical ingredients, cooking with wild flowers and yoga.
  • Four Corners Gem & Mineral Show – Durango, July 10-12. Three  days of lapidary demonstrations, jewelry, jewelry making equipment, gold panning, gems, minerals, fossils and beads.
  • Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo – Estes Park, July 7-12. 83rd annual PRCA rodeo includes saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bare-back and bull riding and barrel racing. Plus a Western parade or Behind the Chutes Tours.
  • Fort Collins Jazz Experience – Fort Collins, July 9-11. Downtown Sessions Free Festival Day – July 11th with 14 live jazz groups. Al Jarreau and Ramsey Lewis Trio – ticketed events at Lincoln Center.
  • Colorado Railroad Museum – Golden, July 11-12 . 50th anniversary celebration at the museum dedicated to Colorado railroading heritage, includes an unusual train parade.
  • Wooden Boat Show – Grand Lake, July 11. Enjoy the craftsmanship of historical boat building and see the classics.
  • Cattlemen’s Days – Gunnison, June 10-19.  Colorado’s oldest and longest running rodeo and horseshows. More than a week of dances, horse racing, parade, carnival and BBQ in addition to rodeos and livestock shows.
  • Uncorked Mountain Wine Festival – Keystone, July 11-12. Wine tastings, seminars, pairing dinners plus jazz music.
  • Colorado Irish Festival – Littleton, July 10-12. All things Irish at Clement Park – food, music, merchandise, dance, culture village and Gaelic sports.
  • Boil ‘n Boogie – Mead, July 11. Eighth annual Cajun crawfish boil, six-hour concert, children’s games, and crafts.
  • San Luis Valley Folk Arts and Fiber Festival – Monte Vista, July 10-12. Demonstrations, vendors, workshops and contest in celebration of handmade and traditional arts.
  • Colorado Brewer’s Rendezvous – Salida, July 11. Specialty Colorado craft brewers at the 13th annual event in downtown Salida’s Riverside Park.
  • Snowmass SkateMass – Snowmass village, July 11. Skateboard event  and competition at the new Snowmass village Skate Park.
  • Steamboat Balloons Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and Art in the Park  – Steamboat Springs, July 11-12. Over 40 balloons launch each morning during the 29th annual balloon rodeo at Bald Eagle Lake. The 35th annual summer art show in Lincoln Park is Steamboats largest art and craft festival.
  • Telluride Yoga Festival – Telluride, July 10-12. Friday sunset Kirtan, workshops, meditations and yoga dance presentation.
  • Insectival! – Westminister, July 11-12. The Butterfly Pavillion explores wonders and mysteries of the insect world.
  • Winter Park Music Festival – Winter Park, July 11. National, regional and local live music in Hideaway Park. Free, but ticket required.

 

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