Best Fest of Colorado Springs, Territory Days brings three days of food, fun, music and more
Authentic Native American dances, Wild West gunfights, live music a-plenty and arts and crafts galore again will take over Old Colorado City as the 42nd annual Territory Days commences Saturday through Monday.
The free event – which also features seemingly unlimited food – long has been regarded as the best festival in Colorado Springs, winning that title again this year from The Gazette’s Best of the Springs magazine.
Adults can imbibe at two beer gardens and test their mettle on a mechanical bull, while children can cavort in the Kids Zone and at a petting zoo when they’re not panning for gold or riding a pony or toy train.
Live music highlights include:
◘ The Heartstring Hunters, a Boulder-based indie-folk band, opens the festival at 10 a.m. on the Bancroft Park Stage.
◘ Wild Blue Country, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s widely lauded commercial band, performs at 11 a.m. Saturday in the OK Corral Saloon Beer Garden, halfway between 26th and 27th streets on the west side of Colorado Avenue.
◘ The Pueblo-based Indigo Way, known for high-energy performances, plays at 6 p.m. Saturday in Bancroft Park.
◘ Denver’s One Way Ride, playing blues, soul and cowboy harmonies reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt and John Prine, is in the OK Corral Saloon Bear Garden at 11 a.m. Sunday.
◘ Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts, named Entertainer of the Year in 2016 by the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame, plays at 3 p.m. Sunday in the OK Corral Saloon.
◘ Justus League, an American roots band, performs with several genres at 11 a.m. Monday at the OK Corral Saloon.
The nation’s fallen heroes will be honored at 3 p.m. Monday, Memorial Day, in Bancroft Park, during the National Moment of Remembrance, with the Air Force Academy Honor Guard and Drill Team performing.
The festival along West Colorado Avenue, between 23rd and 27th streets, is so popular that up to 140,000 visitors are expected to visit the 200 booths run by artists, food vendors and others.
That means parking could be a challenge, but event organizer Pro Promotions has provided plenty of options for all guests.
Free shuttles will start running from Coronado High School, 1590 W. Fillmore St., at 10:30 a.m. each day to ferry people to the festival. When that bus gets too busy, usually around noon, a second shuttle will start making runs from Rock Ledge Ranch, 3105 Gateway Road, on the east edge of Garden of the Gods.
Free handicapped parking is available in abundance:
◘ In the parking lot on the southwest corner of 26th and Cucharras streets,
◘ At the drive-through of Pikes Peak National Bank at 24th and Cucharras,
◘ Through alley access to Junior Achievement between Pikes Peak and West Colorado avenues just west of 23rd Street,
◘ And on a half block of 24th Street and a half block of 26th Street, both north of Cucharras.
All street parking is free, so don’t plug those meters. But no parking will be available along Cucharras and in some other areas, so watch the signage.
The festival began in 1975 and was named Territory Days to commemorate Colorado City – now known as Old Colorado City – as the first capitol of the Colorado Territory in 1861.
For a full schedule of events – from blacksmithing to magic shows and from Native American dancers and drummers to the Christian Cowboys Church Service – visit http://pro-promotions.com/pro-events/territory-days.
Thousands filled the streets of Old Colorado City on the second day of Territory Days on Sunday, May 26, 2012. Territory Days is being held in Old Colorado City through Monday, Memorial Day. (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)
Territory Days: This Memorial Day weekend tradition always draws large crowds. May 26-28, Colorado Avenue between 23rd and 27th Streets, Old Colorado City. (Gazette file photo)
Sandra Bachofer (center) seasoned lots of bbq for people attendng Old Colorado City’s Territory Days in this Gazette file photo.
Drea Rasmussen talks about the Peregrine Falcon she holds during a demonstration by HawkQuest, a non-profit Environmental Educational group out of Parker, Colo., during Territory Days in Old Colorado City, Monday, May 28, 2012. HawkQuest teaches about birds of prey. CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE 05/28/12
Territory Days draw crowds in the thousands to the streets of Old Colorado City. Gazette file photo by Jerilee Bennett.
Sandra Bachofer (center) seasoned lots of bbq for people attendng Old Colorado City’s Territory Days in this Gazette file photo.
Drea Rasmussen talks about the Peregrine Falcon she holds during a demonstration by HawkQuest during 2012 Territory Days. Gazette file photo.
