Cripple Creek’s Fall Fest celebrates donkeys, history, fall colors
Fall Fest is coming to Cripple Creek during the weekend of Oct. 4-5.
Fall Fest celebrates the brilliant changing colors of the aspen trees, the town’s historic gold rush heritage and its famous wild donkeys, while offering live music, street vendors, beer garden, kids’ activity zone, professional chainsaw wood carving and a pumpkin patch.
Kicking off the festival, Saturday morning, Oct. 4, the world famous Cripple Creek donkeys, as the honored grand marshals, will lead the Parade down Bennett Avenue.
Festival activities are also located on Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek’s historic main thoroughfare, between 2nd and 5th streets.
Sponsored by the Two Mile High Club, the third annual Fall Fest is a family friendly fundraiser to raise funds to care for the town’s iconic donkey herd.
Activity Highlights
The fall festival atmosphere features food and retail vendors and civic organizations along with local businesses offering unique gifts, crafts, apparel and services. Attendees are encouraged to join festival activities including:
Kid’s Zone: A safe and engaging space with plenty of activities from bounce houses to pumpkin painting. All kids’ activities are free.
Pet costume contest: Dress up your pet inter finery to compete for best-dressed
Traditional square dancing: A great way to learn a new dance style.
Classic hayride: Take a historic scenic tour through the town.
Bingo: A family-friendly game with a festive twist, and a chance to win prizes.
Pie Eating Contest: Sign up to compete in a series of delicious pie-eating challenges.
Donkey braying contest: Contestants, young and old, are encouraged to bring their best human-donkey impression.
Chainsaw sculpting demonstrations
Pumpkin Patch Photo Op with bales of hay and a vintage chuckwagon
Food & Craft Vendors
Gold Camp Victorian Society members will be in heritage costumes to provide late 19th century ambiance and are available for photos.
Music & Entertainment
With music flowing from three different stages, the entertainment schedule is packed with variety, offering country rock, bluegrass and classic rock.
Headlining this year’s entertainment includes is Denver-based, energetic country rock band Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts bringing their unique approach to both new and old country style.
Playing throughout the weekend are:
Cottonwood Drifters bringing a music mix rooted in americana, bluegrass, and folk, while also incorporating elements of the blues, traditional Irish, and Jam.
Silver Moon Riders’ music, a crossroad of country, rock and blues.
Chuck Snow, a Colorado native, professional recording guitarist, actor and former DJ for 91.5 KRCC and 102.7 The Max.
Aces & Eights, a female-fronted classic rock band delivering electrifying performances that keep the dance floor packed.
The Threadbarons deliver inspirational performances such as Dylan in his electric years, Wilco in their prime and The Band.
Annette & Doug, acoustic duo featuring vocals, guitar and banjo.
Festival Notes:
Cripple Creek’s famous donkeys will be available for petting and pictures. (Please note: Only feed the herd approved “donkey biscuits”, available for donation at the city museums and retail locations throughout the town.
When donkeys are in people’s yards and on private property, refrain from walking across personal property; view the donkeys from the street and with (approved) biscuits in hand, the donkeys will often come to you.
Supporting Donkeys. The fall festival is a key fundraiser for the Cripple Creek donkeys, cared for by the Two Mile High Club, one of the oldest incorporated civic organizations in the State of Colorado. The club is dedicated to raise funds and provide crucial support for the care, food, and shelter of the local donkeys representing Cripple Creek’s mining history. Proceeds from fundraising efforts, help with hoof trimming, teeth floating and regular visits from the vet. TMHC operates on 100% donations from Colorado businesses, club memberships, individual and family sponsorships, and grants. For more information about Cripple Creek’s donkeys. or to make a donation, visit the Two Mile High website at cripplecreekdonkeys.com.
In recognition of the donkey’s historic place during the formation of the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining District, the city passed an ordinance in May, 1977 addressing the unique relationship between the city and its free-roaming donkeys, The ordinance allows the historic herd to roam the streets during the time period between May 15 and Oct. 15. An amendment limits the number in the donkey herd not to exceed 20. Currently, the existing herd consists of 14 donkeys having lost one over this past winter. The city provides space southwest of town consisting of approximately five acres and a barn for the donkeys to reside during the cold, winter months.
For more Fall Fest event details, schedule of activities and more information visit the official Cripple Creek Donkeys website at cripplecreekdonkeys.com.
Cripple Creek’s Fall Fest celebrates donkeys, history, fall colors
Fall Fest is coming to Cripple Creek during the weekend of Oct. 4-5.
Fall Fest celebrates the brilliant changing colors of the aspen trees, the town’s historic gold rush heritage and its famous wild donkeys, while offering live music, street vendors, beer garden, kids’ activity zone, professional chainsaw wood carving and a pumpkin patch.
Kicking off the festival, Saturday morning, Oct. 4, the world famous Cripple Creek donkeys, as the honored grand marshals, will lead the Parade down Bennett Avenue.
Festival activities are also located on Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek’s historic main thoroughfare, between 2nd and 5th streets.
Sponsored by the Two Mile High Club, the third annual Fall Fest is a family friendly fundraiser to raise funds to care for the town’s iconic donkey herd.
Activity Highlights
The fall festival atmosphere features food and retail vendors and civic organizations along with local businesses offering unique gifts, crafts, apparel and services. Attendees are encouraged to join festival activities including:
Kid’s Zone: A safe and engaging space with plenty of activities from bounce houses to pumpkin painting. All kids’ activities are free.
Pet costume contest: Dress up your pet inter finery to compete for best-dressed
Traditional square dancing: A great way to learn a new dance style.
Classic hayride: Take a historic scenic tour through the town.
Bingo: A family-friendly game with a festive twist, and a chance to win prizes.
Pie Eating Contest: Sign up to compete in a series of delicious pie-eating challenges.
Donkey braying contest: Contestants, young and old, are encouraged to bring their best human-donkey impression.
Chainsaw sculpting demonstrations
Pumpkin Patch Photo Op with bales of hay and a vintage chuckwagon
Food & Craft Vendors
Gold Camp Victorian Society members will be in heritage costumes to provide late 19th century ambiance and are available for photos.
Music & Entertainment
With music flowing from three different stages, the entertainment schedule is packed with variety, offering country rock, bluegrass and classic rock.
Headlining this year’s entertainment includes is Denver-based, energetic country rock band Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts bringing their unique approach to both new and old country style.
Playing throughout the weekend are:
Cottonwood Drifters bringing a music mix rooted in americana, bluegrass, and folk, while also incorporating elements of the blues, traditional Irish, and Jam.
Silver Moon Riders’ music, a crossroad of country, rock and blues.
Chuck Snow, a Colorado native, professional recording guitarist, actor and former DJ for 91.5 KRCC and 102.7 The Max.
Aces & Eights, a female-fronted classic rock band delivering electrifying performances that keep the dance floor packed.
The Threadbarons deliver inspirational performances such as Dylan in his electric years, Wilco in their prime and The Band.
Annette & Doug, acoustic duo featuring vocals, guitar and banjo.
Festival Notes:
Cripple Creek’s famous donkeys will be available for petting and pictures. (Please note: Only feed the herd approved “donkey biscuits”, available for donation at the city museums and retail locations throughout the town.
When donkeys are in people’s yards and on private property, refrain from walking across personal property; view the donkeys from the street and with (approved) biscuits in hand, the donkeys will often come to you.
Supporting Donkeys. The fall festival is a key fundraiser for the Cripple Creek donkeys, cared for by the Two Mile High Club, one of the oldest incorporated civic organizations in the State of Colorado. The club is dedicated to raise funds and provide crucial support for the care, food, and shelter of the local donkeys representing Cripple Creek’s mining history. Proceeds from fundraising efforts, help with hoof trimming, teeth floating and regular visits from the vet. TMHC operates on 100% donations from Colorado businesses, club memberships, individual and family sponsorships, and grants. For more information about Cripple Creek’s donkeys. or to make a donation, visit the Two Mile High website at cripplecreekdonkeys.com.
In recognition of the donkey’s historic place during the formation of the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining District, the city passed an ordinance in May, 1977 addressing the unique relationship between the city and its free-roaming donkeys, The ordinance allows the historic herd to roam the streets during the time period between May 15 and Oct. 15. An amendment limits the number in the donkey herd not to exceed 20. Currently, the existing herd consists of 14 donkeys having lost one over this past winter. The city provides space southwest of town consisting of approximately five acres and a barn for the donkeys to reside during the cold, winter months.
For more Fall Fest event details, schedule of activities and more information visit the official Cripple Creek Donkeys website at cripplecreekdonkeys.com.