Trevor Phipps
For several decades, the summers and falls in Teller County have gained allure for attracting visitors and families from across the country and world to enjoy cooler temperatures and fun-filled events.
Currently, travelers are flocking to the high country to check out the beauty of the fall colors. To celebrate the changing of the seasons, Cripple Creek will be hosting its Fall Festival this Saturday and Sunday.
The event, put on by the Two Mile High Club, supports the city’s resident donkeys, dubbed by many as the region’s prime tourist attraction. It starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and runs until 5 p.m. on Sunday. “There will be live music, a beer garden, fall themed adult beverages, a pie judging contest, chili cook off, fall photo shoots, vendors, professional wood carving displays/demonstrations, sculptures for sale, and more,” according to the city’s tourism website. “This is a free event which is open to the general public. Plan your trip to check out the fall colors and spend a little time enjoying Cripple Creek.”
In addition to the fall festival, Cripple Creek’s Butte Theater will also be launching its special fall presentation starting on Friday at 7 p.m. The live show is called “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” It is inspired by the classic comedy film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” and is slated to perform at the Butte starting this weekend and continuing until November 2.
Then for Halloween, the city of Cripple Creek hosts their annual Trunk or Treat on October 31at at the Parks and Recreation building. Then after Halloween passes, the Gold Camp Christmas starts with the lighting of the head frame on November 8.
“Holiday activities will kick off with the nightly Gold Camp Christmas Holiday Headframe Lighting throughout Cripple Creek and Victor,” the Visit Cripple Creek website states. “Experience the lights in the Gold Camp by taking a drive (with your favorite Christmas tunes playing) on a self-guided tour through our area as our mine head frames are decorated with large Christmas light displays.”
To further help visitors get into the Christmas spirit, the Butte Theater’s Christmas show launches the weekend after Thanksgiving. “Miracle on Mistletoe Mountain” premiers on November 29 and runs until December 29. The Christmas show ranks as probably the most favorite of all Butte performances, and often attracts sell-out crowds.
Ice Castles and Ice Festival Make Grand Return
A few weeks ago, it was officially announced that the Ice Castles Colorado event will be returning to Cripple Creek for the second year in a row. The exact dates for the event have not been set quite yet as it is weather-dependent.
However, the Ice Castles do plan on returning to the same spot in Cripple Creek probably starting in late December. More notably, the event will run as long as the weather stays cool enough into February or March. This year, the city is working on better informing visitors about available local restaurants that are family friendly. They also plan on adding an area for food trucks.
According to Cripple Creek’s Marketing and Events Director Tracie Bennitt, this popular festival will be returning in February 2025, and it will be bigger and better than ever. “Ice Fest is expanding this year, it will run from 5th Street to Second Street,” Bennitt said. “We are going to have two blocks of ice. Fourth and Fifth streets are going to have ice carvers and Second and Third Streets are going to have ice carvers.”
Holiday Events in Woodland Park
The Chamber of Commerce will then host its Chamber Fall Business Expo and Market on October 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. The Cultural Center is also home to a number of holiday-themed events.
The Ben-Hur Supershow takes place on October 5 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. that features all things having to do with Ben-Hur. The Community Concert series at the Ute Pass Cultural Center features Lisa McCall on October 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.
On October 17, Kiwanis Monthly Bingo takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and it will have some sort of Halloween theme. The Costume Cornhole Tournament then happens at the cultural center on October 25 from 5 to 9 p.m.
In November the community concert takes place on November 13 and bingo occurs on November 21. In December, the Ute Pass Cultural center hosts a concert on the 11th and bingo on the 12th.
The Woodland Park Holiday Home Tour will also make its return for 2024 with a new event. On November 2 at Tweeds, the Trim-A-Tree and More event will feature decorating tips from holiday home tour designers. The holiday home tour then takes place on December 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Lighter Side of Christmas Parade also makes its return to downtown Woodland Park on the first Saturday of December to help people get into the Christmas mood. For more information on local events, visit MountainJackpot.com and check out our weekly Mountain Almanac section.