Rick Langenberg
Talk about tradition and a festive infusion of some wild and crazy characters.
The 88th annual Bronc Day celebration in Green Mountain Falls, capped by a scenic parade overlooking the lake and a day of family-oriented events, reaped the benefits of picture-perfect weather in late July. Large crowds descended on GMF for the event’s annual parade, complete with colorful floats and characters, such as Dennis the exotic Ema bird, gunfighters, lawmen, bagpipe musicians, horse riders, Irish dancers, antique cars and even Big Foot, and of course, many community groups. A number of parade participants contained themes associated around the 150th birthday for Colorado.
The Building Ute Pass Community group presents the event, with support from many local sponsors. Over the past decade, the festival has grown in popularity while building on its long-standing tradition. At one point, Bronc Day was in danger of ending, but community leaders revived it, expanded its family-oriented offerings and adjusted the annual date to avoid conflicts with Woodland Park events. Today, it ranks as one of the region’s top summer festivals, highlighted by a scenic parade and a wide variety of participants.
Historically, Bronc Day is one of longest-running western heritage festivals in Colorado. It is regarded as a Western-themed event, featuring a free pancake breakfast, live entertainment, a parade, kids’ games, duck races, a bounce house, art vendors, historic and community displays and much more.
Once again, Bronc Day this year showed off the area’s festive side as the “Summer of Fun” ongoing schedule of events in Teller County and the lower Ute Pass continues to draw more visitors to the region. The summer event season reaches a peak later in August during the annual Salute to American Veterans Rally in Cripple Creek.
Photos by Rick Langenberg
