“Summer of Fun” Grande Finale Only Days Away
TMJ News/ProPromotions
The clock is ticking for an event that often defines Cripple Creek and Teller County’s symbolic bond with veterans and American patriotism and motorcycle riders.
And based on last year’s success, local leaders, residents and visitors are anxiously awaiting the Salute to American Veterans’ return to Cripple Creek again. For a several year period the popular festival, which generates tens of thousands of participants every year, took a slight detour to Woodland Park.
But based on popular demand and a more Rally-friendly city council, the several-day event is back in the gaming community.
The 34th annual Salute Veterans Rally, a free and family friendly event, and the 39th annual POW/MIA Recognition Ride, a police-escorted motorcycle procession, are now only a week and a half away from roaring into the region. Once again, excitement is building strong for these two monumental anniversary celebrations.
The old west mining town of Cripple Creek will come alive with the sounds of thunder as tens of thousands of patriots and United States Veterans come together in an awesome display of patriotism and camaraderie. Veterans Rally attendees can expect all of the usual traditions including the Veterans Parade, awesome vendor show, live music, guest speakers, beer gardens, and casino gaming in the authentic old west mining town.
On Saturday, August 22, the POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony will occur. This is the centerpiece of the Salute festival and is not to be missed. In Cripple Creek City Park, with emotion running high, this Ceremony will make participants “proud to be an American,” according to event organizers.
Rally organizers are dedicating four bronze plaques for the Teller County Memorials in Cripple Creek and Woodland Park. Remembering the names of six fallen soldiers of Operation Epic Fury, commemorating our 250 years of Freedom, along with MSG James Mike Hall, and Richard D. “Tas” Blevins. Blevins was actually one of the main people responsible for leading the local charge for the event decades ago.
No Shortage of Festivities
The 39th annual POW/MIA Recognition Ride will be staged at the Woodland Park High School on the morning of Aug. 22, with the police escorted procession rolling up to Cripple Creek via Highways 24 and 67. The annual Ride is billed as “Colorado’s largest procession of motorcycles.”
This year marks the 14th birthday of the designated POW/MIA Memorial Highway. Hundreds of patriots line the roadways to welcome the procession riders with American and POW Flags.
The 2026 Veterans Rally free concert series features some great regional talent: Michael Tetrick, Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts, Ft. Carson’s 4ID Brass Band. The Friday Night Community Street Dance will feature local favorite, Exit West. Saturday night will feature award winning My Blue Sky, an Allman Brothers tribute band.
The Combat Vets Motorcycle Association will hold their annual Veterans Poker Run on Friday, August 21st beginning at the VFW in Woodland Park.
The 34th Annual Veterans Parade takes place on Bennett Avenue on Saturday (Aug. 22) with dozens of military, civic and civilian organizations participate making this a fun and patriotic parade.
There will be two Harley-Davidson giveaways! Century Casino is giving you a chance to win, that bike will be given away at 7 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 22). You must be present to win. The second giveaway will take place at 3 p.m. You must be a Veteran to enter and must be present to win.
For Cripple Creek, the event has become the community’s traditional salute to veterans. At the same time, it has emerged as one of the most highly attended festivals for the summer season, often putting an exclamation mark on the town’s “Summer of Fun” lineup of special events. It has occurred in Cripple Creek for several decades with occasional interruptions, when the Rally was briefly moved to Winter Park and then to Woodland Park. Also, the Rally hit a slight hurdle during the COVID-19 epidemic.
“This event really belongs in Cripple Creek,” said Mayor Annie Durham, when describing the community’s strong ties with the Salute to American Veterans Rally in the last year, and its big return in 2025. Cripple Creek’s setting and its historic ties make this an ideal home for the Rally, according to local event proponents, who lobbied hard to bring back the Salute to American Veterans Rally to Cripple Creek. Their support paid off.
The mayor said she was bombarded with comments thanking local leaders for taking a lead role in bringing the event back to Cripple Creek in 2025.
Jim Wear, president of ProPromotions, the group that organizes the Rally, has praised the support the event has received from local leaders and community residents.
Accolades Received in the Past
“The Salute to American Veterans Rally is a veritable explosion of good old-fashioned patriotism. The Rally attendees welcomed every veteran of every war with equal enthusiasm and support. If you aren’t proud to be an American when you arrive, you will be when you leave. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful hospitality, a great program and for giving me a few thousand new friends! Joseph L. Galloway co-author: We Were Soldiers Once… and Young & nationally syndicated military columnist
“The POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony and motorcycle ride to Cripple Creek highlights the duty, honor, and selfless service of our veterans and serving service members. The hard work that the city and rally committee put forth in making this event such a great success sets you and your community apart and is greatly appreciated by all veterans and those of us who continue to serve. “Ken Keen Brigadier General, USA For more personal stories of the past events, please visit: https://www.theveteransrally.org/testimonials-
Schedule of Events for Salute to American Veterans Rally
Friday, August 21
9 a.m. Veterans Poker Run Registration – VFW Post 6051, Woodland Park
10 a.m. Vendor Show Opens (all day)
10 a.m. R.E.D. Friday T-Shirt Giveaway – Rally Merchandise Tent (2nd St. & Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek)
10 a.m. Last Bike Out – Veterans Poker Run
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Official Rally Merchandise Sales
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Silent Auction Open
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Veterans Signature Wall
11 a.m. Century Casino Freedom Beer Garden Opens
3 p.m. Michael Tetrick, Live Performance
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Community Street Dance featuring EXIT WEST
Saturday, August 22
7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast for POW/MIA Ride Participants – Woodland Park High School
7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. POW/MIA Recognition Ride Registration
9 a.m. Vendor Show Opens
9 a.m. Veterans Parade Staging (5th St. & Bennett Ave.)
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Official Rally Merchandise Sales
9 a.m. to 7 PM Silent Auction Open
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Veterans Signature Wall
10 a.m. Veterans Parade, downtown Cripple Creek
10:15 a.m. POW/MIA Recognition Ride Departs Woodland Park
10:30 a.m. Freedom Beer Garden Opens
10:30 a.m. Michael Tetrick Live
11:15 a.m. POW/MIA Recognition Ride Arrives in Cripple Creek
Noon POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Fort Carson 4ID Brass Band
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 PM Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts Live
3 p.m. Harley-Davidson 2021 Heritage Softail Drawing
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. My Blue Sky Band Live
7 p.m. Harley-Davidson 2026 Heritage Classic Giveaway
Sunday, August 23
1 p.m. Pikes Peak Region’s Memorial Wall Rededication – Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
*For more details, visit: theveteransrally.org and the city of Cripple Creek’s tourism website.
