Rick Langenberg
Nope, we aren’t quite ready for autumn splendor, but area festivals are bustling now big time in Teller County and the lower Ute Pass as we wind up the summer.
And yes, September highlights the best weather month of the year. So, while you dine out and sip a few beverages of choice, here are a few forthcoming suggestions for mid-month madness.
Mount Pisgah Speaks
Once again, the ghosts of the World’s Greatest Gold Camp will speak.
Join the Gold Camp Victorian Society (GCVS) of Cripple Creek on September 19 and 20th for the 26th annual presentation of Mount Pisgah Speaks , an historic tour of Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Cripple Creek’s historic resting place for its endless host of characters from the past. If you haven’t visited this cemetery, now is your chance.
The Gold Camp Victorian Society members will be portraying the most colorful characters of the World’s Greatest Gold Camp of the 1890s. “It’s as if the dead are rising from their graves to entertain all who come to visit with their riveting, hilarious and often heart-rendering stories,” according to Victorian Society leaders.
The 2026 cast of characters will include: Pearl DeVere , the most beloved Madam of the gold camp and the only Madam to be buried in the cemetery. In addition, there is The Ghost of the Potter’s Field, and the unknown and unnamed buried there; Father Volpe , a prominent, eclectic Catholic priest philanthropist in1890 Cripple Creek ;Mabel Barbee Lee , Cripple Creek’s most beloved teacher and author of Cripple Creek Days; Doc Susie, the famous female doctor of the frontier; Digger O’Dell , the man who dug the graves of Mt. Pisgah (in a creative way). A
These famous ghosts, as well as the common folk who lived and worked in the gold camp, will tell their tales of life regarding one of the most active mining districts in the world where gold is still mined today. You will see the apparitions come alive as they stand at their own graves to tell their stories.
Tours leave the Cripple Creek District Museum parking lot (510 Bennett Avenue) in Cripple Creek every 30 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. and run until 1:30 pm. Each tour is approximately three hours. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased at the Society’s main website, or in person, the day of the event (a limited number available day of the tours) and at the GCVS District Museum ticket booth.
Tickets should be purchased early, as this is a popular event which sells out quickly.
The tours are well worth the price, and help out a great group dedicated to enhancing the historic experience in Cripple Creek.
The Gold Camp Victorian Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose members are dedicated towards preserving the history of Cripple Creek and the surrounding areas. For more information, visit the Gold Camp Victorian Society website
Oktoberfest Above the Clouds
Another mid-September rite of passage for fun and tradition is Oktoberfest Above the Clouds, which also serves a great cause: helping youth athletic teams. This is a new event that has commanded much attention in recent weeks, courtesy of the enthusiasm of the organizers.
More specifically, enjoy music, food, local vendors, and cold beer and an amazing assortment of activities. Join the inaugural celebration of a new Woodland Park Tradition that revives one of the more popular former Woodland Park festivals. This event, once a mainstay of the chamber of commerce, has taken a new more festive direction and one not lacking in various outings.
The event will take place from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20, with the main activity scheduled for Sept. 19 in Memorial Park. As the event organizers proudly proclaim, “Bring your lederhosen and dirndls for a day of family, friendly fun with a real Bavarian atmosphere. Socialize with friends, show off your prowess with a stein hosting competition, scarf down schnitzel, learn traditional German dance, or just soak up some suds. Oktoberfest Above the Clouds is family friendly, featuring bounce houses, the mobile zoo from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, kid’s golf games from Monumental Golf, and more!”
This event is for all ages and benefits local nonprofits that benefit youth athletic programs.
The event also features the Birdies and Bratwurst Scramble Golf Tournament, an Oktoberfest-themed golf event scheduled for Friday, September 18 at 9 a.m. at the Shining Mountain Golf Course in Woodland Park. Other events include a Stein & Sprint 5K Race and an Oktoberfest Brunch.
For more details, visit the Oktoberfest Above the Clouds website.
