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Gunnison and Crested Butte Colorado Family Activity Guide -- Summer 2006
Kid Friendly Activities in the Gunnison Valley

Day Camps | Special Events, Festivals and Concerts | Clubs | Sports
Tours | Music, Dance, and Art | Indoor and Rainy Day Activities
Back to Kid Friendly Activities main page

Special Events, Festivals and Concerts

Whether it's rodeos, art fairs, bike races, or hunting for wild flowers and mushrooms, Crested Butte and Gunnison alike know how to celebrate and take pride in doing so as many times as possible during our beautiful summer months. If you're visiting for more than a couple of days, chances are that at least one of these events will take place during your stay. And if you live here, well, try not to wear yourself out.

Pioneer Museum Open House
The Pioneer Museum in Gunnison hosts their annual Open House on Father's Day, June 18. Admission is free and refreshments are served.
The museum is open to the public seven days per week, opening Memorial Day and closing September 30. The museum hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children, kids six and under are free. There are 16 buildings full of attractions. The Pioneer Museum is located at 803 E. Tomichi Ave. (Hwy. 50 on the east edge of town, across from McDonald's and Jorgensen Park). Please call 970-641-4530 for more information.

Fat Tire Bike Week
This week-long event of bike races and clinics takes place from June 19-25 and is fun for the whole family. The kid friendly events taking place this week are divided into two groups, one being appropriate for all ages, and one for kids 10 and up. Contact the Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce at 970-349-6438.
Monday, June 19: Welcoming dinner hosted by Donitas, all ages
Tuesday, June 20: Raft trip 11 a.m. BBQ 1:00 p.m., Expo/demos clinic, and a band or DJ, for all ages.
Wednesday, June 21: 11 a.m. beginner ride 10 and up. Dinner hosted by Garlic Mike's 6 p.m. for all ages.
Thursday, June 22: 11 a.m. beginner ride 10 and up. 12 p.m. end of ride picnic, all ages.
Friday, June 23: 5 p.m. chainless race 10 and up. 6:30-8:30 p.m. chainless BBQ hosted by Cowboys, all ages.
Saturday, June 24: 11 a.m. beginner ride 10 and up. 10:30 a.m. take your kid mountain biking with picnic following at 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. kids decorate their bikes. 1:45 p.m. kids bike parade. 2-4 p.m. bike rodeo. And 6-8 p.m. Fire Protection District farewell dinner for all ages.

Colorado Adventure Sports Festival: PieZans Foamy Boat Race
Saturday, June 24 Practice Rounds, Sunday, June 25 3:00 p.m. official race. Gunnison Whitewater Park (Twin Bridges) 1 mile west of Gunnison on Hwy. 50. $5.00 per each block of foam. Each block yields one boat. No limit on boats entered. Contact Center for Outdoor Leadership at 970-943-7131 for more information including what to bring, rules, and prizes!

All American Kids Fishing Derby
Located at Lake San Cristobal in Lake City on Saturday, June 24 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., this event is free for all ages. Just bring your own pole and bait.Lake City also offers Kids Ghost Tours one night a week, and the Lake San Cristobal 5k/10k race June 3, in which parents can bring kids in joggers/backpacks.

Alpenglow Free Concert Series
These concerts are held Monday evenings from June 26 through August 7 at 5:30 p.m. on the soccer field (conveniently located next to the playground) in the town park. Past performances have included bands playing bluegrass, swing music, steel drums, reggae, and many more. What to bring? Your whole family (except for the dogs!), a picnic/snacks, blankets/ lawn chairs, and your dancing feet.

Crested Butte Music Festival
The Divine Family Young Peoples Concerts are a series of free concerts designed for children ages 4-12 held on Saturdays from 11 a.m. -12 noon.
July 8: The Transylvanian Mountain Boys will infuse jazz, classical, gypsy, bluegrass and Irish folk music together.
July 15: D is for Dance. Educational entertainment by the Repertory Dance Theater of Salt Lake City.
July 22: How to make Music with Glass. Watch one of the two people in the world capable of playing the glass harmonica.
July 29: Opera for Kids. Kids will see selections performed from Don Giovanni and learn how opera singers project and are able to hold notes.
All performances are held at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts except for How to Make Music with Glass, which is held at the Crested Butte Depot.
Other free events welcoming all ages are:
Sunrise Acoustic Bluegrass, July 6 at 8 a.m., and Sunrise Glass Harmonica, July 21 at 8 a.m. Both take place at the Mt. Crested Butte Wedding Garden.
Patriotic Big Band Concert, July 4 at 5 p.m. on the soccer field in Town Park. Children over 6 are welcome at the festival's evening performances for a ticket price of $10.

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
Taking place from July 10 to 16, this event offers twice-daily flower identification walks at 9:30-11 a.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. If you have small children, please carry them in a backpack.
Also offered is Gardening with Your Children on Monday July 10 at 10 a.m. for a fee of $16. For more info on the Wildflower Fest please call 970-349-2571 or visit their web site.

Cattlemen's Days
Located in Gunnison, this "Granddaddy of Colorado Rodeo" gives local cowboys and cowgirls, and competitors from around the country, a chance to show off their roping, riding, and racing skills. This week-long celebration of our Western heritage includes a carnival, rodeo, 4-H shows, horse shows and races, roping and barrel races, a parade, dances, and even a breast cancer fundraiser on Thursday, July 13 titled Tough Enough to Wear Pink. This year's celebration takes place July 11-16. For and more info on exact times of events and admission prices, go to their web site.

Powerade Pinnacle Bike Race Series
Created by CBMR, this regional racing series for kids and adults is held on several Thursdays in July, August, and September at 5:45pm. The event features a free Shimano Youth series, which is designed to give children the opportunity to compete in a fun, positive environment. For more info call 970-349-2221 or visit their web site.

Art in the Park
This 31st annual celebration on Sunday, July 23 in Gunnison welcomes all ages. Some kid friendly activities take place around noon and vary from year to year.

Pitkin Days
Held in Pitkin, CO on July 28 and 29, this event is overflowing with great activities for kids, most of which take place on Saturday. These include Fun Run/Walk at 8:00 a.m., Children's Fishing Contest at 9:00 a.m., Horseshoe and Frisbee Contests at 11:00 a.m., Free Throw Contest at 11:20 a.m., Potluck at noon, Seed Spitting Contest at 12:30 p.m., Children's Balloon Toss Egg Toss and sack Races at 1:00 p.m., Tug of War at 2:30 p.m., and a Winners Ceremony at 3:00 p.m.
There will also be a melodrama performed both nights at 8:00 p.m. at the Pitkin Town Hall. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for children who take a chair.

Crested Butte Arts Festival
Come to downtown Crested Butte on August 5 and 6 to see artists from all over selling just about anything one could think of. Many booths sell kiddie accessories like puzzles, hats, wooden toys, etc, and there is usually a face painter and a magician as well.
Also taking place is the Rubber Duckie Race, so take your family on over to Coal Creek to cheer on your ducks and maybe win some cool prizes, too.

Big Blue Market Place
This arts fair in Gunnison is held August 26 and 27 and offers an arts and crafts table for kids as well as face painting. There will also be a car show held that same weekend.
Kids 1k Tootsie Roll Race- Gunnison Valley Hospital This fourth annual race, held on September 30, begins immediately after Run for Rehab by the hospital in Gunnison. Children ages 2-10 will run, walk or stroll with their parents down a balloon-lined straightaway, and receive a ribbon and oversized Tootsie Roll at the finish line. Cost is $5. For more info call 970-641-7297.