Colorado Mtn Towns – May Events

Colorado Mountain towns are quiet, businesses are taking some time to Spring clean and folks are catching up after a busy winter. Events are heating up and we have a calendar to help you plan for some fun! Be sure to check back often as we continue to add new listings to our schedule of EVENTS page.

May 11-May 13, 2012

16th Annual Rifle Rendezvous, Rifle
The Rifle Rendezvous Festival has activities for all people and all ages. There is something for everyone. There are activities that you can set back, watch and enjoy like the Carnival Rides, Dance & Variety Shows, Musicians and many, many MORE. For more information please visit www.riflerendezvous.org/?p=6

May 19, 2012

BuenaVista Bike Fest, Buena Vista
The Colorado Springs Cycling Club (CSCC) announces their fourteenth annual Buena Vista Bike Fest. The 100 mile (century) route goes from Buena Vista to Leadville, around Turquoise Lake, Leadville’s famed Mineral Belt Trail, and back to Buna Vista. Shorter distances are available. BVBF is known for its great scenery, wonderful support along the course, and post ride celebration party with numerous give-aways. For more information please visitwww.bvbf.org/

Saturday, May 19, 2012

30th Annual Antique and Special Interest Car Show, Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City
30th Annual Antique and Special Interest Car Show on Saturday, May 19, 2012, on the grounds of The Abbey in Canon City. Up to 400 cars and trucks displayed on a grass show field. Show includes a swap meet, flea market, craft booths, car corral (cars for sale), live music, and a variety of food vendors. www.canoncity.com/events/30th-annual-antique-special-interest-car-show

May 20, 2012

Taste of Durango, Durango
Durango, Colorado’s premier festival showcasing the fabulous fare of our fine restaurants and Craft Beer from our Four Breweries. Main Ave in downtown Durango. For more information please visit tasteofdurango.com/

May 25, 2012

2012 Music on the Mountain Concert Series: Summer Kick-off Party at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park will kick off the summer season with the first Music on the Mountain Concert of the year, featuring The Starletts.

May 25 – May 26, 2012

Buena Vista Pro Rodeo, Buena Vista
The third annual Buena Vista Pro Rodeo will be held on May 25-26, 2012 on the new and improved Buena Vista River Park in South Main in Buena Vista, Colorado. A Pro Freestyle Competition will be followed by an evening party and awards ceremony. The event will divide a large cash purse between winners in Men’s and Women’s divisions. Preliminaries are May 25 and finals will take place on Saturday, May 26. The Buena Vista Pro Rodeo will culminate the Buena Vista River Festival and the Buena Vista Pro Rodeo will conclude the action and be the first pro freestyle competition to take place at the Buena Vista River Park. For more information go to www.buenavistacolorado.org/cal_event_details.asp?i=1240&m=5&y=2012&c=Buena+Vista+Colorado&t=MONTH

May 25 – May 27, 2012

Paddlefest 2012, Buena Vista
Opportunities abound May 25-27th for paddling enthusiasts in Buena Vista.
CKS is hosting a weekend celebration to promote the beginning of the summer paddling season May 25-27th. PaddleFest is a one of kind, interactive event featuring lake and river paddling, on water education, fun competitions, the BV Pro/Am Rodeo, beer gardens, live music, and movie premiers. Participants can venture to Buena Vista and take advantage of many on water events including free Stand Up Paddle board and kayak demos, fun competitions for youth and adults, and high caliber educational on water courses with RMOC and professional paddlers. Competitions and river demos will be showcased at South Main Square, while flat water paddling events will take place at McPhelemy Park. For more information go to www.ckspaddlefest.com

May 25– May 28, 2012

33rd Annual – Yampa River Festival, Steamboat Springs
The 33rd annual Yampa River Festival and the Paddling Life Invitational are true Steamboat Springs, homegrown events celebrating the Yampa River and the amazing river recreation in downtown Steamboat Springs. Friends of the Yampa organizes this River Festival which celebrates everything river. With kayaking races, rodeos and slaloms, raft racing, tube rodeo, river board demonstrations and the crowd favorite, the Crazy River Dog competition, the Yampa River Festival is an action packed couple of days (Friday – Sunday) that will get you fired up to get on the river. The 7th annual Paddling Life Open wraps up the Yampa River Festival. Watch the best men and women kayakers in the world compete in a one-day, two-event competition for cash and prized and year-long bragging rights. Event is held on Fish Creek and the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat Springs. For more information please visit www.leadville-train.com/ http://my.steamboat.com/events/33rd-annual-yampa-river-festival

May 25 – May 28, 2012

Mountainfilm in Telluride, Telluride
Started in 1979, Mountainfilm in Telluride is one of America’s longest-running film festivals. Through the years, in and out of trends and fads, the festival has always been best described by one unchanging word: inspiring. Far more than any other adjective, that’s how festival audiences describe their experience.
In addition to screening leading independent documentary films from around the world, the festival includes a full-day symposium on a critical contemporary issue, art and photography exhibits, early morning coffee talks, a book signing party, an ice cream social, student programs and a closing picnic/awards ceremony. Presentations and panels are scheduled throughout the Memorial Day weekend event with a wide diversity of special guests, ranging from artists to adventurers and academics to activists. For more information go towww.visittelluride.com/festivals-events/calendar/2012-05-25/mountainfilm-telluride

May 26, 2012

Leadville and Southern Scenic Railroad Opens for Season, Leadville
Welcome aboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad. Join us for a Colorado adventure you will not forget. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, this scenic train trip provides 2 and 1/2 hours of sightseeing, relaxation and a little glimpse back in history.
The train travels another 1,000 feet above the headwaters of the Arkansas River Valley. You will travel through pine forests, aspen groves and view high alpine meadows sprinkled with an array of colorful wildflowers in mid-summer. Bring your camera to try to capture a picture of an eagle. Children have the chance to meet the engineer. For more information go to www.leadville-train.com/

May 26 – May 27, 2012

Blues Brews and BBQ, Beaver Creek
Beaver Creek’s 8th annual Blues Brews and BBQ event signals the beginning of summertime in the mountains Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-27, 2012. Visiting chefs from all over the country, as well as Vail Valley favorites, serve up delicious barbeque fare complemented by micro-brews provided by a variety of breweries. Taste your way around the plaza while listening to a full lineup of free blues concerts each day. Bring the whole family as kids’ activities are offered for the young and young at heart. For more information please visitwww.beavercreek.com/events-and-activities/events-and-activities-summer.aspx

May 26 – May 27, 2012

2012 Original Growler, Gunnison/Crested Butte
The Original Growler is for experienced mountain bikers only. Riders must possess the skills and judgment necessary to assess difficult and challenging trails and roads and negotiate them in a safe manner. NO BEGINNERS, PLEASE! Each day of racing at the 2012 Original Growler is capped at 350 riders. We could easily start 500 or more but there’s a ton of singletrack out there, much of it either fast or technical. Too many riders on course at once is not conducive to quality racing and riding. For more information please visit www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/event/2012-original-growler

May 26 – May 28, 2012

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, Durango
This Durango race is a race to beat the train! One day in 1971 two brothers raced over the 50 miles and two mountain passes one a conductor on the Iron Horse and the other cycling on his bike. As the train pulled into the Silverton station that day in 1971, the cycling brother was waiting train’s arrival. This race has now become a yearly tradition called the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. For more information please visitwww.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com/welcome-official-iron-horse-bicycle-classic-website

May 27, 2012

Bluegrass on the Arkansas, Salida
Enjoy the afternoon in Riverside Park with an impressive line up of bluegrass bands. Live music begins at Noon and will continue into the early evening. A variety of food will be available along with a selection of beer, wine and soft drinks served by the Salida Rotary Club. The 2012 line up features several different bands, two of which are past winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival band contest. This year promises to be one of the best. The Sunday afternoon/evening schedule Includes: Spring Creek Jody Adams and the StringDudes, Run Boy Run, Finnders and Youngberg, and Harper and Phoebe – the Powell Sisters Admission is free. Donations in support of Rotary’s Scholarship Fund are encouraged. For more information please visitwww.bluegrassonthearkansas.org/

May 30, 2012

Town Challenge Mountain Bike Race Series Race 1 (Howlin’ Howelsen XC), Steamboat Springs
The Steamboat Town Challenge is a seven race mountain bike series held every summer. Both hill-climb and cross-country events are included, with classes for all catagories and ages of riders. Registration will be accepted online or at the Parks, Open Space & Recreational Services office Monday – Thursday 7:30am-5:30pm, except for race days. Registration will be accepted on race day at the race-site only.
Any volunteer who can work a minimum of six races from start to finish will receive cool schwag and a t-shirt. For more information please visit www.townchallenge.com/

May 31 – June 3, 2012

Teva Mountain Games, Vail
The Teva Mountain Games are the country’s largest celebration of adventure sports, art and music. Professional and amateur athletes from around the world converge upon the mountains and rivers of Vail to compete in eight sports and 24 disciplines for more than $100,000 in prize money. Events include steep, freestyle, sprint and full contact kayaking, rafting, mountain, road, freeride and slopestyle biking, World Cup Bouldering, amateur climbing, fly fishing, sprint and cross stand up paddling and trail, mud and long distance running. For more information please visit www.tevamountaingames.com/summer

I know this list will continue to change so check the Events page often and don’t forget to peruse our Spring Issue of MTN Town Magazine – Click Here

~MtnTownViews

MtnTownViews.com is MTN Town Magazine‘s daily journal blogging about Colorado’s mountain towns. Like them on Facebook and Follow on Twitter.