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Estes Park Festivals
Since Estes Park
is essentially a tourist town that relies heavily on outside commerce,
it only makes sense that city would have numerous festivals and events
to attract visitors. This is indeed the case, as the festivals can be
found happening in the city year around. Here is a look at some of the
more popular ones.
Elk Fest
Taking
place at the end of September, Elk Fest offers a celebration of the
rut, or elk mating season. Visitors can observe the local herd as the
females strut their stuff and the males challenge each other. This
festival always draws a large crowd and features guided elk-viewing
tours, Native American storytelling, Mountain Man Rendezvous, music by
the Elktones and educational seminars on elk and their mating habits in
the wild. Elk merchandise and food is also available at Elk Fest.
Estes Park Wool Market
Every June, Estes Park
hosts the annual Wool Market. It is a festival of wool exhibits,
competitions, demonstrations and wool vendors. The event is free to the
public. Some of the more popular events are sheep dog herding
demonstrations and sheep shearing demonstrations, complete with a
play-by-play man to explain what is going on. The Children’s Tent
allows visitors to try wool weavers and spinners. The animal
competitions, featuring llamas, goats and alpacas, never fail to
delight visitors.
Rooftop Rodeo
The Rooftop Rodeo is one of Estes Park’s
oldest and most loved events. Happening in July, the Rooftop Rodeo
includes six thrilling PRCA Rodeo performances that take place every
evening of the event. Saddle bronco riding, tie down roping, bareback
riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling and bull riding are all part of
the entertainment. In addition, the kids have a chance to show their
skills in the Mutton Bustin’, a sheep-riding competition for 5-8 year
olds.
Scottish Highlands Festival
So the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains is a bit different than the Scottish Highlands – oh well. This Estes Park
festival, which takes place in September, happens at the Stanley Park
Fairgrounds just off US Hwy 36. Bagpipers both perform for the audience
and compete with each other. Scottish country dancing is on full
display, as are Scottish Highland and Irish step dancing competitions.
The culmination of the event is a showy parade through downtown and to
the fairgrounds.
Catch the Glow Holiday Parade
Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, Estes Park
starts getting in the Christmas mood. The annual “Catch the Glow”
Christmas Parade of Lights signifies this. Events start at noon with
Santa visits, pony rides, hay rides and walking Christmas characters.
Then, just after dusk, the parade begins and floats decorated in
twinkling lights start rolling through town. Marching bands, angels,
animal figures, snowmen and themes from around the world go by, leaving
a tangible sense of holiday cheer with the onlookers.
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