Crested Butte Wildflower Festival Celebrates Nature’s Amazing Handiwork

Nearly 200 Events Planned in "Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado" for July 9 - 15

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (March 30, 2012) - Designated the "Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado State Legislature in 1990, the 1880s mountain town of Crested Butte will host the 26^th annual Wildflower Festival July 9 - 15, 2012. 

Visitors, photographers and artists, from across the United States and abroad, journey to Crested Butte to witness nature's explosion of color during the festival and the weeks surrounding.  Glacier lilies are among the first to appear in May and by mid-July and well into the month of August, the entire area is painted with floral displays.

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival spans the peak of wildflower season and, as an organization, advocates for the preservation and appreciation of wildflowers in the Gunnison Valley and adjacent wilderness areas through exploration, education and identification of wildflowers and their role in this unique environment.

Highlights for 2012 Festival

Daily hikes and walks for all ranges of strength, fitness and wildflower know-how are some of the most popular happenings on the festival's schedule.  Go full-day, full-strength or half-day at a more leisurely pace.  Those coming from lower elevations can enjoy a wide range of walks at a kinder pace.  Here's a sampling of what will be offered.

• Hike through the Maroon Bells Wilderness to Aspen, an 11-mile trip through some of Colorado's most dramatic wildflower meadows.
• Hike to Marble over the epic Yule Pass or through the town of Crystal, where you'll visit the historic and very popular Crystal Mill.
• Several private landowners are allowing the festival to lead hikes on their property.  See wildflowers in places that most people never get to see.
• The "Adventure Six-Pack," a series of six strenuous, full-day hikes to remote areas, starts on June 1 and run through Aug. 17.  Geology and flowers are the theme this year, and if participants sign up for all six hikes, they will save $40.
• Several tours will be offered at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in nearby Gothic to learn more about how wildflowers and pollinators are adapting to climate change.

Here's a wide variety of other great options during the festival.

• Birds and butterflies go hand-in-hand with wildflowers.  Learn how to recognize the area's unique birds just from their song or see stunning butterflies feasting on gorgeous wildflowers.
• Artists may choose from a rich palette of offerings including plein air painting, field sketching, batik, ceramic painting, and watercolor.
• Learn to apply wildflower aromatherapy for good health and to make flower-infused teas, vinegars, candles, and botanical skin and hair conditioners/remedies.
• More than 30 photography classes for all skill levels and cameras.  New this year are portrait classes, the photo process from capture to output, and critique sessions.  
• Cooking classes that take inspiration from flowers and nature to create delicious, healthy and fun summer appetizers and meals.
• Van and 4 x 4 tours take those unable to walk or hike long distances into the backcountry to see the area's wildflower splendor.
• Relax and unwind with a yoga class in a field of wildflowers or enjoy Pilates mat classes.
• Shop at the Blossom Boutique for many unique wildflower-themed gifts, clothing, books and festival posters from 2012 and earlier years.
• For those who want their wildflower exposure to extend beyond July 9 - 15, the festival will offer a "Weekly Wildflower Hike" every Saturday morning during the bloom season.

For more information about the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, call (970) 349-2571 or visit http://www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com/.  The 2012 schedule of events will be available online in mid-April.  The festival will be headquartered at the Crested Butte Community School at 818 Red Lady Ave. during the weeklong celebration.

Wildflower Festival History

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival was created in 1986 after a local businessman, Terry Hamlin, suggested the idea upon witnessing flower festivals in Europe.  With the help of the Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce, a volunteer committee was formed to make the idea a reality.  In 1990, the mayors of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte and the town manager of Mt. Crested Butte approached the General Assembly of the Colorado State Senate and achieved the official designation of "Wildflower Capital of Colorado" for Crested Butte. 

Today the Wildflower Festival operates as a nonprofit organization.  In 2002, Crested Butte Wildflower Festival and the Town of Mt. Crested Butte partnered to create the Mountain Garden, located next to Town Hall. A Garden Committee oversees the garden, which is a popular location for weddings and other events.

Another Great Wildflower Viewing Opportunity

Every Sunday, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park hosts free wildflower walks while the flowers are in bloom, usually from June until mid- or late July.  These casual walks start at 1 p.m., last approximately one hour and are for all ages.  Meet at the South Rim Visitor Center.  For more information, call (970) 249-1914, ext. 423 or go to www.nps.gov/blca.  

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages
To find out more about Gunnison-Crested Butte's calendar of events and personalized vacation packages, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association's toll-free number (800) 814-8893 or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com/packages.  Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on www.twitter.com/gcbta. 

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United Airlines and during the winter by Continental Airlines and American Airlines.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado.  Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.  Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities.  In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding.  Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options - from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels. 

Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, which offers bachelor's and master's degrees in liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional fields.  Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities. 

Recognized as the "Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in 2008, Crested Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.  Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area's conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails. 

Marble is located in the Upper Crystal River Valley along the Elk Mountains and is the gateway to nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country. Marble has seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is the location of the Yule Marble Quarry.

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country's newest national parks.  Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

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Photo: by Jan Runge

For a Word version of this press release, click on the link below.

Contact:                        Beth Buehler                                        

Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association                 

(970) 349-1168, (970) 901-6970 cell or buehler@qwestoffice.net       

http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/