September Splendor in Gunnison - Crested Butte (All September)
SEPTEMBER SPLENDOR IN THE ROCKIES EVENTS
*All event dates and times are subject to change. Visit www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/events for the most up-to-date calendar.
Tuesdays & Thursdays - Guided Heritage Walking Tours by Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, Crested Butte
The museum offers a free, self-guided town walking tour brochure and throughout September there are guided tours on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Thursdays at 5 p.m. The cost is $10 person and also includes admission to the Museum. Please call 970-349-1880 for more information. http://www.crestedbuttemuseum.com/
Thursdays & Sundays - Crested Butte Farmer's Market, Elk Avenue & Crank's Plaza
Shop for fresh regional produce, preserves, wine, hard cider, cheese, meat, baked goods and arts and crafts on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout September at the Crested Butte Farmers' Market. The Thursday evening market is held at Crank's Plaza by Town Hall from 4- 7 p.m. On Sundays, the market takes place on Elk Avenue between First and Second Streets from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. http://www.cbfarmersmarket.org/
Fridays & Saturdays (Sept. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17) - Gunnison Valley Observatory Open for Public Viewing, Gunnison
On Public Viewing Nights, the observatory's 30-inch reflector telescope (the largest public telescope in Colorado) and outside scopes will be used to observe the night sky. A minimum donation of $5 per adult and $3 per child is requested. Gates to the observatory open at 7:30 p.m. on these evenings. Visit http://www.gunnisonobservatory.org/
Saturdays - Gunnison Farmers' Market, Virginia Ave & Main St.
Shop for fresh regional produce, preserves, meat, baked goods, and arts and crafts on Saturdays throughout September at the Gunnison Farmers' Market located at Virginia and Main Street from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. http://www.gunnisonfarmersmarket.com/
Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 - Brews & Brushes, Gunnison Arts Center
Each class is unique and all encompassing so choose the night that works best for you or experience both! Get artistic with acrylic paints, enjoy a brew and meet, mix and mingle! Talented local painter Jennifer Vannata will be your guide and inspiration while you explore the medium of acrylic paint. Experience the art of tasting specialized brews (coffee or beer - you choose) while you paint. Art experience is not necessary. The $35 cost per session includes brews, instruction, inspiration, and painting supplies. Call (970) 641-4029 or visit www.gunnisonartscenter.org.
Aug. 31 - Sept. 19 - Laura Cooper Elm Ceramics Exhibition, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
Laura Cooper Elm is a ceramicist and painter. The myriad interconnections found in her work encompass a symbolic language where color, style and balance are combined with precise attention to detail. A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, Elm's formal training in art as well as continuing studies in art history, mythology and ancient cultures provides an underlying foundation for her technical abilities. An artist's reception will be held Sept. 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Piper Gallery. Free. http://www.crestedbuttearts.org/.
Sept. 1 - Oct. 1 - Margaret Tange & Jennifer Rose Exhibitions, Gunnison Arts Center
Information will be available soon!
Sept. 2 - First Friday Gallery Crawl & Music, Various Galleries & Locations, Gunnison
To kick off each month right, enjoy great art in Gunnison at the First Friday Gallery Crawl & Music from 5 - 7 p.m. Refreshments, on-site artists and great socializing are highlights. Call Gunnison Gallery at (970) 641-6111 for participating businesses and more information. Free.
Sept. 2 - 5 - Labor Day Sidewalk Sales, Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, Gunnison
Shop to your heart's content and find great bargains at the Labor Day Sidewalk sale in Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte on Sept. 2 - 5 and in Gunnison on Sept. 3 - 5.
Sept. 3 - 4 - The People's Fair (Arts, Crafts & More), Elk Avenue, Crested Butte
The Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend marks the return of The People's Fair in downtown Crested Butte. Hundreds of locals and visitors stroll Elk Avenue on Sept. 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to take in this homespun cultural experience and to soak in the last of the high-country summer. The People's Fair features an eclectic mix of approximately 70 booths showcasing regional arts and crafts, collectibles and antiques, and preserved foods from local gardens as well as live music, a tasty fair food, and nonprofit organization booths selling books, CDs, baked goods and more. Since 1988, The People's Fair has been made possible by the volunteer efforts of the artist members of The Paragon Gallery, a cooperatively owned arts and crafts gallery in downtown Crested Butte, located at 132 Elk Ave. For more information, contact The Paragon Gallery at (970) 349-6484 or visit http://www.paragongallery.org/.
Sept. 4. - Trail 401 Fun Run, Crested Butte Mountain Runners
A great opportunity to run the classic trail 401. Start running either at Rustler's Gulch above Gothic to the top of Schofield Pass, or shuttle to the top and run up trail 401 to below Mount Bellview before descending back to Rustler's Gulch. Distances of 9 miles without shuttle, 5 miles with shuttle. Meet at Rustler's Gulch at 9:15 a.m. or at The Alpineer in Crested Butte at 8:30am to carpool. The race is free for members and $5 for non-members. http://www.cbmountainrunners.org/
Sept. 8 - Bob Livingston Concert with Special Guest Butch Morgan, Western State College Center Ballroom, Gunnison
Bob Livingston, singer/songwriter from Austin, Texas, will perform with special guest Butch Morgan at a benefit concert for the Gunnison Arts Center (GAC). Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a cash bar and social hour, with the performance beginning at 7 p.m.
As a member of Austin's legendary Lost Gonzo Band, Livingston played an integral role in creating the music that first earned Austin the designation of "Live Music Capital of the World." Livingston's latest album, "Gypsy Alibi," is the 2011 winner of Album of the Year from the Texas Music Awards. Tickets are available online at http://www.gunnisonartscenter.org/, with student tickets available for $5, single tickets for $15, and GAC member discounts and family packages available. This event is being presented by the Gunnison Arts Center, Crested Butte Center for the Arts, Western State College, and Watson Advisors.
Sept. 8 & 22 - Summer Speaker Series, Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, Crested Butte
The museum's Summer Speaker Series concludes in September. On Sept. 8, David Primus will present a slide show of the Blue Mesa Dam and Iola area before the dam was constructed. The Sept. 22 will be announced soon. Questions and answers will follow the presentations. Suggested donation is $5. Please call 970-349-1880 for more information. http://www.crestedbuttemuseum.com/
Sept. 10 - Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Get into the spirit of autumn with Mt. Crested Butte's Annual Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off held on Sept. 10 at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) ski area. Heat up by sampling great chili prepared by area cook-off contestants from noon to 2 p.m., cool off with beers poured by more than 20 microbreweries from noon to 3 p.m. and savor live music all afternoon with three bands (to be announced) on tap at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Awards will be presented at 6 p.m. For admission costs and more information, contact the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce at (800) 814-8893 and visit http://www.cbchamber.com/.
Sept. 10 - 11 - 35th Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour, Crested Butte
This oldest mountain bike event in the world runs from Crested Butte to Aspen via Pearl Pass. In 1976, the first group of 15 or 20 cyclists from the Butte rode one-speed town bikes over the 12,705-foot Pearl Pass to Aspen in response to a group of Aspenites riding their motorcycles over Pearl Pass and parking them in downtown Crested Butte. The Crested Butte rowdies pulled up in downtown Aspen in front of the historic Hotel Jerome. By the early 1980s, the expert ride had grown and become a weeklong event known as Fat Tire Bike Week. Today, Fat Tire Bike Week is held in June and the Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour is in September to celebrate Crested Butte as one of the birthplaces of mountain biking. For information, call (970) 349-6817 or visit http://www.mtnbikehalloffame.com/.
Sept. 10 - 11 - Gunnison Cowboys High School Rodeo, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center
Several of the best high school competitors in the state will take part in this Colorado High School Rodeo Association rodeo at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. Look for barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, pole bending, goat tying and much more, with the action starting at 9 a.m. on Sept. 10 and 8 a.m. on Sept. 11. For more information, call John Messner at (970) 901-6215.
Sept. 11 - Camp 4 Coffee Cart to Cart Trail Run, Crested Butte Mountain Runners
A 19-mile course will run from Crested Butte to Crested Butte South via Tony's trail, Upper Upper Loop, Brush Creek Road, Canal Trail, Strand Bonus, Trail 409, Walrod Cutoff, Walrod Gulch and Cement Creek Road. The 11-mile course will shuttle to Brush Creek road and then follow the long course until the Walrod Cutoff and then drop down the Caves Trail to Cement Creek road and the finish. The 8 a.m. start will be at Camp 4 Coffee at 4th Street and Elk Avenue in Crested Butte and the finish at Camp 4 Coffee in Crested Butte South. Transport back to Crested Butte will be provided. Entry fee is $15 for non-members and $10 for members and includes a collectable coffee mug for all finishers. Call race director Martin Catmur at (970) 349-5326 for more information or visit http://www.cbmountainrunners.org/.
Sept. 11 - A Historic Evening - Tour de Forks Gourmet Dining Series, Soupcon, Crested Butte
The Kochevar family's roots in Crested Butte began when Jake Kochevar moved here from Yugoslavia at the age of 18. Jacob married Caroline and the two had nine children. From these roots, the tiny building that houses Soupçon was built in 1916 and is tucked into a back alley of Elk Avenue. The original log construction and multi-light double- hung windows are representative of a time when the Big Mine churned out as much as 11,000 tons of coal a week. This is an opportunity to be treated to a private party in a building that was home to one of the most historic families in Crested Butte during the finale of the Crested Butte Art Center's Tour de Forks gourmet dining series. The luxury of a personalized meal prepared by the delicate touch of Chef Jason Vernon is unmatched. He was trained at the Culinary Institute of America and refined his prowess at such prestigious dining establishments as the Stanford Landmark, Chicago Four Seasons, Emeril Lagasse's Nola in New Orleans, and RK, an American Brasserie in New York City. He is Tour de Fork's only three-time winner of the Chefs on the Edge competition. The evening begins at 6 p.m., is limited to 40 people, and costs $150 per person. Visit www.crestedbuttearts.org or call (970) 349-7487.
Sept. 11 - Gunnison Arts Center Home Tour
The Gunnison Arts Center will be hosting its annual home tour on Sept. from 1 - 4 p.m. with refreshments at the center after 3 p.m. The tickets will be sold for $20. In Gunnison, they will be sold at the GAC and online before the tour. In Crested Butte, they will be sold at Townie Books at 414 Elk Avenue. On the afternoon of the tour, the tickets will be sold at 322 North Iowa.
This years homes include the following.
515 North Iowa - home of Denise Mayfield and Al Caniff
322 North Iowa - home of Betsy Folkerth and Greg Winslow
405 North Iowa - home of Hilary and Robert Fillmore
870 Seneca Drive - home of Judy and Charles Welch
7911 County Road 730 or Ohio Creek Road - home of Diane and Carl Miller
601 North Taylor Street - home of Paul and Enid Holden
Sept. 11 - 12 - Wooden Nickel Fall Golf Classic, Club at Crested Butte
This annual golf outing favorite for teams of four benefits the junior hockey program in the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley. Day one is a four-person scramble and day two is a modified best ball. The cost is $225 per person and includes cart and green fees for 36 holes of golf, trophies and prizes, complimentary beverages and range balls. For information and registration, call Eric at (970) 349-6350.
Sept. 15 - 18, 22 - 25 - "Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors" Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret Theatre
"Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors" is a romantic comedy fantasy by Michael McKeever and directed by Richard Dobbin. When Charlie Cox learns that he has an incurable disease, he gets into his car and starts driving. In the Arizona desert, he picks up a hitchhiker, a sarcastic guy named Wally. Wally reveals some strange things about himself and about his special relationship to Charlie. Then Charlie meets Nell, an attractive widow who operates a rundown motel in the desert, and then a mysterious blind lady arrives. Soon, a battle ensues between Death and Love. The play, a "dramedy," will keep you laughing and surprised by its twists and turns as Charlie learns a lesson about living life to its fullest. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. except for Sunday matinees at 4 p.m. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for students. For information and tickets, call (970) 349-0366 or visit http://www.cbmountaintheatre.org/.
Sept. 16 - Alpin Hong & John McEuen Concert, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
Professional skateboarder-turned-classical-pianist, Julliard graduate, and Crested Butte favorite Alpin Hong will showcase his amazing stories, music and wit during this special concert alongside John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame. This entertaining show is for all ages and will include several performances with local students. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and costs $25. Visit www.crestedbuttearts.org or call (970) 349-7487.
Sept. 18 - Lead King Loop (25K Run), Marble to Crystal & Back
The 25k Lead King Loop course starts in Marble, rounding Beaver Lake, climbing 2,900 vertical feet in about 4 miles into the backcountry Lead King Basin, and switch backing down past waterfalls to the old mining town of Crystal. The race passes the famous 110-year-old Crystal Mill and climbs out of the river valley before a fast downhill finish at Beaver Lake Lodge. The 12.5k Quarry Climb course starts at the Beaver Lake Lodge, winds through Marble until crossing the Crystal River and climbs approximately 1,200 feet in 3 miles through an aspen grove to the base of the marble quarry. Return downhill to the finish with amazing vistas of the valley and Yule Creek. There's also the Lake Kids Loop, a scenic and relatively flat 1.25 mile run around Beaver Lake for kids and their parents. The races benefit Marble Charter School. For more information, visit http://www.leadkingloop25k.com/ or call (970) 704-1275. Register online at http://www.active.com/.
Sept. 18 - 24 - 26th Annual Vinotok Fall Harvest Festival, Crested Butte
The autumn equinox, a time of balance between day and night, heralds in the celebration of Vinotok in Crested Butte, Colo. Meaning "fall wine festival" in Slovenian, Vinotok culminates on Sept. 24 after several days of celebrating and commemorates the bounty of the summer harvest and gathering of the community before the long winter ahead. It is a time of village feasting, of forgetting the woes of yesterday and honoring traditional Eastern European roots. In the midst of the 26th annual celebration, from Sept. 18 - 24, is a colorful array of medieval characters, a street theatre performance, storytelling, Liar's Night, a community potluck, farmer's market and much more. For more information, contact Molly Murfee at (970) 349-0947 or Marcie Telander at (970) 349-6509.
Sept. 20 - Oct. 10 Neil Windsor Exhibition, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
From the roots in the heartland of Indiana to the metropolis of New York City and from the mountains and landscapes of Crested Butte and Santa Fe to the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, this show will feature one man's lifelong passion for seeing art everywhere through a multitude of media, techniques and subject material. This is Clifford "Duke" Windsor. Duke studied painting at Oxford University, advertising at New York University, advertising design at Parson's School of Design and graphics and product design at Pratt Institute. This show will display examples of his influence on his son, Neil, and will feature various art mediums such as wood cuts, bronze sculptures, watercolors, acrylics and clay. An artist's reception will be held at the Piper Gallery on Sept 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. Free. http://www.crestedbuttearts.org/
Sept. 23 - "The Attack of La Niña" Matchstick Productions' Latest Ski Movie, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
Crested Butte-based Matchstick Productions will present its latest feature-length ski movie "The Attack of La Niña" in its hometown as part of a 200-plus-stop world tour. The film is a recap of one of the longest and deepest North American winters on record, served up courtesy of the worldwide weather phenomenon known as la niña. Filming took place everywhere storms were served up in North America, including Alyeska, AK; Terrace, BC; Aspen CO; Whistler, BC; Breckenridge, CO; Mammoth Mountain, CA; Stevens Pass, WA; and many other world-class destinations. The cast of included many of the best skiers of this era: Sean Pettit, Bobby Brown, Mark Abma, Henrik Windstedt, Richard Permin, Gus Kenworthy, Eric Hjorleifson, Ingrid Backstrom, Russ Henshaw, Colby West, James Heim, Cody Townsend, Rory Bushfield, Callum Pettit, Jacob Wester, Alex Schlopy, and 15-year-old sensation Torin Yater-Wallace. Showings will be at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Doors open a half-hour early, and the cost is $10. Go to http://www.skimovie.com/.
Sept. 23 & 24 - "Senior Moments," Gunnison Arts Center
During this theatrical production, laugh out loud at the twists and turns that we're never quite ready for such as: What about that long lost love (from high school) that you meet again, thinking there's some unfinished business? Hmmm. For time and price, call (970) 641-4029 or visit http://www.gunnisonartscenter.org/.
Sept. 24 - Crested Butte Fall Colors Classic (1/2 marathon) Presented by Gunnison Valley Health Foundation
The Crested Butte Fall Color Classic is a beautiful half marathon from Kebler Pass down Ohio Pass during the peak of the changing aspen leaves. This race is almost entirely on dirt road with only about 100 feet of pavement. The descent offers breathtaking views of the Ohio Creek Valley, but don't be fooled as it's not all downhill! Registration is available on www.active.com. The cost is $50. Shuttles will be provided to the start and from the finish, with the race beginning at 9 a.m. Please call (970) 642-8406 with questions. www.cbfallcolorclassic.com.
Sept. 25 - Western State College Guest Artist Recital by Pianist by Andreas Klein, Quigley Recital Hall, Gunnison
Internationally acclaimed pianist, Andreas Klein will perform at the college's Quigley Recital Hall on Sunday, September 25 at 3 p.m. This WSC guest artist recital is free and open to the public. Klein is internationally acclaimed as a luminous and captivating artist and an introspective and poetic performer. His career as soloist has taken him to numerous of the world's most prestigious venues, and he is heard frequently on National Public Radio's "Performance Today and on numerous syndicated and local radio programs.
Sept. 28 - Woods Walk Trail Fun Run, Crested Butte Mountain Runners
See how you measure up against Crested Butte's finest student athletes. Run with the high school cross country team on a mellow end-of-season run from Crested Butte to Peanut Mine and return on the old railroad grade. All proceeds from this run will go to the Titan Booster Club. The distance is 4 miles. Meet at The Brick Oven on Elk Avenue in Crested Butte. The run will be followed by pizza at The Brick Oven. For more information and cost, call race director Connie Hayden at (970) 349-0309 and visit www.cbmountainrunners.org.
Sept. 29 - Spring Creek Bluegrass Concert, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
Crisp, seamless and contagiously energetic, the Spring Creek Bluegrass Band honors Crested Butte with its release party for the band's newest CD. Maintaining a deep respect for the bluegrass tradition with classic standards, while also demonstrating an innate sense of musical innovation with compelling originals, Spring Creek Bluegrass startled the bluegrass world when they became the first band to win both the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Grass Festival band contests back-to-back. They've been taking the nation by storm ever since. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Center for the Arts box office at (970) 349-7487, ext. 3 or by going online to http://www.crestedbuttearts.org/.
Sept. 29 - ArtWalk Evening, Studios & Galleries in Crested Butte
To wrap up the month in style, from June to September, Crested Butte's ArtWalk Evenings bring art enthusiasts on a tour of the galleries on the last Thursday evening from 5 - 8 p.m. Light refreshments, music and on-site artists are featured at many of the locations. ArtWalk Evenings also take place December - March. For a list of participating galleries, go to http://www.awearts.org/.
Sept. 29 - Oct. 2 - Crested Butte Film Festival, Various Gunnison & Crested Butte Locations
Films, discussions and merriment are on tap for this new festival that takes place during one of the prime leaf-viewing weekends of fall. Look for Academy Award nominees, films from Cannes and Sundance and many unknown gems. Most of the films will be Colorado premieres. The festival kicks off on Sept. 29 with "Sneak Peek Gunnison" with a double feature of movies showing at the Gunnison Arts Center and the Ruby Theatre, located on the campus of Western State College of Colorado. For information, visit http://www.crestedbuttefilmfestival.org/ or call (303) 204-9080.
Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 - Western State College of Colorado Homecoming, Gunnison
Western State College is celebrating 100 years of educating students and is going to pull out all the stops for this year's homecoming. On Sept. 30, there will be a golf outing and a Pre-Victory Party and traditional lighting of the "W" on the mountainside beginning at 7 p.m. at the Aspinall-Wilson Center. This event includes a live band, fireworks and dlots of good cheer. A bonfire follows at 9 p.m. at the Mountaineer Bowl Parking lot. Saturday's Homecoming events begin at 8 a.m. with a president's breakfast at the College Center followed by the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. along Main Street and tours of the newly renovated Taylor Hall at 11:30 a.m. All day there are games to watch, including rugby, lacrosse, football against New Mexico Highlands, and volleyball against Adams State College. For a full schedule and costs of various activities, visit www.westernalum.org/events.
Sept. 30 - Oct. 2 - Fall Photography Workshop by Dusty Demerson & JC Leacock, Crested Butte areaJ. C. Leacock and Dusty Demerson are once again pleased to offer the popular Colorado Fall Colors photo workshop. This year's near record snowfall promises to offer some amazing colors and photo opportunities this fall. The Crested Butte area has long been celebrated as one of Colorado's premier fall color locations. Each autumn you'll find Kebler Pass, Horse Ranch Park, Ohio Pass and other nearby landscapes populated by local and internationally famous photographers looking for some of the most amazing fall color landscapes the country has to offer. Leacock and Demerson will be mixing up the field sessions with slide shows, lectures and one-on-one critiques. The price is $795. Visit www.CBPhotoWorkshops.com or call (970) 349-5038.
Click here for current lodging packages and discounts.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FALL FOLIAGE
Nature and the communities of Gunnison - Crested Butte, Colo., are known for pulling out all the stops to let local colors shine in September with outstanding fall foliage and autumn activities during "September Splendor in the Rockies." We're offering lots of great lodging deals for fall as well!
A few highlights include the Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-off, DjangoFest Colorado (gypsy jazz), Vinotok harvest festival, MountainAir Marathon, gallery crawls, mountain biking series, a fun run and more.
Large Aspen groves turning brilliant shades of color, a wide range of outdoor recreation, amazing fall drives, a scenic self-guided heritage driving tour, great deals on vacation packages , and September Splendor in the Rockies fun make the month an ideal time for people who love the sights, smells, sounds and feel of fall.
Take a serene stroll alongside a mountain stream or careening down an exhilarating single-track trail on a mountain bike, the sheer splendor of aspen ablaze in yellow, red and orange provides a stunning setting for recreation, casual drives and the many events that take place in September.
For more information OR to sign-up for any of the September Splendor events please call 877-351-8724, Options 1 & 2 can help you make event reservations and provide destination information, while Option 3 can assist you in making lodging reservations immediately!
When you see the amazing gift of the trees' fall fashion show against the backdrop of pure blue, sun-soaked sky and crystal clear air, you'll get a sense of why people who live in the Gunnison Valley consider September a special time of year.
To see these images and more fall photos, visit our fall photo gallery.
For events beyond September, please visit our event calendar.
Background photo by Allan Ivy
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