As Colorado completes its transformation into a winter wonderland,
the destination features special celebrations and festivals, ranging
from ski joring competitions to a milestone winter carnival. Following
are some of the top winter festivals for Colorado in winter 2013. For
more information or to learn about additional Colorado winter events and
festivals, visit
www.colorado.com.
- WinterBike, Copper (January 19). Winner of the NSAA’s “Most Unique Event” in 2012, the 2nd
annual festival encourages participants to slip, slide and ride their
way through Copper Village to a finish line celebration complete with
fireworks. The kids can join in the fun this year with LittleBike, the
free kids-only ride. Registration for WinterBike is $20.
- Winter Brew Fest, Denver (January
25). A celebration of craft beverages from around Colorado and beyond,
the Winter Brew Fest features live local music, food tastings, and other
entertainment.
- Snowdown, Durango (January
30 – February 3). Celebrate snow at Durango’s annual quirky winter
festival, where this year’s theme is “Get Your Geek On” iSnowdown
2.0.13. Guests will enjoy more than 60 unique and zany events: evening
torchlight parade, ski softball tournament, Snowdown Balloon Rally, wine
tasting, beard growing contest, Snowdown Follies, Bed Race, a
magnificent
fireworks show and more.
- Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, Steamboat Springs (February
6 – 10). This historic winter festival, celebrating its 100th
anniversary in 2013, pays tribute to the area’s skiing and ranching
heritage and is a celebration of all things winter. Events include: the
snow sculpture contest, ski races, snow tubing, live entertainment and
performances by the Steamboat Springs High School marching
band — the world’s only marching band on skis. The event also supports
continued athletic development and education for competitors involved in
Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, the oldest and largest winter
sports club in the country.
- WinterFest Weekend, Pagosa Springs
(February 7 – 10). Join in three snow-filled days of fun as Pagosa
Springs celebrates winter. Some events include Nordic races for kids and
adults, Anything Goes Downhill Sled Race, Snow Sculpting Contest,
Snowshoe Stop and more.
- Telluride’s Gay Ski Week, Telluride (February
23 – March 3). This spirited yet unpretentious week offers a unique
blend of top-rate skiing and entertaining events. From the Academy
Awards watching party, to the popular White Night Party, ski week guests
will enjoy 10 days of skiing and events.
- The Ski Joring & Crystal Carnival, Leadville (March
1 – 3). Ski joring is a competition where a horse and rider pull a
skier at a fast pace through a course that features gates, jumps and
rings. The skier is timed through the course, and penalties are assessed
by missing gates or jumps, and by missing or dropping any of the rings.
Additional activities include a children’s parade, Nordic
and winter mountain bike races and more.
- Big Air on Elk, Crested Butte (March
9). Each year, Crested Butte is home to an epic ski jumping competition
in the middle of its downtown. A snowmobile tows top local skiers and
snowboarders, launching them off of a five-story, park-style jump at
Third Street and Elk Avenue.