Nature and the communities of Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colo., are known for pulling out all the stops to let local colors shine during “September Splendor in the Rockies.” Large Aspen groves turning brilliant shades of color, a wide range of outdoor recreation, amazing fall drives, great deals on vacation packages, and a wide range of events make the month an ideal time for people who love the sights, smells, sounds and feel of fall.A few highlights include the Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-off, DjangoFest Colorado (gypsy jazz), Vinotok harvest festival, MountainAir Marathon, a concert by George Winston (known for his music about the seasons), gallery crawls, mountain biking series, a fun run and more. For more detailed information, visit September Splendor or call 877-351-8724. Suggestions for great fall drives are posted on Crested Butte Fall Drives.
September Splendor in the Rockies Events
WEEK 1
8/13 – 9/13 Land of Rainbow Quilt Festival Exhibit, Gunnison Arts Center
3 Star Party & Astronomy Program at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
3 Barn d’Elegance, a Tour de Forks dining event presented by CB Center for the Arts
3 – 4 Reel Fest presents the Rural Route Film Festival, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
4 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreational Area
5 First Fridays: Gunnison Gallery Crawl & Music
5 Music in the Gunnison Arts Center Courtyard by The Swing Doctors
5 Gunnison Valley Observatory Open for Viewing the Night Sky, Gunnison
6 Gunnison Farmers’ Market, Virginia & Main Street, Downtown Gunnison
6 Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off, Mt. Crested Butte - Ski Base
6 Astronomy Lecture/Formal Viewing Program, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Gunnison
6 Star Party & Astronomy Program at Curecanti National Recreation Area, Elk Creek
Visitor Center
7 Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte
WEEK 2
8/13 – 9/13 Land of Rainbow Quilt Festival Exhibit, Gunnison Arts Center
7 – 8 Wooden Nickel Fall Golf Classic, Club at Crested Butte
10 Tour de Forks Cocktail Finale presented by Crested Butte Center for the Arts
11 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreational Area
12 - 13 Western State College of Colorado Homecoming, Gunnison
13 Gunnison Farmers’ Market, Virginia & Main Street, Downtown Gunnison
13 – 14 32nd Annual Pearl Pass Mountain Bike Tour, Crested Butte
14 Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte
14 MountainAir Marathon & 10 Mile – Crested Butte to Gunnison
WEEK 3
17 - 20 Vinotok (fall harvest festival), Crested Butte
18 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreational Area
18 “Illuminations” Slide Show – Scenes from CB 1972 – 1986, CB Mtn. Heritage Museum
19 – 21 DjangoFest Colorado (gypsy jazz), Mt. Crested Butte
20 Gunnison Farmers’ Market, Virginia & Main Street, Downtown Gunnison
20 Cowboy Poetry & Music, presented by Western State College at Gunnison Arts Center
21 Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte
21 George Winston Concert Presented by Crested Butte Center for the Arts
WEEK 4
25 ArtWalk Evening, Crested Butte Galleries & Studios
25 Gunnison Growler Mountain Bike Series, Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreational Area
25 – 26 9th Annual Sustainable Communities Symposium by HCCA, Crested Butte & Gunnison
26 Gunnison Valley Observatory Open for Viewing the Night Sky, Gunnison
27 Gunnison Farmers’ Market, Virginia & Main Street, Downtown Gunnison
27 Dark Canyon/Dyke Trails Fun Run–Crested Butte Mountain Runners, Crested Butte area
27 Taste of Caring Harvest Dinner Presented by Gunnison Valley Hospital, Marchitelli’s
Gourmet Noodle, Crested Butte
27 “Claim” – New ski movie by local Matchstick Productions, CB Center for the Arts
28 Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte
September Splendor Lodging Deals
Run with the Salmon, Almont
Come and experience the country’s largest land-locked kokanee salmon run from late August to late October. At Three Rivers Resort in Almont, just 3 miles from the final salmon destination at the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, utilize the resort’s Orvis-endorsed outfitting service, Willowfly Anglers, to help land the fish. When purchasing any all-day guided fishing trip in September and October, receive a 20 percent discount on lodging accommodations of two nights or more. This offer applies to Sunday – Thursday night stays only, and Labor Day weekend is excluded. Call (888) 761-FISH or go to www.3riversresort.com.
Cowgirls Getaway, Crested Butte
Grab your favorite girlfriends and stay at The Ruby for two fun-filled nights. Gift baskets filled with Boss Lady smokin’ hot bath and body products will greet you, and then head out the next day for an adventurous day of horseback riding with Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures. Come back for one-hour massages and soaks in the hut tub, and then get all dolled up in your “going out duds” for a night out on the town because this package includes dinner for two. Wake up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to wrangle the world! The package price starts at $450 per person, per night, and is valid Sept. 1 – Oct. 5, 2008. Mention the package at the time of booking. Taxes and gratuities are not included. Call (800) 390-1338 or visit www.therubyofcrestedbutte.com.
Mountains & Memories on Horseback, Mt. Crested Butte
What better way to enjoy fall foliage and saddle unforgettable memories than on horseback? Choose from two fall vacation package options with lodging in Mt. Crested Butte.
· Two nights lodging at the Grand Lodge Crested Butte, a full-service hotel, and a 1.5-hour horseback ride per person with Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures. The rate per person is $88 per night, prior to tax and travel protection. The rate is based on double occupancy.
· Two nights lodging in a two-bedroom Woodcreek condominium and a 1.5-hour horseback ride per person with Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures. The rate per person is $72 per night, prior to tax and travel protection. The rate is based on quad occupancy, with adults and children being the same price.
To book these packages, which are available Sept. 1 – Sept. 30, 2008, contact Crested Butte Vacations at (877) 326-1467.
Visitor Information & Other Vacation Packages
Visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com or call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association’s toll-free number (800) 814-8893 or. During fall, air access to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is provided by United 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.
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 the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Crested Butte Academy, a private college preparatory boarding and day school with special emphasis on world-class alpine, snowboarding and high altitude distance running programs. Gunnison, a real western town, is home to the beautiful, high-country campus of Western State College, a four-year institution offering 22 majors in the liberal arts and sciences and professional fields, and the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.
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.
