Octobearfest 2013: Where the Bears Are!

Octobearfest 2013 is in full effect!

Now in its 22 year and produced by the Front Range Bears, Octobearfest has grown to be the biggest and best annual bear event in the Rocky Mountain region.

Octobearfest 2013 - Gay Author's Panel: Goldilocks and Papa Bear by Dan Stone

Goldilocks and Papa Bear
By Dan Stone
I watch the city shrinking in the glass
glance by glance, my hands on the wheel
as I hurtle toward our cabin in the woods.

I imagine that you’re sprawled out on your bed
stretching out toward all four corners
and I’m tempted to unzip my pants
right here and now to see if I can get
a rise out of some trucker barreling by.

I’m itching with the need to shed this suit
like cracked and peeling skin that I’ve outgrown
to roll myself into a ball and then unfurl
and wonder how I stayed out of the woods
so long when creatures like you roam its trails
and warm its cozy caverns.

I can feel myself begin to swell and ooze
I know you love the way I bloom for you
as you lie there with your grizzly grin,
your bare toes wiggling and your belly rising
like some dusty mountain I must climb;

already I can feel the hunger and the thirst.
If I roll down these windows I will hear
the wolves begin to howl--it means
I’m almost home—my mouth starts to foam--
almost time to feed this wild new appetite.

In the days ahead, I’ll need no bread or water,
while I’m feasting on your stores of fat;
The logs will blaze unnoticed on the fire
and when you close around me like a fur-lined cape
I’ll cling to you until you feel my footprints
on your sturdy flanks

and all that anyone will hear for miles around
are my blond squeals
and your bodacious growls. 


As part of Octobearfest 2013, Bob Murphy of the Front Range Bears will be hosting a panel of local gay authors including Dan Stone, Jerry Wheeler, David-Matthew Barnes, Sean Eads, George Seaton and Sam Gallegos. There will be readings and a Q&A session with the audience and books will be available for purchase so bring some cash money, honey, and support your local gay authors!

Dan Stone’s first novel, The Rest of Our Lives, was published by Lethe Press in June 2009 and was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award. His first collection of poetry, Tricky Serum: An Elixir of Poems, was published by Lethe Press in June 2011. Writing as Lukas Hand, his Lambda Literary Award-nominated collection of short fiction, Coming To: A Collection of Erotic and Other Epiphanies was published by Lethe Press in March 2012. 

Octobearfest 2013 - Gay Author's Panel: Excerpt of Jerry Wheeler's 'Snapshots'

As part of Octobearfest 2013, Bob Murphy of the Front Range Bears will be hosting a panel of local gay authors including Jerry Wheeler, Dan Stone, David-Matthew Barnes, Sean Eads, George Seaton and Sam Gallegos. There will be readings and a Q&A session with the audience and books will be available for purchase so bring some cash money, honey, and support your local gay authors!

Jerry Wheeler

The following is an excerpt from Jerry Wheeler's short story 'Snapshots' from the book Strawberries and Other Erotic Fruits:

“Get him up,” Benny demanded.

The nurse behind the desk smiled bureaucratically as she patted her hair into place. “That’s not a very good idea, Mr. Hoffman,” she replied. “Mr. Santini has had a difficult night. His breathing was …”

“I don’t care how his breathing was. I want him up.”

“That’s not in the best interests of the patient, Mr. Hoffman. Besides, it’s morning shift change.”

He put the scrapbook he was carrying on the counter and folded his hands over it slowly and deliberately. He did not smile as he leaned in closer. “I am your patient’s husband, and I pay top dollar for his care here at Morningside Heights. I did not build that wing off to your left because I had no idea what to do with my money,” he continued. “I did it so I could walk in here whenever I want and see my husband – cleaned, dressed and in his wheelchair. I suggest you find an aide to accomplish that.”

The nurse sighed and picked up the phone as Benny paced, scraping his fingernails over the textured surface of his scrapbook as if brushing a snare drum. She spoke curtly into the phone and placed it back with exaggerated care in its cradle, throwing an annoyed glance at him. “I just sent Odessa down there.”

“Isn’t Carlos around?”

“No, he won’t be in for fifteen minutes or so.” “We don’t really like Odessa,” Benny said with a frown as he turned and strode toward his wing.

Octobearfest 2013: Saturday Evening Banquet with Sharon MaGoodies and Bill O'Gorman of WeSaid.tv

Octobearfest 2013 has announced that the beautiful and talented Sharon MaGoodies and Bill O'Gorman of www.wesaid.tv have signed on as the celebrity hosts of the Saturday Evening Banquet.

MaGoodies and O'Gorman will bring their patented brand of humor to the event in addition to hosting a Celebrity Match Game of Front Range Bears panelists for what is sure to be an interesting time.

WeSaid.tv: Furfest, Octobearfest, and Much, Much More!

From the fabulous hosts of WeSaid.tv, "We hosted a fantastic show for the front range bears of Colorado called FurFest. It was a benefit for Project Angel Heart, Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Front Range Bears upcoming event, Octobearfest."

See what they had to say about it (NSFW) above!

Octobearfest 2013: Bears to the Future

Mark your calendars for the 2013 Octobearfest. The theme for the 2013 event will be "Bears to the Future" and it will be held the weekend of October 10-11-12-13, 2013 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Denver Cherry Creek at 1475 S. Colorado Blvd.

Now in its 22 year and produced by the Front Range Bears, Octobearfest has grown to be the biggest and best annual bear event in the Rocky Mountain region.

Furplay ... The Party Before Octobearfest

Furplay ... The Party Before takes place this Saturday, September 18 at Compound.

It's the hairy, beary preliminary party that kicks off Octobearfest 2010 and will benefit Urban Peak, The Center, and Harmony Chorale.

Come on down and enjoy a beer bust, entertainment by the Denver Dream Bears and Stephanie Paul, jello shots, fantastic food, and contests for best beard, belly, box and butt that are sure to make you say "WOOF!"

School House Rock meets Octobearfest

We hiked along without care.

Then we ran into a bear.

He was a hairy bear, he was a scary bear.

We beat a hasty retreat from his lair.

Grrr! Octobearfest starts today!

Sponsored by the Front Range Bears, Octobearfest is the world's longest-running bear event. And it's going on right now!

* click the pic to embiggen and get all the hairy, beary details

Octobearfest is coming

It's the biggest and the best ... it's Octobearfest!

Now in it's 19th year, Octobearfest is once again put on by the Front Range Bears and promises to be a bear-y good time. The event takes place October 1-4 and you can find out more information at www.octobearfest.org.

Woof!

Octobearfest 2008: Bears of Olympus

I met up with some of the organizers of Octobearfest at Wrangler's Beer Bust this past Sunday and it sounds like it's gonna be a beary good time. The theme of this year’s OctoBearFest is Bears of Olympus and it takes place October 2-5 in Denver. The host hotel will be the Courtyard by Marriott in Cherry Creek. Registration for the event is $110 for non-Front Range Bears members before September 15 and $125 for everybody after September 15 so register now and check back for more details as they come!