7th: Artists and Students Party at the Art Center of Estes Park, 5:00 pm to 7:00. A gathering of new artists, students and mentors. FREE Contact info: 970-586-5882 www.artcenterofestes.com.
14-17: Winter Festival! Downtown Estes Park event features a chili cook-off, scavenger hunt, horse and carriage rides, contests and more. 970-577-9900; 800-44-ESTES or www.estesparkcvb.com.
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Denver, the iconic mile-high city of the Rocky Mountains, has been experiencing near record level warm temperatures for this time of year. While a pounding snowstorm has swept across northern Midwestern states, dumping enough snow to collapse the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Denver and the Front Range have been experiencing mild and dry weather; warm enough to ride a bike to work.
Image: cyclelicio.us
Normal December day time high temperatures for the area are around 44 degrees. Lately temps for Denver have hovered at a balmy 60 degrees. The record high, set in 1921, was 72 degrees. Continue reading
Visitors to Estes Park sometimes complain of the poor roads around the village. Due to the high volume of traffic the roads receive, with over 3 million visitors annually, they deteriorate much quicker than in other places. Challenging weather conditions also contribute to the problems faced by town roads.
The Department of Public Works for the Town of Estes Park recently completed an inventory of road conditions for 58 miles of roadway owned by the town, and found that improvements needed to be made on approximately half of them.
Town Administrator Jacquie Halburnt says the town will “consider every option to fund roadway maintenance for our citizens and visitors.”
In related news, the highest paved road in the Continental United States at 12,183′ elevation, trail Ridge Road, is now closed for the season.
Fall has arrived in all her splendor here in Estes Park and excitement is building for the upcoming “Catch the Glow” Christmas Parade on Friday, November 26th, at 5:30 pm. The annual parade is held on the day after Thanksgiving, downtown, just as the sun sets.
The parade is fun and beautiful with sparkling lights, decorated floats, marching bands, and the guest of honor, Santa and his sleigh filled with toys and goodies end the parade.
Beginning at noon on Friday, Elkhorn Avenue will host strolling carolers, storybook characters, hay rides, pony rides, and most importantly, an opportunity to visit with Santa himself.
Come on up to the prettiest little town in the mountains, the day after Thanksgiving at noon, with the parade starting at 5:30, and all of it is Free!
More information:
970-577-9900; 800-44-ESTES
The 2010 Loveland Turkey Trot will be at 8:30 a.m., Nov. 25, at McKee Medical Center, 2000 Boise Ave. This annual 5K race is open to participants of all ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.
The course follows a loop along the bike path near the medical center. It starts on Hoffman Drive, north of the hospital and goes through the neighborhood to Boyd Lake Road, and onto the bike path at Boyd Lake. The bike path ends at 18th Street, where the route heads back to the hospital.
Awards will be presented to the top-three finishers in each age group and to the top overall and masters runners.
Advanced registration is $25 for adults and $13 for children 12 years and younger. Day-of-registration is $30 for adults and $15 for children 12 years and younger. All proceeds benefit the Stepping Stones Adult Day Care Program at McKee.
To register, visit www.active.com.
Make reservations at the Silver Moon Inn for a wonderful weekend getaway. Enjoy Fall’s spectacular color show, the crisp air and join the fun at one of these events.
SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER EVENTS CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER
SEPT. 4
John Denver Tribute Concert, at the Fairgrounds, Stanley Park. For tickets and info.: www.estesparklionsclub.org, 970-577-1027
Labor Day Arts and Crafts Show 4th, 5th and 6th, at Bond Park, Elkhorn Ave. and MacGregor Ave., over 100 booths. www.estesparkartsandcrafts.com, 970-577-9900.
Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo 4th and 5th, a state-wide competition of Sheriff’s Dept.s, Fairgrounds, Stanley Park. Info. at: 970-586-6104. Continue reading
About 45-50 min. down the hill from Estes Park is the wonderful town of Fort Collins, CO. Take Hwy. 34 East (a gorgeous drive alongside the river), make a left in Loveland onto Hwy. 287 and go north a bit. Make your way straight into the Old Town Square, rated one of the 2010 Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Orlando’s Steakhouse opened its doors in 1972 upstairs from the world famous Wheel Bar, which has been serving patrons since 1945. Locals and visitors enjoyed the delectable food and friendly service for years. In 1981 Chef Tandy Brown signed on and remained for the next 12 years, alongside Cathy Crowley, the former owner of Lonigan’s, who ran the wait staff superbly for 16 years.
But recently the doors have been shut up tight as the major players felt they needed a break. It’s not easy keeping the quality and reliability at peak standards year after year, decade after decade, so the break was healthy for all involved. During the hiatus Chef Brown took on the position of head chef at Dunraven’s and Crowley moved on to Nicky’s.
Estes Park shares the downtown area with an abundant wildlife population. It is very common to see various animals roaming around the village streets alongside out-of-town visitors. The most common wildlife you’ll see downtown is elk. But you also might see beavers, bears, mountain lions, coyotes, mule deer, fox, raccoons, big horn sheep, an occasional lost moose or two. At the Silver Moon Inn elk enjoy grazing next to the river as much as the guests enjoy relaxing there. This shot of a beaver working on an aspen tree was taken on the Silver Moon grounds. Continue reading
June, July and August 2010
Estes Park Fun and Events, Make Your Reservations NOW!
June
5 Fishing Derby
12 EP Marathon, Kids Fun Run and Festival
12 Rocky Mountain Brewfest
17 – 20 2010 Quilt Colorado
25 – 27 The Best of Estes Wild West Fest
26 – 27 Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Continue reading