Valentine Celebration in Colorado Rockies

“Romance in the Rockies,” Gunnison-Crested Butte’s annual Valentine’s celebration of love, returns from February 8  to 14. 

Not only are there concerts, brunch at the yurt, yoga and massage workshops for couples, a Valentine’s chocolate class for kids and a theatrical celebration of food, but you can romance the one you love with a sleigh-ride dinner, dog sledding adventure and outstanding vacation packages. 

A Theatrical Celebration of Food will bring together local chefs, restaurateurs and playwrights for lively competition and collaboration of artistic culinary and theatrical writing skills on February 11 and 12 at the Gunnison Arts Center. 

Yoga for the Peaceful in Crested Butte is offering a Partner Yoga and Tantra Workshop on February 12 from 5 – 7 p.m. and a Partner Massage Workshop on February 13 from 4 – 6 p.m.

Brunch at the Yurt is a premiere way to spend a Sunday morning with selections prepared by local chefs such as homemade yogurt; granola; pastries; creamy brown sugar polenta; sausage; Gruyere and Swiss chard strata; and white bean, potato and kale frittata. Put on skis or snowshoes to get to the Crested Butte Nordic Center’s Magic Meadows yurt and back at your pace on February 13. 

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. Crested Butte has been identified as one of the most romantic ski resorts in the West by Ski Snowboard America & Canada.

For more information about top events in Colorado take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Colorado. 

For more information on Valentine’s Week in Gunnison-Crested Butte visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com

Viking Horns, Frying Pans, Loads of Snow and Snow Sculpture

Each year, snow-worshipers dust off their Viking horns and line the streets of Breckenridge, Colorado, to pay homage to Ullr, the mythical Norse god of snow. Join the 48th annual celebrations from January 9 to 15, 2011 to give thanks for Breckenridge’s bountiful early-season snowfall, over 130 inches in the first four weeks of the season.

This annual week-long celebration of Ullr (pronounced Ooh-ler), brings to Breckenridge a legendary Main Street parade along with live entertainment, the Ullr Dating Game, Ullympics and a family ice skating party.

On the heels of the Ullr Fest comes the 21st International Snow Sculpture Championships from January 25 to 30. Sixteen teams from around the globe have been invited to compete from nine countries
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New is an eco-friendly, LED lighting system that will add to the artistry with color washes during viewing week, January 30 through February 6, weather permitting.

At the event, attended annually by more than 30,000 people, four-person teams are assigned 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of machine-made Colorado snow. Artists achieve finished pieces after a total of 65 intense hours of work without the use of power tools, internal support structures or colorants.

Sculpting begins with a shotgun start and finishes with teams working through the night to hand-carve anything from enormous pieces of whimsy to powerful social commentary. Judging commences with awards presented to first, second and third places, along with designations of People’s Choice, Kids’ Choice and Artists’ Choice.

For more information about top events in Colorado take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Colorado.

For more information on the 2011 Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships and lodging packages in Breckenridge visit www.gobreck.com

Winter Means Major Events in Breckenridge, Colorado

Winter brings unique events to the Victorian town of Breckenridge, which bustles with an independent dining scene, a thriving arts district and plenty of snow. A season-long lineup features signature events and adventures of all speeds.

The Lighting of Breckenridge on December 4 transforms the town into a wintry village complete with two weekends of a Holiday Market. Think roasted chestnuts, hot spiced cider, mulled wine, visits with Santa and unique shopping opportunities. Check out the 3rd annual Winter Dew Tour, December 16 to 19, and New Year's celebrations that include fireworks, a concert and a torchlight parade down the slopes of Breckenridge mountain.

Bring the Viking Horns for Ullr Fest, January 9 to 15. This annual week-long celebration of Ullr (pronounced Ooh-ler), the mythical Norse god of snow, brings to Breckenridge a legendary Main Street parade along with live entertainment, the Ullr Dating Game, Ullympics and a family ice skating party.

Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships – the week of January 25 to 30, teams from around the globe descend on Breckenridge to hand carve 20-ton blocks of snow into works of art.

Not enticed by white stuff? Explore Breckenridge's diverse, independent restaurant scene. Or, try a workshop in the Arts District, shop the boutiques, indulge in spa treatments and re-live history with museum tours.

In addition to ski and ride lessons, winter family activities abound. Explore miles of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails, experience a dogsled tour in Breckenridge's backcountry or hear the sleigh bells jingle on a starlit dinner sleigh ride.

For more information about top events in Colorado take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Colorado.

For more information visit Breckenridge at www.gobreck.com

Crested Butte’s Vinotok Honors Eastern European Roots

The autumn equinox, a time of balance between day and night, heralds in the celebration of Vinotok in Crested Butte, Colorado. Meaning “fall wine festival” in Slovenian, Vinotok culminates on September 18 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 25th annual celebration, from September 13 to 18, is a colorful array of medieval characters, a street theatre performance, storytelling, traditional food and music.

The origins of Vinotok began when creator and now “Godmother” of the event, Marcie Telander, sat around the pot belly stove at Tony’s Conoco, now the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, listening to the “old-timers” of Crested Butte tell stories from their native lands of Austria, Hungary, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Italy and Slovenia.

A common thread emerged. Many of these cultures had a wine festival in the fall when, as they were putting down wine for the upcoming year, the old wine from the previous year had to be drunk.

They roasted a goat, told tales and danced polka. A fire was always present, a vestige of ancient cultures asking the sun to not stay away too long. It was typically on the fall equinox, a time of planetary balance, and in those cold countries, the start of the new year. They celebrated what they harvested – the hay, children and stories of those who had created roots in a new land.

For more information about top events in Colorado take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Colorado.

For more information on Vinotok and other events in Gunnison-Crested Butte visit http://gunnisoncrestedbutte.com

Colorado - Wines with Altitude

Colorado is known for its mountains, but the fertile valleys and vineyards are equally enticing. Colorado’s abundant sunshine, warm days, cool nights and low humidity provide the perfect conditions for wine grapes that feature the complex character and chemistry required to craft award-winning wines.

From rich Chardonnays to robust Merlots to wines made from cherries, peaches, plums and honey, Colorado wines enjoy a well deserved reputation for top quality. Colorado’s grape growing regions range in elevation from 4,000 to 7,000 feet and are amongst the highest vineyards in the world.

Colorado's wineries are spread all over the state. You can plan a trip to almost every part of Colorado and find a wine trail to follow. Just look for the blue information signs with the “Colorado Wine Trails” logo. The wine routes will bring travellers along some of the most scenic and spectacular roads in Colorado.

The largest concentrations of vineyards are found in the Grand Junction region, along the Colorado River and in the West Elks region (Delta County), along the Gunnison River. The federal government has designated these two regions as American Viticultural Areas (AVA).

Some of the wine festivals taking place in Colorado in 2010 are:

June 5: Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival
July 24: Castle Rock Wine Festival
August 7: Vino and Notes Wine Festival, Woodland Park )
August 27 - 28: Mesa Verde Country Wine & Art Festival September 16 - 19: Colorado Mountain Wine Fest, Palisade
November 3 - 7: Denver International Wine Festival

For more information about top events in Colorado, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Colorado at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-colorado.html

For more information on Colorado Wines visit www.coloradowine.org

SKI TOWN USA® CELEBRATES ITS WINTER TRADITIONS

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are less than three weeks away as Steamboat Springs in Colorado gears up for its unique winter traditions.

The community wants to share its heritage, legacy and traditions with the rest of the world. So from February 3 to 7 the 97th Annual Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival will showcase not only Ski Town USA® but will be cheering on Team USA competing at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

Amazingly, Steamboat Springs is home to more winter Olympic athletes than any other town in North America. Community pride is taken to a new level as the 2010 Olympic Send-off & Community Celebration on the evening of Friday, February 5 is coupled with the history of the iconic Winter Carnival festival commemorating the skiing and ranching heritage that has made this region of Colorado famous.

Steamboat Springs’ Winter Carnival is the oldest winter celebration in the West. Traditional Carnival favorites include the snow sculpture contest downtown, ski races at Howelsen Hill, snow tubing and the pancake breakfast. Weekend activities include the Street Events on Lincoln Avenue, the Saturday Night Extravaganza at Howelsen Hill and the Diamond Hitch Parade on Sunday featuring the Steamboat Springs High School ski band, the world’s only marching band on skis. Local organizations participate and dress to the 2010 parade theme: “Livin’ the Dream.”

A popular highlight of the Winter Carnival festivities is the Night Extravaganza on Saturday, February 6th at Howelsen Hill. Onlookers watch young local athletes of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club participate in the exhibition that includes skiers carrying torches, fiery hoop jumpers and an impressive fireworks display.

For more information about top events in Colorado, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Colorado at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-colorado.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Steamboat Springs at www.steamboat-chamber.com