Local Crested Butte Events
Crested Butte hosts unique festivals, parades, and events year-round. Because 95% of our traditions involve dressing up, we always tell our guests: Bring your costumes. From vintage ski gear to wildflower-inspired whimsy, dressing the part is half the fun. Below are a few of our absolute favorite annual traditions.
❄️ Winter: The Season of Costumes & Carbs
JANUARY
Fat Bike World Championships: A "not-so-serious" world title race where the costumes are as fat as the tires.
Mountain High Music Festival: World-class songwriters in intimate venues, hosted by Dean Dillon.
Uley’s Birthday (1/29): A high-altitude party at the iconic Uley’s Cabin on the mountain.
FEBRUARY
The Alley Loop: Our flagship Nordic race. Imagine a marathon that winds through snowy downtown alleys, full of vikings, superheroes, and tutus on skis.
Mardi Gras & Freeride World Qualifier: High-energy parades meet the world's best big-mountain skiers.
MARCH
The Grand Traverse: A legendary 40-mile midnight ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen.
Al Johnson Memorial: A telemark ski race where 1880s mining gear meets disco outfits.
Soul Train & Sleds and Kegs: The biggest parties of the spring.
🌱 Spring & Summer: Wildflowers & Singletrack
APRIL – MAY
Flauschink: A local favorite since 1969 to "flush out winter." Expect a royal coronation and plenty of polka.
Pond Skim: Watch (or join) skiers attempting to skim across an ice-water pond at the base area.
JUNE
Bike Week: Featuring the Chainless Downhill Race (no chains, all gravity) and the Fat Tire 40.
Alpenglow Concerts: Free outdoor music every Monday at the Center for the Arts. Bring a blanket and a picnic.
JULY
The Wildflower Festival: 10 days of hikes and workshops in the "Wildflower Capital of Colorado."
4th of July: One of the most famous small-town parades in America.
🍂 Fall: Harvest & The Grump
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER
Vinotok: A week-long pagan harvest festival culminating in the trial and burning of "The Grump" (a 20ft tall effigy) to banish the town’s bad vibes.
Chili & Beer Festival: The legendary kickoff to the fall season at the base of the mountain.
CB Film Festival: High-altitude cinema at its finest.
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER
The Quiet Season: The best time to hike 50+ acres at Wildcat Trail in total peace before the lifts turn.
🎄 December: Magic on the Mountain
Torchlight Parade: On NYE, watch a glowing snake of skiers wind down the mountain under the fireworks.
Santa Ski: Join hundreds of Santas for a Guinness World Record attempt and a town-wide pub crawl.
