Mark Your Calendars for Grand County's Fall Festivals + Events!

Who doesn't love summer in the mountains?! But we just might love fall even more! The cooler temps, bluebird skies, changing leaves, and the hint of snow in the air give us some of the best of Grand County. Trails ready to hike and ride, lakes and rivers prime to fish, summer crowds dissipating, and fun events still in full force, the changing of the seasons here in the Fraser Valley is a true gift every September and October. 

As we wrap up summer and close in on fall this year, we've put together a list of events that can help you take full advantage of the season here in our neck of the Rocky Mountains. 

ART IN THE PARK: SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

Granby hosts its 4th Annual Art in the Park this Labor Day weekend. Right in the heart of Granby's downtown at Polhamus Park, Art in the Park brings the community together as artists create pieces for the "long wall" that runs along the east side of Highway 40 in Granby. This past year, the wall was filled with one-of-a-kind artwork on life-sized bear cut outs. Those pieces will be available for purchase in a silent auction and the event. And new art will be created for this year's wall! This year's theme is "Windows to the Past" celebrating Grand County history. You can snag free tokens and vote for your favorites - the top three People's Choice winners head home with cash prizes. There will also be live music, art vendors, interactive art activities, food trucks, and a beer garden, so you can make an afternoon of it at Art in the Park on Saturday, August 31 from 12 - 5pm.

COOPER CREEK SQUARE BLOCK PARTY: Sunday, September 1 

Celebrate Labor Day weekend at Cooper Creek Square's annual Block Party! Swing by between 1 and 4pm on Sunday, September 1 to take part in the festivities. Live music will be playing all afternoon - grab a drink at one of the restaurants and take advantage of Cooper Creek's "entertainment district" by enjoying it in the courtyard as you listen to the music. The kids will love the free face painting, balloon animals, and playground. Take advantage of the good music, great sales, and small-town mountain vibe as we close out the summer season at Cooper Creek Square. Our West + Main office is on the second floor of Cooper Creek - come by  and say hi if you're around for the block party!

HOEDOWN FOR HISTORY: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Hoedown for History. The event will be held at breathtaking Strawberry Creek Ranch, one of the premier wedding venues in Grand County. A cocktail hour and dinner will be followed by a "bard dance." Live music will be provided by Narrow Gauge, and there will be all kinds of fun things up for bidding at the live auction. VIP tickets are $125 and include dinner, drinks, and dancing. Doors open for VIPs at 5pm. If you're just hoping to catch the auction and enjoy the dancing from 7 -10pm, general admission tickets are available for $75. You can buy tickets at any GCHA museum or online

WINTER PARK FILM FESTIVAL: SEPTEMBER 6 - 8

Winter Park Film Festival is a three-day event that brings high-end cinematic experiences here to the beautiful Fraser Valley. The festival brings a unique platform for creative expression and highlights the work of talented filmmakers from around the country. The festival will premier the work of the top three winners of the Alive, a mental health and addiction film challenge, and include a discussion panel on these powerful films. The event will also feature Kent Harveyacclaimed filmmaker and Director of Photography for the movie Everestas a keynote speaker. Between film showings, enjoy mixers, hikes, and more. Hosted by The Foundry, the Winter Park Film Festival has a full weekend of events!

WINTER PARK ART FESTIVAL: SEPTEMBER 7 - 8

Check out the Winter Park Art Festival at Cooper Creek Square in downtown Winter Park this year.  The annual juried art and craft show will have an array of original artwork and handcrafted goods.  The free two-day event will be showcasing local and national artists representing a variety of mediums including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, and more.  Soak in the live music and amazing art at this two-day event that runs from 11am - 7pm on Saturday, September 7 and 11am - 6pm on Sunday, September 8.  

TROUBLESOME FEST: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Accurately dubbed "a musical tribute to a resilient community," the fourth annual Troublesome Fest pays tribute to those affected by the East Troublesome Fire, a tragedy that devastated our community and left so many without homes in the fall of 2020. And yet the outpouring of love, kindness, and generosity for those affected highlighted the beauty in our tight-knit, outwardly focused, and truly kind community. The yearly festival aims to increase and support wildfire recovery, prevention, mitigation, and education. Grand County residents have first-hand knowledge of the need for such efforts, and they come out to support the cause each year, standing strong as a community in the midst of rebuilding after the fire swept through not even four years ago. An all day event held on the picturesque beach of Grand Lake with plenty of fun for the whole family , Troublesome Fest is a tangible example of strong community. This year's line up includes music from Kris Lager Band, Emily Clark, My Blue Sky, and Jay Silence. Grab your $50 general admission tickets online and enjoy the shows!

GRAND KIDS FALL FESTIVAL + GOLF TOURNAMENT: SEPTEMBER 14 - 15

Grand Kids Learning Center, an early childhood center that has been serving our community for decades, hosts a weekend of fundraising events. Check out their 23rd Annual Fall Fest at Rendezvous Event Center on Saturday, September 14th from 1 - 6pm. Entrance is free to enjoy live music by Ed & Co at the beautiful event center. This year, they're tossing it up a little with a lumberjack theme. Tickets can be purchased for axe throwing, giant cross cut saw, soft tip archery, target knockout, face painting, bounce houses, whiskey tasting, and more! Drinks (including fall brews from local breweries!) and snacks will be available for purchase as well. Or is golfing more your style? Grand Kids also sponsors the Bert & Ernie Golf Tournament on Sunday, September 15th. Sign up for the tournament here, and take advantage of one of the best golf courses in the state, Pole Creek Golf Club, during one of the best seasons of the year! 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINE FEST: SEPTEMBER 20 - 21

Head up to Winter Park Resort to enjoy the fall colors while sipping red, white, and rosé from all over the country at the Rocky Mountain Wine Fest. The two-day festival has it all: a day of unlimited wine tasting, a wine tasting seminar,  two "Sip & Savor" dinners at Vertical Bistro and Adventures Decanted, and views for days. You can hop online and buy tickets for each event here. And it's for a good cause! The event will benefit National Sports Center for the Disabled

SNOW MOUNTAIN RANCH TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Part of the Endurance Race Series, the Snow Mountain Ranch Trail Running Festival at the YMCA gives runners all the options. This event features 4 races with 2 different "challenges".  Races include a Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and 50K. Challenge yourself with the "Moosehead Challenge" and "Baby Moose Challenge" by completing multiple events in a single day. All the races are on dirt trails that wind through the beautiful Snow Mountain Ranch property. Fall color, rolling hills, and picturesque views make this the "most beautiful ERS course." Learn more about each race and register here

OKTOBERFEST HOP CRAWLER: SEPTEMBER 21 - 23

Celebrate fall during Oktoberfest, a weekend-long event that highlights the valley's breweries. Get together a group of friends, buy your tickets, and walk, ride, or bus to Fraser and Winter Park's five breweries: Big Trout BrewingCamber Brewing CompanyFraser River Beer COHideaway Park Brewery, and Viscous Cycle Brewing. Tickets are $35 and include a souvenir pint glass + a 10oz pour at each brewery. Several events take place on Saturday, September 23rd: a stein relay at Big Trout (12:30pm), a keg rodeo at Hideaway Park (1:40Pm), a stein holding contest at Vicious Cycle (2:50PM), a pretzel eating conest at Fraser River Beer Co. (4pm), and a boot chug at Camber (5:10PM). But tickets last all weekend, so enjoy the tour at the time that works best for you!

ELEVATION EVEREST: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Even though Mt. Everest is on the other side of the world, that doesn't mean you can't try to conquer a goal and replicate part of the experience right here in Winter Park! Hosted at Winter Park Resort, Elevation Everest’s first event will be a Half Everest. Participants will hike up the Ute Trail and take the gondola down until they climb half the elevation of Mt. Everest. Each lap is 1.9 miles and will total 14,516 feet of elevation gain. Participants have 17 hours to complete the race and can do it solo or with a team. Athletes will have access to Base Camp with music, saunas, cold plunges, yoga, breath work, a recovery zone, and more. Learn more and get your tickets here

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Celebrate National Public Lands Day by joining the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. Last year, over 130 national parks hosted events with 7,600 volunteers donating an 41,500 hours of service, and we're proud to say this is Grand County's 30th year participating in the volunteer effort! The theme for NPLD 2024 is “Together for Tomorrow.” Volunteers of all ages and abilities will roll up their sleeves and join forces for a common goal—stewarding America’s natural resources for future generations to enjoy. We'll be focusing on Colorado River clean up and outdoor projects throughout Grand County with land management agencies and towns. And a fun bonus - all national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone on September 28, 2024 in celebration of National Public Lands Day. So head on up to Rocky Mountain National Park before you jump in to volunteer for the day! Rendezvous Event Center will host the after party from 4 - 7pm with dinner and music from Puddle Stomp. Email volunteer@headwaterstrails.org to sign up and get more details! 

SAY HELLO!

We'd love to connect with you if you're in town this fall! We're always here for you with local recommendations and resourcescomprehensive knowledge of Grand County's real estate market. Please don't hesitate to reach out - we'd love to grab coffee or happy hour and support you in any way we can! 

Posted by Leah Bishop on

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