New Happenings in Estes Park, CO: Spring & Summer 2014

What’s New

• Cliff Camping With Kent Mountain Adventure Center – Beginning in May 2014, Kent Mountain Adventure Center will offer the opportunity to camp on the side of cliffs overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park. Great for couples and first-time cliff campers, participants will start by learning climbing basics; then a KMAC guide will assist participants in setting up a wall camp utilizing a portaledge. High off the ground, participants will enjoy refreshments and marvel with adrenaline and excitement at the incredible views.
• Estes Park Historic Tours - Following their debut in the 2013 “Catch the Glow” parade, Estes Park Historic Tours will start operating in April 2014. These tours, developed and scripted by Historian Laureate James Pickering, will run four times a day and feature two antique trolleys which will take patrons on a historic journey through the town.
• New Seminars at Rocky Mountain Nature Association - The Rocky Mountain Nature Association has announced a number of new seminars for 2014, aimed at educating participants on the different aspects of nature native to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.
• Rocky Mountain National Park Volunteer Opportunities - This summer, Rocky Mountain National Park is inviting groups and families to assist with a variety of volunteer projects around the park. Available opportunities include rebuilding trails and bridges that were affected by the floods; work with park firefighters on fuels reduction projects; and native plant restoration. For more information, visit: http://www.nps.gov/romo/supportyourpark/group-volunteer.htm

  Festivals & Events

• Fee Free Days – As an extra incentive to encourage guests to visit, free admittance to all national parks in the United States, including Rocky Mountain National Park, applies to special days and holidays. Guests at Rocky Mountain National Park will save on the $20 automobile or $10 pedestrian entrance fee by visiting on the following days:
  • April 19-20: National Park Week’s opening weekend
  • August 25: National Park Service’s 98^th  birthday
  • September 27: National Public Lands Day
  • November 11: Veterans Day

• Stanley Film Festival, (Apr 24 – 27, 2014) – The second annual Stanley Film Festival returns after a wildly successful first year to celebrate the best of independent horror cinema with a slate of film premieres, screenings of classic scary movies, Q&A sessions with industry insiders, student competitions, receptions and more. The four-day festival will be hosted at the iconic Stanley Hotel, infamous for authentic hauntings of its own.
• Wool Market, (Jun 7 – 8, 2014) – Held at the Fairground at Stanley Park, the annual Estes Park Wool Market is a family-friendly event where guests can experience hands-on activities; a petting zoo; wool demonstrations; sheep-to-shawl instruction; skill competitions; and wares from local and national wool workers.
• Rooftop Rodeo, (Jul 8 – 13, 2014) – Estes Park’s annual Rooftop Rodeo, recognized as the best small rodeo in the nation and the top medium-sized rodeo in the Midwest, returns for its 106th year. The event kicks off with a parade featuring hundreds of horses; marching units; hitches; cowboys and cowgirls; floats and antique cars; and rodeo participants. Throughout the rodeo, there are behind the scenes looks at the rodeo action, a Tough Enough to Wear Pink night on July 9th and much more. Rodeo kick-off performances start at 7 p.m. each night with rodeo events beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park.