This Sunday, Nicole and I attended Burro Days in Fairplay. Of all the summer festivals we've attended in the High Country, Burro Days was my favorite.
Fairplay is just 20 miles south of Breckenridge on the other side of the Hoosier Pass. Despite the close proximity to Summit County, Fairplay (and its sister town, Alma) are a world apart from the posh ski towns. The people who live there seem to be just a little "off the grid." Fairplay resembles an old western town, having preserved its old main street. The main drag is complete with saloons and shops, but not without the modern tourist requisite gift shops.
Needless to say, the change of scenery makes for a great festival!
What we thought Burro Days was, and what it actually is are two different things. We thought it was a silly race down the main street with a few donkeys. Maybe a few local artisans and merchants would show up - but this is Fairplay - how big could this festival be?
The race is not the cheesy race around town that we thought. It is an intense challenge. Each participant runs to the Summit of the Mosquito Pass and back WHILE pulling a burro alongside. The total distance is 27 miles - longer than a marathon! The slogan of the race great: "Get your ass up the pass!"
The race starts on Front Street (the historic old western street). Volunteers dressed in as cowboys line the streets as local security. When the race begins, the cowboys shoot their guns in the air, and a stampede of runners and burros make their way down the street. The whole thing is over in about a minute. So while the 27 runners and their burros work their way up into the mountains, crowds of people spread across the town to enjoy their day.
Burro Days is one of the biggest festivals in the high country. People came from all over the U.S. to get a taste of the unique flavor of Fairplay. Merchants came from many different states, not just Colorado. Nicole and I purchased a CD from a Peruvian man. There was even a man from Texas who led a cowboy church.
Needless to say, we had a great time!
Fairplay is just 20 miles south of Breckenridge on the other side of the Hoosier Pass. Despite the close proximity to Summit County, Fairplay (and its sister town, Alma) are a world apart from the posh ski towns. The people who live there seem to be just a little "off the grid." Fairplay resembles an old western town, having preserved its old main street. The main drag is complete with saloons and shops, but not without the modern tourist requisite gift shops.
Needless to say, the change of scenery makes for a great festival!
What we thought Burro Days was, and what it actually is are two different things. We thought it was a silly race down the main street with a few donkeys. Maybe a few local artisans and merchants would show up - but this is Fairplay - how big could this festival be?
The race is not the cheesy race around town that we thought. It is an intense challenge. Each participant runs to the Summit of the Mosquito Pass and back WHILE pulling a burro alongside. The total distance is 27 miles - longer than a marathon! The slogan of the race great: "Get your ass up the pass!"
The race starts on Front Street (the historic old western street). Volunteers dressed in as cowboys line the streets as local security. When the race begins, the cowboys shoot their guns in the air, and a stampede of runners and burros make their way down the street. The whole thing is over in about a minute. So while the 27 runners and their burros work their way up into the mountains, crowds of people spread across the town to enjoy their day.
Burro Days is one of the biggest festivals in the high country. People came from all over the U.S. to get a taste of the unique flavor of Fairplay. Merchants came from many different states, not just Colorado. Nicole and I purchased a CD from a Peruvian man. There was even a man from Texas who led a cowboy church.
Needless to say, we had a great time!
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