Kick Up Your Heels at the Gunnison Western Heritage Festival

Chuck wagons, kids’ rodeo, cowboy poetry, dancing and more on Oct. 3, 2009

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO (Sept. 14, 2009) – Experiencing the West in Gunnison, Colo., is the real thing. In fact, American Cowboy named Gunnison-Crested Butte one of the “20 Best Places to Live the West” in 2009. We have real cowboys, a thriving ranching community, and a few traffic jams, courtesy of the occasional cattle drive. The Gunnison Western Heritage Festival on Oct. 3 is a celebration of this rich Western American lifestyle.

All activities will take place outdoors at Jorgensen Park and the park’s covered ice rink, except the ranch rodeo at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center. Have no fear; there will be plenty to keep the posse entertained and it’s free, except for competing in the ranch rodeo and eating at the chuck wagon-style barbecue.
Ranch Rodeo – Real cowboys and cowgirls from ranches all over the Western Slope will be competing in a ranch rodeo at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, home of Cattlemen’s Days, Colorado’s oldest rodeo. This real ranch competition gives contestants the chance to hone their skills in team events like branding, trailer loading, sort and pen, and doctoring. The cost to compete is $50 per entry, with a limit of three entries. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Expo & Petting Zoo – Besides getting close to some friendly creatures, meet some nice folks from groups like the local cattlewomen, stock growers, Ranchland Legacy, Western State College, 4-H and more and learn about the area’s mining history and waterways. Noon – 8 p.m.
Kids’ Rodeo – Competitions for the youngsters, ages 2 to 15, include stick horse races, mutton bustin’ and dummy roping. 1 – 5 p.m.

Entertainment – The covered ice rink will serve as the “big top” for the festival with entertainment running from 3 – 8 p.m.

* Rex Rideout and Time Travel Music, 3 – 3:45 p.m.
* Mark Todd & Company – Cowboy Poetry, 3:45 – 4:15 p.m.
* Duane Vandenbusche – History of the Gunnison Valley, 4:15 – 5 p.m.
* Rex Rideout & Time Travel Music, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
* Mark Todd & Company – Cowboy Poetry, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.
* Rex Rideout & Time Travel Music, 7:15 – 8 p.m.

Chuck Wagon-Style Barbecue – Dig into tasty vittles cooked over an open fire by authentic chuck wagon cooks. The meal includes the main course, sides, biscuits, dessert and beverage. The cost is $15 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under. Tickets are limited, so call (970) 901-6215 to reserve.

The Gunnison Western Heritage Festival is presented by the City of Gunnison. For more information, call (970) 901-6215.

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages
To find out more about other events in Gunnison County or to book personalized vacation packages, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association’s toll-free line, (800) 814-8893, or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com. During summer and fall, air access to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is provided by United Airlines.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
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. Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities. In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding. Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options – from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels.

Recognized as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2008, Crested Butte is the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area’s conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails. Gunnison, a real western town located 28 miles from Crested Butte, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, a four-year institution offering majors in the liberal arts and sciences and professional fields. Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country’s newest national parks. Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.