SPONSOR LISTINGS

Royal Gorge Bridge
888.333.5597
Colorado's Natural Wonder with exciting rides and great views.
View brochure!

Echo Canyon River Expeditions
800.575.3246
The mot trusted name in rafting since 1978. Located near the Royal Gorge Bridge.

Best Western Royal Gorge
1925 Fremont Drive, Canon City
719.275.3377/800.231.7317
There's so much to do in the Royal Gorge Region. Bring the whole family.

The Winery of Holy Cross Abbey
3011 E. Hwy 50, Canon City
877.422.9463
Located on the historical grounds of Holy Cross Abbey.

River Runners
888.350.7782
The Whitewater Professionals. Colorado's Best Rafting Trips.

Royal Gorge Train
888.724.5748
The best way to see the Royal Gorge is from the train!

Buffalo Joe's Whitewater Rafting
866.630.6871
Dedicated to providing the most enjoyable river experience possible.

Arkansas River Tours
800.321.4352
Since 1973, 34 years of laughs, smiles & thrills.

Royal Gorge Rafting
719.275.7238
Providing the finest experience on the Arkansas River.

Royal Gorge Helitours
719.276.9038
See spectacular views from a jet powered helicopter.

Moutainview Campground & Cafe
Play & Stay Colorado Style!

Canon City's Community Heritage Pass
Four Canon City Attractions, One Price.
Celebrating the artistic, edecational & historic elements of our community.

American Adventure Expeditions
866-744-RAFT
Experience scenery, wildlife, & excitement on Colorado's most popular river!

2008 FESTIVALS

Join in the fun & Excitement that we have to offer!

Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival
May 2-3, 2008
What began 70 years ago as a high school band competition has grown into a celebration of spring that attracts upwards of 5,000 people to Cañon City every May. This year's Music and Blossom Festival will be held May 2-3, and like all previous festivals will include a band competition featuring groups from about 30 regional schools.

In addition to their technical competition, the bands participate in the Festival parade, a 13-block-long extravaganza that often has spectators stacked five-deep on the parade route. The spring carnival begins the Wednesday before the festival and is open throughout the weekend. Look for the Blossom Queen and her Court, (selected in March) a prominent part of the parade and festivities, along with a large craft fair, a barbecue and the Blossom Festival Art Show. 719.275.7234 > www.ccBlossomFestival.com

Heritage Days (Formerly Historical HeyDays)
May 30-June 1, 2008
Take a step back in time and become a part of the history of Canon City. Enjoy three days of vintage baseball games, casual and formal dances, tours of the original homes, gunfights and reenactments, museums and so much more. Meet and talk to historical characters from Canon City's past as they come alive and roam the streets. Learn how Canon City started by living the past. Spend the weekend in vintage costumes and roam the streets with cowboys and gentleman, ladies in their finest and ladies of the night. For more details, Go to: www.CanonCity.com.

Brew Ha Ha
May 10, 2008
The 4th Annual Fremont County "Brew-Ha-Ha" will have more than 20 of the state's top brewers, as well as more top-notch stand-up comedians who will travel to Cañon City for the show! This is the best outdoor party in Cañon City - celebrating the art of making craft beer! Fremont Center for the Arts www.FremontArts.org ~ held at Veterans Park (Third Street & U.S. HWY 50).

Metaphysical Fair
June 21-22, 2008
Summer Solstice weekend event at the Historic Holy Cross Abby in Cañon City.Your invited to join our community of open minded seekers and explore a more fulfilling future.There will be a potpourri of vendors, artist, dancers, classes, Workshops, Healers & quality Readers, Informational Classes, Workshops, Healers, & Quality Readings. A celebration of personal growth, planetary consciousness and holistic lifestyle. Brought to you by New Age Imports.
719.276.0032 • www.NewageImportsGifts.com

27th Annual Art on the Arkansas
June 21-22, 2008
Southern Colorado's premier outdoor
arts and craft show, set in beautiful
Veteran's Park, 3rd & Hwy. 50, Cañon City.
The 27th Annual "Art on the Arkansas" will be held in Cañon City. A variety of fine art, fine craft vendors & great food make this a rewarding & fun-filled weekend for all involved!
Open to the public from 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, & from 10 am-4 pm on Sunday. A FUNdraising event for the Fremont Center for the Arts 719-275-2790. Check our website for updates to this event: www.FremontArts.org

19th Annual Fiddlers Along the Arkansas
July 25-27, 2008
Weekend of music.Old time
fiddle competition and craft
show. Great music and lots
of great food at Veteran's Park.
www.FiddlersAlongTheArkansas.com

9th Annual Belvedere Blues Festival
September 5-7, 2008
Fremont County's biggest annual musical event is the Belvedere Blues Festival, held each fall in Cañon City. The 9th annual festival will take place September 5-7, 2008. Sponsored and produced by the all-volunteer (no paid staff!) Belvedere Blues Foundation, the festival rolls through the weekend inside a big tent behind Merlinos' Belvedere Restaurant at 1330 Elm Avenue in Cañon City, and the party is always on, come rain or shine.

The Blues Fest is an annual not-for-profit event fundraiser for local non-profit agencies and charities. In 2007, the festival featured 10 terrific bands (the Geezers of Rock, the Clam Daddys, the Jake Loggins Band, the Erica Brown Band, George Whitesell& His All-Stars featuring Ms. Jill Watkins, and Johnny Watson Blues Band featuring Carlos Crull); including national acts such as Ron Thompson & the Resistors, John-Alex Mason, the Randall Dubis Band & the Continental Kids.

The festival has provided funding (more than $140,000 since its inception) to many organizations within Fremont County, including: Adult Literacy Program of Fremont County, American Red Cross, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Boy Scouts of America / Venturers, Cañon City Chamber of Commerce, Cañon City High School Fun Fest, Daughters of the American Revolution, Fremont Center for the Arts, Fremont County Crimestoppers, Friendly Visitors, Florence. Skateboard Project, Iron Mountain / Deer Mountain Recovery Fund, Kinderhaus, Loaves & Fishes, Manna House, Mountain View Core Knowledge School, Reading is Fundamental, RE-1 Special Services, Salvation Army, Seniors Inc., and Young Life. 719.275.5558 > Visit: www.BelvedereBluesFest.com

Motorcycles & Cars & Toys; Oh My!
For the past four years, the "Eddie Ossola Memorial Toy Run" has taken place on the Saturday of the Blues Festival, and the inaugural "Blues Cruise" and car show was kicked off on Sunday of the festival weekend in 2006. For both events, participants bring toys to the festival that will be distributed to Fremont County kids at Christmas. Motorcycles on Saturday; and classic cars, hot rods and street rods on Sunday, are blessed outside the tent before setting off through downtown Cañon City, along Skyline Drive and up Highway 50 to the Royal Gorge, where riders cross the world's highest suspension bridge.

The motorcycle ride is named after a Cañon City rider killed in a 2003 accident. The entry fee for the memorial toy run and the "Blues Cruise" car ride and show includes admission to the Royal Gorge and all of its rides and activities (except the new SkyCoaster ride).

The Blues Fest brings great blues, oldies, rock, food and fun to Cañon City ~ and quite a lot of visitors who travel from throughout the state and around the country to hear their favorite bands in one of the most beautiful settings in North America. Most area hotels and motels offer special rates for the Blues Festival, but it's best to call ahead. For more information on the 2008 event, visit the
web site at www.BelvedereBluesFest.com
800.625.2526 > 719.275.5558

The Winery Harvest Fest
Last Weekend of September, 2008
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey hosts the 7th annual Harvest Fest. Celebrating the year's grape harvest with music, food and the arts, the highlight of the festival is the crushing of the community grapes for the wildly popular Wild Cañon Harvest wine - traditionally released the week of Thanksgiving. This years' festival takes place on Saturday, September 27th and Sunday September 28th. The Winemakers' Dinner will kick off the festivities on Friday, September 26th. Award winning wines will be paired and served with exquisite food. Reservations for this event are highly recommended, as it always sells out quickly.

Music at past festivals has included the Marquez Brothers of Pueblo, Greg Carlson playing classical guitar, the smooth sounds of The Ocean Jazz Five Piece Ensemble, and New Age guitarist Wayne Hammerstad. Artists from all over the southwest display their crafts, while crepes, brats, roasted nuts, local cheeses and fudge are just a few of the delectable goodies offered by vendors.
www.AbbeyWinery.com www.AbbeyWineryHarvestFest.com
877.HCA.WINE 877.422.9463

Apple Day in Penrose
October 4, 2008
This is the 73rd Annual Apple Day honoring the area's orchards & agricultural history! Each year, on the first Saturday in October, they have local talent providing the entertainment, arts & crafts. With a reputation for excellent apples, the town's commitment to handing out FREE pieces of apple pie still remains! This celebration has grown with music & show cases an apple pie bake-off!
For information: 719.372.3994.