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Events
WELCOME TO ROYAL GORGE COUNTRY! In 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge was built, spanning the chasm over the Arkansas River. Towering an amazing 1,053 feet above the river, it reigns as the highest suspension bridge in the world.
In addition to the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery, the Arkansas is the most popular river for whitewater rafting in the United States. Don't miss the world's steepest incline railway built in 1930.
The Arkansas River is at the heart of Royal Gorge Country and has left an indelible mark upon the land and communities that reside along its banks. In addition to the abundant wild-life and spectacular scenery, the Arkansas is the most popular river for whitewater rafting in the United States, offering a suitable experience for both families and thrill seekers alike.
The Arkansas River begins its journey in Colorado's highest mountains, carving its way 315 miles through the state of Colorado. The last and most spectacular geographic obstacle the river must traverse is the famous Royal Gorge, first discovered by Zebulon Pike in 1806. Even before the Europeans ventured west, the Ute, Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche and Arapahoe Indians all frequented this land. The Arkansas offered a convenient source of drinking water, and the area was known for its temperate winters. As an added bonus, a number of natural hot springs throughout the area offered relief from the cold.
In the 1870's, homesteaders, ranchers, traders, fur trappers, coal miners and gold and silver prospectors descended on the area.
As the need to transport ores upstream grew, the Denver & Rio Grande and the Santa Fe railroads, each already having tracks in the Arkansas Valley, fought (literally) to have the right to lay tracks through the Royal Gorge. Eventually, after a lengthy legal fight and considerable violence, the Denver & Rio Grande won. Nowadays, visitors can ride the Royal Gorge Route which follows the most famous portion of the old line-24 miles round trip-from Cañon City to Parkdale and back. It's been called one of the most scenic train rides in the world...
ATTRACTIONS
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park • Buckskin Joe Frontier Town & Railway • Museum of Colorado Prisons • Garden Park Fossil Area • Shelf Road Climbing Area • Skyline Drive • Dinosaur Depot • Red Canyon Park • The Royal Gorge Route • The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey
Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway
719.275.5149 • buckskinjoe.com
You'll feel like you jumped out of the 21st century back into old west where the name of the game was fast guns & slow travel.Download Brochure
Cottonwood Stables
877.487.2494 • rocknrow.com
Trail rides surrounded by the Sangre de Cristos.
Play Dirty ATV Tours
877.288.2656 • Playdirtyatvtours.com
Texas Creek is considered by "those who know" to be the All Terrain vehicle Capital of Colorado.
Royal Gorge Heli Tours
719.276.9038 • royalgorgehelitours.com
See Spectacular views of Royal Gorge from a Jet powered Helicopter.
Rock 'n Row
877.487.2494 • rocknrow.com
Rock Climbing for beginner to advanced.
Dinosaur Depot Museum
719.269.7150 - 800.987.6379 • www.dinosaurdepot.com
330 Royal Gorge Blvd #A, Cañon City, CO 81212
One of the best places in the world to see fossils and the rocks where they are found.
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SUMMER WEATHER
At 5,343 feet temperatures average 75 degrees with an average rainfall of 12.7 inches a year and 325 days of sunshine.
To learn more about Royal Gorge Country contact us at the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce at 719.275.2331 or rgcountry.com to order Colorado's Royal Gorge Country Visitor's Guide.
EVENTS
April 24 Artist Gallery Studio Tour, Florence, 719-784-3544
April 29 Full concert, 5 Bands, 6pm, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds,
719-252-3707
April 30-May 2 72nd Annual Music & Blossom Festival, Cañon City,
719-275-7234, ccblossomfestival.com
April 30-May 1 138th Annual Royal Gorge Rodeo, 7pm, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707
First Fridays Main Street Movement Gallery, meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres, 7-9pm, 719-345-4070
May 2010
May 1 Stony Run Band Concert, 10pm, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707
May 1-2 Spring Arts & Crafts Show, Depot Park, 719-784-3126
May 1-31 Fremont County Appreciation Month & Military Appreciation Month, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, 50% discount for Fremont County residents and active and retired military and their families with photo IDs, 719-275-7507
May 9 Mother's Get in Free Day, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, 719-275-7507
May 15 6th Annual Brew Ha Ha, Veterans Park, 3-10pm, 719-275-2790,
fremontarts.org
May 15 Walk for Life, "walk, bike or run," Veterans Park, 10am, registration 9:30am, pledge forms at 508 Greenwood Ave., 719-275-7074
May 15 Car Show, Main Street, Florence, 719-784-3544
May 21-23 Black Powder Shoot, Florence Mountain Park, 719-784-3544
Saturdays & Sundays Flea Market, gates open to public 7:30am, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707
June 2010
Tuesdays Entertainment in the Park, Veterans Park, 7-9pm
Wednesday Nights Entertainment in the Park, Pioneer Park, Florence, 7-8:30pm, 719-784-3544
Thursdays Florence Farmers' Market, Pioneer Park, 7:30am-1:30pm, 719-784-6489
First Fridays Main Street Movement Gallery, meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 7-9pm, 719-345-4070
Saturdays Cañon City Farmers Market Downtown, 8am-1pm, 719-269-7683, canoncityfarmersmarket.com
Saturdays & Sundays Flea Market, set up 6am, gates open to public 7:30am, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707
June 4-6 3rd Annual Cañon City Western Heritage Days, The Abbey, 719-275-2331, westernheritagedays.com
June 5 Florence Appreciation BBQ, Pioneer Park, 11am, 719-784-3544
June 5 Gallery Stroll, artists display work along Main Street Florence,
719-784-3544
June 5 Evening Street Dance, Louie's in Florence, Noon-Midnight, 719-784-3015
June 11-12 3rd Annual Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown, Abbey football field, www.holy-smoke-bbq.com
June 19-20 28th Annual Art on the Arkansas - Art Jazzed Up! The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, 719-275-2790, www.fremontarts.org
June 19-20 Tractor Show, Waterclock Plaza, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park 719-275-7507
June 20 Father's Get in Free Day, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, 719-275-7507
June 26-27 Mace's Hole Civil War Reenactment, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park (depending upon fire ban), 719-275-7507
July 2010
Tuesdays Entertainment in the Park, Veterans Park, 7-9pm
Wednesday Nights Entertainment in the Park, Pioneer Park, Florence, 7-8:30pm, 719-784-3544
Thursdays Florence Farmers' Market, Pioneer Park, 7:30am-1:30pm, 719-784-6489
First Fridays Main Street Movement Gallery, meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres, 7-9pm, 719-345-4070
Saturdays Cañon City Farmers Market Downtown, 8am-1pm, 719-269-7683, canoncityfarmersmarket.com
Saturdays & Sundays Flea Market, set up 6am, gates open to public 7:30am, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707
July 3-5 July 4th Celebration, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, live entertainment, 719-275-7507
July 3-4 Old Fashioned 4th of July, games and prizes, Buckskin Joes. Town and Railway
July 13 Entertainment in the Park, Veterans Park, 7-9pm
July 17 Ghost Walk, Florence Chamber, 719-784-3544
July 23-25 21st Fiddlers Along the Arkansas, Veterans Park, 719-275-0593, www.fiddlersalongthearkansas.com
July 24-25 Horse Show, Pathfinder Park, 719-276-7390
July 24 3rd Annual Lost Dutchman Music Festival, Divide, CO, 2-10pm,
719-685-7738
July 27-Aug. 1 Fremont County Fair, County Fairgrounds, 719-276-7390,
www.fremontcountyfair.com
August 2010
Tuesdays Entertainment in the Park, Veterans Park, 7-9pm
Wednesday Nights Entertainment in the Park, Pioneer Park, Florence, 7-8:30pm, 719-784-3544
Thursdays Florence Farmers' Market, Pioneer Park, 7:30am-1:30pm, 719-784-6489
First Fridays Main Street Movement Gallery, meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres, 7-9pm, 719-345-4070.
Saturdays Cañon City Farmers Market Downtown, 8am-1pm, 719-269-7683, canoncityfarmersmarket.com
Saturdays & Sundays Flea Market, set up 6am, gates open to public 7:30am, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707
Aug. 7 Fit N Fun 5K/10K Run, Pioneer Park, Florence, 719-784-3544
Aug. 20 Hot August Nights, Entertainment & Sales, Main Street, Florence, 719-784-3544
September 2010
Tuesdays Entertainment in thePark, Veterans Park, 7-9pm
Wednesday Nights Entertainment in the Park, Pioneer Park, Florence, 7-8:30pm, 719-784-3544
Thursdays Florence Farmers' Market, Pioneer Park, 7:30am-1:30pm, 719-784-6489
First Fridays Main Street Movement Gallery, meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres, 7-9pm, 719-345-4070
Saturdays Cañon City Farmers Market Downtown, 8am-1pm, 719-269-7683, canoncityfarmersmarket.com
Saturdays & Sundays Flea Market, set up 6am, gates open to public 7:30am, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707. Date and time to be determined 6th Annual Skyline Drive Open,
719-275-2331
Sept. 4-6 Mountain Man Rendezvous, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, 719-275-7507
Sept. 10-12 Holy Cow Moosic Festival, Cañon City, benefit for Fremont County non-profits, 719-371-1202
Sept. 17 Florence Pioneer Day Dance, Florence Elks Lodge, 719-784-3544
Sept. 17-18 Junktique VII Open Air Antique Affair, Florence, 719-784-3544
Sept. 17-19 Go Fast Games, B.A.S.E. and bungee jumping from the Royal Gorge Bridge, 719-275-7507
Sept. 18 Evening Street Dance, Florence, Main & Santa Fe Ave., Noon-Midnight, 719-784-3544
Sept. 18 83rd Florence Pioneer Day Celebration, parade at 10am, craft booths, food vendors, 719-784-3544
Sept. 24 Winemakers' Dinner, the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, call 719-276-5191
Sept. 25-26 Harvest Festival on Winery Grounds, celebration of wine, food, arts and music, the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, 719-276-5191
October - December 2010
Oct. 2 Cañon City Farmers Market Downtown, 8am-1pm, 719-269-7683,
canoncityfarmersmarket.com
Oct. 2 Penrose Apple Day Parade, 719-372-3994
Oct. 2-3 Octoberfest, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, German bands, food and fun, 719-275-7507
Oct. 8-9 Paint The Town, 6th Annual Plein-Aire Festival, Florence,719-784-3544
Mid-Oct.-31 Buckskin Joe's Town of Terror, begins nights and Mid-Oct., Haunted Town
Oct. 15-16 Eureka Days, 2nd Annual (Kick in the Butt BBQ), Florence, 719-784-6895
Oct. 31 Halloween Trick or Treat, Florence Downtown Merchants, 5-7pm, 719-784-3544
Nov. 19 Florence Christmas Lights Illuminated for the Season, 719-784-3544
Nov. 27 Santa Claus Comes to Florence, 719-784-3544
Nov.-Dec. Santa Express, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, every Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm from the end of Nov. through Dec. 26
Dec. 31 Fremont Civic Theater 12th Annual New Year's Eve Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, The Abbey, 719-275-8631
Contact us at the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce at 719.275.2331 or rgcountry.com to order Colorado's Royal Gorge Country Visitor's Guide.
