It’s tradition in Manitou Springs to march down Manitou Avenue and celebrate Mardi Gras in true fun and funky color that Manitou is known for! So grab your beads and costume-up with us! The more the merrier, so bring your family, your neighbors, your co workers, your friends, everyone! Always free to join in, never any RSVPs!

Gumbo is back, baby.

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In the past 19 years, we have grown from a handful to over 35 wineries attending and more than 20 juried gift vendors. We call it the “Colorado” wine festival, because all you’ll find here is wine made in the state of Colorado! We celebrate local wineries and vendors with the great day in the park, complete with 3 live music artists and a bevy of food trucks and tasty treats to pair with your wine samples. Entry to the event includes sampling from all wineries, a tote bag to haul up to 6 bottles of wine, and, of course, a 6 oz tasting glass for trying all the delicious Colorado wines, meads, and glögg that will be offered!

More information HERE

CONCERT IN SODA SPRINGS PARK

A new tradition for Manitou

The Art Festival is held at Memorial Park in Historic Manitou Springs, just a few minutes west of Colorado Springs.

It is considered the premiere art festival in the Pikes Peak Region. Art patrons come to enjoy this celebration of original fine art and contemporary crafts, talented local musicians and specialty food items.  “Applications of Artists and Food vendors can be found by clicking here to go to the  Vendor Information page.”

For 45 years, a diverse group of potters, jewelers, painters, sculptors, photographers, glass artists, and more, will be displaying their artwork that the Commonwheel jury selects. These artists apply from the Pikes Peak Region, and neighboring states to share their creations with art appreciating visitors at this juried art festival. Art patrons will be able to visit with the artists who will be waiting to talk with art patrons at their booths filled with high quality, yet affordable, artwork.

Our music coordinator enlists talented local musicians to perform a wide variety of musical styles in which they add their own original touches to create fun, danceable musical offerings all weekend long. Art patrons always find themselves stopping to listen to one or more performance that catches their attention as they shop the art-filled booths.

There are art related activities to introduce children to ways to awaken their own creativity.  One of the places to stimulate a child’s creative side is at our Kid’s Art Activities Booth.  Here children are invited to express their creative side with a hands-on art project or create a drawing.  Anyone can also have his or her face painted at this booth. This is just one way Commonwheel encourages kids to make art a part of their lives forever. While visiting the Art Festival, kids learn how fun and exciting art can be when they experience various fun art-related activities and see the diverse styles of art participants share in their booths.

Jim Jackson from the Millibo Art Theatre (MAT) has a space where kids add color to the air by creating giant soap bubbles.

Dwayne Faux known as Top Banana Events is a professional balloon artists who adds to the fun by twisting up animals and hats for kids to enjoy.

Eco-friendly food service and delicious treats make this a great place to meet friends for lunch before exploring the art booths. Art Patrons can enjoy a wide variety of exotic and familiar fun foods at the ten food booths found in a tree-shaded food court. The food booths are diverse and offer some tasty treats rarely found at other festivals.

Our food vendors, sponsors and many community volunteers are working with Commonwheel to create a sustainable Waste Wise Festival. At the 2018 Art Festival,  75% of the waste generated at the festival was diverted away from the landfill as compost or recyclable materials. Learn more at the Transition Town’s Booth. Or email us to volunteer to help make the 2019 festival even more waste-free.

Many local businesses donate art, entertainment or dining prizes for the free prize drawing at the Information Booth.

This family-friendly festival features something for everyone: great art shopping, tasty food, original music, art related activities for kids and more!

Come enjoy the Commonwheel’s Art Festival this Labor Day Weekend to meet the artists and talk to them about their work. Being able to meet and talk with the artists at the art festival is part of the fun. It can spark a creative side of youngsters that could lead them to a career as an artist or just start a new hobby. There are many types of fine art and contemporary crafts that are affordable, which tends to entice people to buy something that they can enjoy for many years to come or begin collecting art for their homes. The fine jewelers offer items that make beautiful gifts or to wear to express your own unique personal style.

Then dance your way into an art filled September Monday afternoon when a long set of danceable music that will be scheduled at this year’s Commonwheel Art Festival.

Admission to the Commonwheel Art Festival is always FREE!

More information HERE

5th Annual Heritage Brew Festival in beautiful Manitou Springs featuring 25 breweries and 3 bands. Entertainment lineup: Skean Dubh, Red Mountain Boys and Colorado Floyd.

All advance purchase VIP tickets will receive a 5 year commemorative glass. VIP sales LIMITED THIS YEAR so be sure to order early to secure your ticket which provides one early entry (noon instead of 1:00). Remember to order your 5 year anniversary commemorative T shirt – this will show up at the bottom of the page when you check out – under optional items

Military and First Responders please use MilitaryFirst Promotion code for a $5 discount

Sorry – no dogs or other pets permitted; there simply is not room given the number of people.
Attendance is limited to 1,000. Buy tickets HERE

Of all things, why coffin racing?

Emma Crawford came to Manitou Springs in 1889 searching for a cure for her tuberculosis in the the area’s famed cold-water mineral springs. She fell in love with the charming mountain town and her dying wish was to be buried on top of Red Mountain. Unfortunately, Emma succumbed to her illness in 1891. Her lover, a civil engineer on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway named William Hildebrand, honored her wishes. With the help of eleven other townspeople, William carried Emma’s coffin up the 7,200 foot slope and buried her near the summit of Red Mountain.
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In 1929, after years of harsh winters and spring rains, Emma and her coffin came racing down the mountainside. The young children who happened upon her remains found only the casket handles, a nameplate, and a few bones.

Some say she still haunts Red Mountain today, but the only sure way to see Emma is to come to Manitou Springs and to the Coffin Races and Festival bearing her name.

More information HERE