Earth, Water, Air & Fire … Celebrating June in the Colorado Rockies

Late spring and early summer are glorious days of blue skies, pleasant temperatures, trail openings and welcoming back tourists for fair-weather activities in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado. To showcase the action-packed happenings of June, the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley has teamed up to present the second annual “Earth, Water, Air & Fire … Celebrating June in the Rockies” celebration.

Beat the crowds and get back to nature with events that celebrate earth (National Trails Day, Fat Tire Bike Week, Cart-to-Cart Fun Run), water (Bayou in the Butte, Taylor Park Marina Fishing Derby), air (hot air ballooning, free concerts) and fire (Tour de Forks, cooking classes).

Bring the whole family to experience earth, water, air and fire through the arts:

· First Friday: Gunnison Gallery Crawl & Music;

· ArtWalk Evening in Crested Butte;

· AWEfest: Local Artists Market;

· FREE Sundays @ 7 and Alpenglow outdoor concerts in Gunnison and Crested Butte; and

· Exhibitions and workshops at Gunnison Arts Center and Crested Butte Center for the Arts.

“In early June, we start to see bluebells, mountain harebells, Nelson larkspur, wild iris, pasqueflowers and many more of the nearly 400 varieties of wildflowers in the Gunnison Valley,” says Jane Chaney, director of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association. “The landscape transitions into a spectacular green, announcing the end of spring and arrival of summer. June is an ideal time to enjoy our mountain paradise.”


WEEK 1: June 1 – 8

1 FREE Sundays @ 7 Concerts in Gunnison, Jorgensen Park

5 – 8 Writing the Rockies: Gunnison Creative Writers Workshop, Western St. College, Gunnison

6 First Fridays: Gunnison Gallery Crawl & Music

6 Lippizanner Stallions – Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center, Gunnison

7 National Trails Day – Trail Work Day with Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association

8 FREE Sundays @ 7 Concerts in Gunnison, Jorgensen Park

8 Battle at Big Mine II (18-hole disc golf tournament), Big Mine Park, Crested Butte


WEEK 2: June 9 – 15

14 – 15 Bayou in the Butte, Crested Butte Center for the Arts Outdoor Stage

15 Cart to Cart Fun Run – Crested Butte Mountain Runners, Crested Butte to CB South

15 FREE Sundays @ 7 Concerts in Gunnison, Jorgensen Park


WEEK 3: June 16 – 22

18 – 22 Crested Butte Fat Tire Bike Week

18 – 20 Ride the Rockies, Overnight Stays & Day Off in Crested Butte

20 – 22 Wildflower Rush Cross Country & Downhill Bike Races, CB Mountain Resort

20 – 22 Readers in the Rockies & Crested Butte Writers Conference, Crested Butte

20 – 22 Gunsmoke-n-Gunnison, Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center

21 Taylor Park Marina Fishing Derby, Taylor Reservoir

21 FREE Concert - Western Chamber Music Institute for High School

Instrumentalists, Western State College

21 – 22 Bridges of the Butte (24-hour townie tour), Crested Butte

22 Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Downtown Crested Butte

22 FREE Sundays @ 7 Concerts in Gunnison, Jorgensen Park


WEEK 4: June 23 – 30

26 ArtWalk Evening, Crested Butte Galleries & Studios

26 – 28 “Into the Woods” Presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret

27 FREE Concert - Western State College-Colorado Brass Band, Gunnison, WSC’s

Quigley Bandshell

28 Gunnison Farmers’ Market, Virginia & Main Street, Downtown Gunnison

28 – 29 3rd Annual AWEfest: Local Artists Market, Crested Butte Town Park

29 Crested Butte Farmers’ Market, Downtown Crested Butte

29 FREE Sundays @ 7 Concerts in Gunnison, Jorgensen Park

30 FREE Alpenglow Concert, Crested Butte Center for the Arts Outdoor Stage


Tour de Forks, a gourmet dining series that takes place in fabulous mountain homes in the Gunnison-Crested Butte valley, kicks off in June and runs through August. Find out about specific June dates by visiting the Crested Butte Center for the Arts’ web site at www.crestedbuttearts.org.

Two of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley’s most popular chefs offer cooking classes. Mike Busse, proprietor of Garlic Mike’s Italian restaurant, hosts approximately two classes per month at Interiors with Oohs & Aahs’ demonstration kitchen in downtown Gunnison. Email Char at Interiors CClarke@interiors-oohsandaahs.com for the June class schedule and more information.

Arrangements Catering & Events offers outstanding cooking classes throughout the year in its downtown Crested Butte kitchen; visit www.ArrangementsAndEvents.com to find out what is scheduled for June.

Hot air balloon rides provide a birds-eye view of stunning mountain peaks, miles of crystal-clear rivers and streams and the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. To schedule a trip, call Big Horn Balloon Company at (970) 596-1008.

To find out more about “Earth, Water, Air & Fire … June in the Rockies” events visit www.juneintherockies.com or call (877) 277-3429.