Last-minute Labor Day/ Not to worry: Colorado festivals won't leave

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 27, 2000 | by Linda DuVal

You just realized that next weekend is Labor Day weekend, a full three days to enjoy the fading summer season. But you haven't made plans.

What to do?

Plenty, as it turns out.

Yes, you can avoid the traffic and hang around town to watch the hot-air balloons rise each morning from Memorial Park, site of the 2000 Colorado Springs Balloon Classic.

Or you can play backyard tourist and visit some of the local attractions you've always meant to see, but somehow never have.

But what if you want to get out of town - make a real vacation of it? Is it too late?

Not at all.

A dozen big events are going on in Colorado communities next weekend, and almost all still have tickets and accommodations.

Here are some choices:

Colorado State Fair

Through Sept. 4

If you've never visited the fair, or it's been a while, this is a good time to go. In addition to a full-fledged midway with carnival rides and games, the fair has stock shows and rodeo events, as well as nightly concerts by big-name performers.

Next weekend's schedule includes Sawyer Brown on Friday night, Chris LeDoux on Saturday night after the grandstand rodeo performance, Polo Urlas and Los Palominos on Sunday night, and Lonestar on Monday night. Tickets range $6 to $20, depending on the performance and seats. (See complete schedule, T&B 3)

Admission to the fair costs $6; you can buy individual tickets for the carnival rides or get midway passes for $20 weekdays/$25 Friday-Sunday and Labor Day.

The state fairgrounds are in Pueblo, an easy day trip, with a one- hour drive (or less) each way. From Interstate 25, take Exit 98B and go west on Fourth (becomes Lincoln/ Thatcher) Street west to Prairie and go left (or south). You'll see the signs.

And while you're in town, sample some of the city's great Mexican food. Nacho's, 409 N. Santa Fe Ave., and Don Carlos, 1234 S. Prairie St., are among the most popular spots.

Breckenridge Labor Day Weekend Blues Festival and Gathering at the Great Divide

Sept. 1-4

What more could you ask for? Good music, plus arts-and-crafts booths galore, are hallmarks of this festival.

Highlights of the weekend include:

John Mooney, Tab Benoit, Rory Block and Keb Mo' on Saturday and Bob Margolin's Blues Review on Sunday. Tickets range $15 to $30. An all-weekend pass is $95.

Tickets remain available for most concerts; other performances are free and open to all comers.

Breckenridge is a doable day trip from Colorado Springs, a 21/2- hour drive each way through Woodland Park and Fairplay and over Hoosier Pass.

While you're there, check out one of the town's many good restaurants, from Asian to Cajun cuisine. And to get away from the crowds, ride the chairlift up the mountain and take a wildflower walk.

Festival of Mountain and Plain: A Taste of Colorado

Sept. 1-4

This 17th annual Denver event is huge - it draws about 100,000 people each day to Civic Center Park, Broadway at Colfax Avenue, downtown.

But who wouldn't want to sample the 50 or so food booths provided by some of Denver's best restaurants and enjoy free live entertainment on a warm, late-summer day? And that's not to mention the 200 or so arts-and-crafts booths, bands performing on seven stages, carnival rides and kids events.

Headliners on the main stage include Kansas, Rick Springfield and Blue Oyster Cult.

Yes, it's huge, but despite the numbers, there's plenty of parking (40,000 spaces downtown), especially if you're willing to ride a shuttle. Shuttles run from the Auraria Campus parking lot to the festival.

Visitors from Colorado Springs may want to take advantage of the new light rail system, with parking at the Hampden and Evans exits off I-25. The light rail main terminal is near one of the main entrances to the festival.

Four Corners Folk Festival

Sept. 1-3

This annual festival in Pagosa Springs features bluegrass and acoustic music, all outdoors on Reservoir Hill, a 130-acre town park. Besides folk and bluegrass music, the festival has workshops, events for children and food booths. Kids are welcome; pets are not.

This year's lineup includes nationally known bands playing on the main stage.

Saturday: Pagosa Hot Springs, Acoustic Syndicate, Judith Edelman Band, Cabaret Diosa, Nickel Creek, Tony Furtado Band and Eddie from Ohio.

Sunday: Bladerunners, Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band, Blue Highway, Rob Ickes Band and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.

There's also a full schedule of performances on the acoustic stage.

Located about five hours southwest of Colorado Springs, on U.S. Highway 160, Pagosa Springs is far enough away that you might want to consider spending the night and taking a dip in the hot springs pool before your trip home.

A weekend pass for all events is $55 at the gate. A day pass is $30 for Saturday and $35 for Sunday. Kids 12 and younger get in free.

Telluride Film Festival

Sept. 1-4

This small, trendy town in southwestern Colorado offers a festival every weekend of the summer. Its film festival has gained an international reputation for premiering ground-breaking movies.

Even though the all-event tickets are sold out, some 3,000 to 4,000 tickets still are available for individual events.