Donkey Derby festival full of memories, mules
Hang with the mules this weekend at the 74th annual Donkey Derby Days in Cripple Creek. The festival celebrates Cripple Creek’s long history with pack burros, the historic companion of many a miner. Friday night, locals and tourists will gather in the mining-gaming town’s City Park for a dance. The next day, amateurs and their trusty mules will test the trails in a race. No riding allowed. On Sunday, the pros – seriously, these are core athletes galloping 10 miles at altitude with sometimes-stubborn burros – will race. The finish line provides memories not soon forgotten. The town’s mule-friendly festival is a family affair, with gold panning for the kids and all sorts of events. Check out the Cripple Creek District Museum on Saturday for a book signing featuring prominent Colorado writers, including the state’s history guru, Tom “Dr. Colorado” Noel.
For information on the Donkey Derby, call Doug at 719-689-3461.
