Beginning with the Scottish-Irish Highland Festival, this is the busiest special event season that Estes Park sees all year long.
From haunting bagpipe tunes to creative visual arts, a weekend honoring the elk who wander throughout the area, and even a weekend dedicated to orange orbs known as pumpkins, there’s a special event every weekend through Oct. 4.
That’s just a sneak peek of what’s to come.
Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
The Scottish-Irish Highland Festival, which runs from Sept. 5 to 7, is the real deal. It includes nighttime concerts called tattoos, a dog show, a Highland and Irish dance competition, a Celtic celebration, and a bit more. In fact, Estes Park’s version is one of the top Scottish-Irish festivals in the country.
Fine Arts Guild Arts & Crafts Festival
It’s also time to get ready for the traditional Fine Arts Guild Arts & Craft Festival, Sept. 13 to 14. Now in its 48th year, the festival fills Bond Park with about 100 tents where you’ll find artwork, sculpture, textiles, and more.
But that’s getting a bit ahead of ourselves. This coming week is chock-full of fun.
Fun stuff
There will be an autograph signing party for the Black Moon Free Company as a warm-up to the Scottish-Irish Highland Festival. Medieval Combat Fighters are invited to Bogey’s Sports Bar Thursday, Sept. 4, at 5 p.m.
Siegfried Tieber will be at The Stanley Hotel Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 8:30 p.m. Tieber is an international award-winning magician who has headlined at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and performed Off Broadway in New York, in Hollywood, and aboard Disney cruise lines.
Bar & dining entertainment
Country and folk musicians will perform throughout the weekend at Rock Inn Mountain Tavern, starting Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.
Musical entertainment will be held at Bogey’s Sports Bar throughout the weekend, beginning Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.
The Barrel is celebrating the spirit of Oktoberfest with a local twist: Elktoberfest, featuring craft Oktoberfest and Pumpkin beers. The fun runs throughout September and ends Oct. 6.
Bogey’s Sports Bar is hosting its Birthday Bash, an all-day celebration with rooftop music and fun activities on Friday, Sept. 5, starting at 12 p.m.
Thursdays on the Patio, featuring live improvised electronic music and old-time bluegrass, will be held at the Rock Cut Brewing Company on Sept. 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 6 p.m.
Entertainment for the mind
A course on the return of beavers to Rocky Mountain National Park will be held at the Fall River Visitor Center Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Conservancy.
The Pathways: Human Dimensions of Wildlife conference and training program will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies from Sept. 7 to 10.
Tuesday night trivia, which includes topics such as sports, movie quotes, history, and popular culture, is at Bogey’s Sports Bar every Tuesday (Sept. 9, 16, 23, and 30) from 7 to 9 p.m.