Just days after a spring snowstorm dumped nearly 30 inches of snow on Estes Park, a community event centered on requesting more moisture now feels somewhat ironic. Still, as the valley faces a high risk of wildfire due to persistent dry conditions, Rain on the Rockies will bring residents to Bond Park on Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., inviting participants to join in a collective appeal for precipitation in the region.
“This was created through the collaborative efforts of community members who love their town and the mountains and wanted to do something, anything, about the situation that we’re kind of in right now,” said Kiley Schroeder, Estes Chamber of Commerce operations manager and one of the event’s organizers. “With the lack of rain and whatnot, and a lot of us lived through the wildfires that threatened our beautiful mountain home back in 2020, we just really didn’t want a repeat of it.”
The idea came together quickly. Schroeder says she and fellow organizer Marcia Rothschild began discussing the concept a few weeks ago, and community members rapidly stepped in to help shape the event.
“It’s almost like kismet,” Schroeder said. “The people who have kind of fallen into this and are working on this and collaborating, there hasn’t been really any pushback, which I think is a really good green light from the universe.”
Rain on the Rockies is produced by Live Estes, an organization that celebrates the people, landscapes, and events that make the Estes Valley unique.
“This is a grassroots situation,” Schroeder said. “It’s going to be a full-on skyward plea for some much-needed rain, and hopefully it’ll bless us with a safe and happy summer.”
Organizers have assembled what Schroeder describes as a “smorgasbord” of offerings designed to blend meditation, education, and community connection into a two-hour experience.
Participants can expect a sound bath led by Emerald Simmons of Three Feathers Wellness Studio, with guidance from Reiki master Jessica Hill and meditation facilitator Gosia Pisowicz Stewart, founder of Rocky Mountain Meditation Group. Nannette Chisholm of Estes Park Spinal Flow will lead a sacred water meditation. The program also includes a performance by Mayor Gary Hall and Linda Adam Hall, who perform together as the duo Share the Road, as well as additional contributions from local voices and organizations.
Despite earlier advertisements stating that RisingBuffalo Maybee would lead “cultural engagement,” organizers say he will no longer be apart of the event. In his place, Tara Joy MacKeigan of OneBody Dance will lead a movement-focused experience designed to support reflection and renewal.
Beyond the meditative elements, the event will also include speakers addressing practical concerns. Representatives from the National Park Service, local guide companies and the fire department will share information about water, tourism, and wildfire preparedness.
“You’re going to be getting some meditation, you’re going to be getting some good vibrations, and you’re going to be getting some education,” Schroeder said. “And it’s all going to happen in two hours.”
While Rain on the Rockies leans into intention and collective energy, organizers are clear that it is not a substitute for practical action.
“Do the research. Do your part,” Schroeder says. “Don’t do things like be careless with fire. Be gentle with our ecosystem. Look at your resources, such as the fire department and the town, and follow any water restrictions that are in place.”
That dual focus, combining reflection with responsibility, reflects the broader goal of the gathering: creating space for community members to feel both connected and empowered. According to Schroeder, success is measured not only by turnout, but also by how participants feel after leaving.
“Success looks like people leaving feeling good, feeling like they were able to do something together,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where you stand politically or religiously. This is a good way to just put good people together and let the good vibes roll.”
Organizers hope the event could grow into something larger in the years ahead, potentially becoming a recurring tradition in Estes Park.
“This is just kind of a bunch of people who really love their town and community in the mountains, and we want to do something,” Schroeder said. “There is a hope of maybe potentially having it be something that grows from here and could be a marquee event here for the town. Stay tuned!”
For now, the invitation is simple: show up, bring an open mind and take part in a shared moment.
“We’d love for people to come,” Schroeder said. “The more the merrier. This is a community event, and it’s not just for people from Estes Park. It’s for people wherever and whatever walk of life you are, who want to participate in something meaningful together.”