Newcomers picnic
The annual Estes Newcomers Picnic will take place Sunday, August 23rd, at the O’Connor Pavilion on Fish Hatchery Road from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The picnic is for active, graduate, and prospective members and guests 18 years of age and older. There will also be a food drive for Crossroads Ministries Food Bank. This year features a new cornhole tournament. Admission is $15 per person to attend. Click here to RSVP.
Trustee Talk on Aug. 27
Join Trustees Chris Eshelman and Mark Igel for the next Trustee Talk Thursday, Aug. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Room, 170 MacGregor Ave. This is an opportunity for community members to discuss local issues with board members in an informal setting.
Community Initiative Funding
The Town of Estes Park is accepting applications from local organizations seeking 2027 Community Initiative Funding. Funding is available to organizations that serve Estes Valley residents, subject to Town Board priorities and available funds.
Organizations must submit an application and supporting documents by Aug. 31 to Suzanna Simpson. For more information, call Simpson at 970-577-3700.
The Town Board will prioritize requests during an October budget study session, with final funding subject to approval of the town’s budget in November. Organizations receiving 2027 funding must submit a final project report, written as an educational news article, by May 31, 2028.
Visit Estes Park board opening – apply by Sept. 4
Applications are being accepted for a volunteer position on the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors. VEP is the destination marketing organization for Estes Park designed to promote local tourism, lodging, dining, and outdoor activities.
Board members must have lived within the Visit Estes Park service area for at least one year before their appointment and must continue to live within the service area throughout their term. For full details on this role and the Board’s responsibilities, please review the VEP Board Bylaws. Past meeting agendas, board packets, and access information for upcoming meetings can be found here.
The board meets from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Members may attend meetings in person or virtually. The selected applicant will complete a term that expires Dec. 31, 2030.
Interested applicants must submit a volunteer application, resume, and cover letter by 5 p.m. on Sept. 4.
Estes Park schools seek community voices for advisory and accountability committee
The Estes Park School District is seeking community members to serve on its District Advisory and Accountability Committee, which provides stakeholder input on district goals, finances and other issues affecting local schools.
The committee includes teachers, parents, community members and business owners. Members learn about district operations, ask questions, share perspectives and help promote accountability and accessibility.
This year, the committee will play a role in developing the district’s next three-year school calendar. Members will review proposed calendar options and make recommendations to Superintendent David Grubbs and the Board of Education. The board is expected to vote on the calendar during the second semester of the 2026-27 school year.
The committee will consider student learning, family and staff needs, accessibility and the broader community as it evaluates calendar options.
The committee’s mission is to advise the district and hold it accountable to its mission, vision and goals. Its vision calls for the community and district to work together to ensure students graduate with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to become successful and responsible citizens.
Community members interested in serving on the committee must submit a completed application by noon Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Apply for the District Advisory and Accountability Committee
Anything but a boring board meeting
The Estes Park Sister Cities Association is putting a lively spin on its annual membership meeting this year, trading the usual meeting format for an evening of Latin dancing inspired by its sister city of Monteverde, Costa Rica.
Members of the community are invited to join the fun, learn a few new steps and try the salsa, cha-cha-cha, merengue and bachata — dances popular throughout Costa Rica.
Professional dance instructor Joseph Snowhawk and his partner, Kasia, will lead the evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the Pavilion at The Stanley Hotel.
Snowhawk has taught tens of thousands of people to dance salsa, cha-cha-cha, merengue, bachata, swing and ballroom styles. He has helped establish more than 30 salsa, bachata and swing dance nights in Boulder and Denver.
Among them are the Boulder salsa, rueda, bachata and West Coast Swing Social at the Avalon, which has been running for 20 years, and Salsa Sundays at D Note and La Rumba in Denver, which have been part of the Front Range dance scene for 24 years.
No previous dance experience is required — just a willingness to get out of the chair and onto the dance floor.