Yeehaw!! It was good to get our BURLY on with the likes of you folks here in the Canyon. CCC Park and Rec District is so grateful for this supportive community during our 10th Mountain Fest: a celebration of all things “mountain”. Be sure to save the date for 2023 – Saturday, August 12, 2023 for Mountain Fest 2023. Keep an eye out as CCCPRD grows and we work to host more events and gatherings throughout the year for canyon neighbors of all ages (Follow us on FB).
This festival has really grown up a lot over the years and it showed. Tents were erected, big water barrels filled by our volunteer fire department to hold the tents down, music was set up, food was prepared, vendors and artisans laid out their wares. Signage was displayed, snow fencing was installed, tractor shuttles were ready! The Fest was ON!
It was good weather (until the very end), the stream of visitors was steady and DJ on the Fly kept the jams flowing. We appreciate each and every one of you – especially our many Karaoke stars! From the volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and artisans to the attendees and participants, we could not have done it without you! And a special thanks to the few and proud vehicle owners who graced the United Power parking lot with their special cars for our last minute drop in Car Show!!
Our fabulous sponsors came out in full force this year with top support from our Mountain Lion sponsors: United Power, Mountain Broadband, and Standing Pines Foundation. Our eternal gratitude also goes out to our Black Bear level sponsors: Denver Water, Last Stand Tavern, Linda Martin, and Locavore; our Moose sponsors: Hybre Thorne, Kathy Keating, Tami Waltemath, Betz Brothers Contracting, Canyon Liquors, and Sky Run Vacation Rentals; our Hummingbird Sponsors: Cindy Kolinski Chit Chat Therapies, Very Nice Brewing, and The Shop; CCCIA for the use of the Hall; Whispering Pines Church for the parking lot; and the amazing in kind donations of beer, gift certificates, raffle items, and more from CCC Coffee Shop, Garage at Carl’s Corner, Over Yonder Brewing, Locavore, Knotted Root, Mountain Man Outdoor Gear, Gnarly Nutrition, Dueter, Keen, Lena Benisch, Gilpin County Rec Center, Carousel of Happiness, Espy’s Street Eats, and Sarah Schneider Silversmith. We also want to give a special shout out to Laura from By Others Designs for our logo and signage this year!
A huge shout out to the brave and strong volunteers: Amber Mohammad Castaneda, Joe Cuervorst, and the rest of the CCCFD, Beer and Snow Cone Deputies: Brian McGuire and Steve, Andrea “Crossing Guard Extraordinaire” Hammil, Ashley “Grill Master” McNamara, Obstacle Course Mastermind Lena Benisch, Sammy, Enzo, Jennie “Game Meister” Overmyer, Shannon Maloney, Rachel Vermeal, Ronnie Cooper, Julia “Future CEO” Benisch, Beau “Wind Master” Benisch, John Benisch, Suzy Schemel, Bruce Goodwin, James McNamara, John Paul Thompson, Nathaniel Freier, Michelle Lemmerman, Eric Rossi, Robin Platt, and Renee Roberts. And of course, our ever giving Burly Boss Linda Martin; your heart, vision and dedication to this canyon in every way helps to make this event a true community gathering.
This year’s canyon fun, games, and competitions included Mountain Obstacle course, Frozen Flannel, Soap Whittlin’, Fake Beard contests, Donut Eating, and more. Plus, the addition of the Terrifying Dragon Head Slide – was a huge hit with the kiddos!
And now for the notable winners of the 2022 Mountain Fest!
Kristen Cote Kohlhorst made a guest appearance and brought home not only the Burliest Woman but the fastest time on this year’s challenging Burly Mountain Obstacle course of scat and animal print mountain IQ, CCC 500 bike around the septic field, hammerschlaggen and pine cone bulls eye. Johnny Betz reigned as Burliest Man and John Benisch will now be known as the Burliest in the 55 and wiser category. And Beau Benisch will be the young man to beat next year as the event’s first ever kids’ division winner.
John Benisch kept his mountain burly streak going and also won this year’s wood splitting contest!
Brianne Hamm delighted the crowd and shined as the annual photo contest “Mountain Babies”.
Carly Casserly soap artistry smoked the competition with 1st Place in the Hybre Thorne Soap Whittlin’ contest while Nichol Nelson came in a close second place.
Sammy brought home the Fake Beard Contest with burlap designer stubble and Bruce Powell’s whiskers reigned as Real Beard contest winner.
Téa Wilkins fought hard against the fuzzy freeze and dominated as this year’s Frozen Flannel Maven.
A burly mountain THANK YOU to all! We hope to see you all at Mountain Fest 2023 on August 12, 2023, and encourage you to get involved. We’re always seeking volunteers to help with our event committees – email us at cccparkandrec@gmail.com.
