April 2005
3 — Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area’s festive closing day.

9 — Buena Vista Heritage Winter Concert Series, Courthouse Museum, 719-395-8458.

9-10 — Award Winning Adventure in Arts Series, ‘Rites of Spring.’ 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

10 — Annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, 10 a.m., Thonhoff Park, Crestone Ave. across from the Chaffee County Courthouse, Salida. Sponsored by the Salida Kiwanis Club. 719-539-3596.

16 — Taste of Buena Vista & Trade Show. Sample foods from all of Buena Vista’s restaurants and caterers. Trade show. Area businesses show their wares. Contractors, banks, Realtors, cabinet makers, cars, sporting goods and more. 719-395-6612.

30 — Touch a Truck, Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center parking lot.Touch and crawl in and over all shapes and sizes of trucks!

May 2005
TBA — Salida Holistic & Intuitive Arts Fair. 970-690-8611.

7-8 — 5th Annual Chalk Creek Stampede. XC and Mountaincross. 719-221-1251; rpmcycling.net.

4 — Trout Unlimited Caddis Festival Banquet, Chaffee County Fairgrounds, Poncha Springs. Dick Isenberger, 719 530-0270.

7 — Buena Vista Collegiate Peaks Marathon and 25 and 50 Mile Runs. Pre-registration required. 719-395-6612.

7 — Mother’s Day Tea at the Turner Farm. Honor your mother under the apple blossoms at the Historic Turner Farm. 719-395-6612.

7— Spring Fest, Salida. Annual silent auction is a fund raiser for Ark-Valley Humane Society. 719 395-2737.

8 — Mother’s Day Open, Collegiate Peaks Golf Course. 719-395-8189.

14 — Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble, 12-5 p.m, Salida Golf Club. 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

14 — 14th Annual National River Clean-up/Green-up. Help beautify the Arkansas River. Live music and picnic. 719-539-7289.

14-15 — Award Winning Adventure in Arts Series, ‘Creative Currents.’ 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

21-22 — Buena Vista Bike Festival. Century and metric century rides. Bicycle trips scheduled throughout the area. Evening entertainment and food. 719-395-6612.

21 — Cruiser Criterium, Salida. Sponsored by Absolute Bikes and AVCC. 719-539-9295.

Summer 2005
6-7 — Buffalo Peaks Hill Climb, Buena Vista. Listen to the rumble of various classes of cars and watch as they compete for the best time around the curving mountainside. 719-395-6612.

11-14 — Artworks presents Theatre Works Shakespeare in the Park. Riverside Park, Salida. 719-539-4826 or 719-539-2068.

12-14 —Contin-Tail Rock and Gem Show Collectors Paradise. More than 100 booths. Merchants from all over the country gather at the Rodeo Grounds in Buena Vista to sell, swap and show rocks, minerals and gems. Everything from mineral samples to sculptured art work to fine jewelry.

13-14 — Award Winning Adventure in Arts Series, ‘Art Venture by the Arkansas.’ 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

13 — Salida Aspen Concert Series. 8 p.m., John Held Auditorium, Salida High School, 10th and D streets. 719-539-6467.

13 — Second Annual Chalk Walk, First and F streets, Salida. Amateur and professional artists of all ages and abilities come to color the sidewalks of downtown Salida.

13-14 — Gold Days, Buena Vista. Third leg of the Triple Crown Burro Race, 100 vendors, Western singers, dancers, gunfighters, gold panning, children’s rides, Western costume rentals, educational demonstrations, food and fun for all. Pancake breakfast. 719-395-6612.

20 — King Boletus Mushroom Festival, Buena Vista. Learn about, forage for and cook local mushrooms. 719-395-8453.

20-21 — 15th Annual Angel of Shavano Car Show, Salida. Dance the night away after cruising the strip on Saturday, then show your best stuff at the car show on Sunday. 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

27-28 — Buena Vista Canine Classic — Frisbee dog and dog agility competitions. Saturday evening barbecue, live music and demonstrations. Soccer fields, Buena Vista River Park. www.BVCanineClassic.com.

September 2005
TBA — 6th Annual Crest Crank. Mountain bike ride Ride on Monarch Crest Trail to help end domestic violence. Fund-raiser for the Alliance Against Domestic Abuse. 719-539-7347.

10-11 Award Winning Adventure in Arts Series, ‘September Song.’ 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

10 — Apple Fest. Revisit the early 1900s at Buena Vista’s historic Turner Farm. Demonstrations, tractor and pony rides, entertainment, tours of the historic property plus an apple pie contest. 719-395-8458.

10-11 — 17th Annual Banana Belt Bicycle Weekend. Kids’ events on Saturday, 26-mile mountain bike race up Bear Creek to the Rainbow Trail and Methodist Mountain on Sunday. 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

17 — Autumn Color Runs, Buena Vista. Half-marathon, 5k and 10k fun runs and walk. Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce, 719-395-6612.

21-24 — ATV Historical Color Tour, Buena Vista. Bring your ATV and ride various trails and visit historic areas in the midst of autumn’s grand colors. 719-395-6612

24 — 6th Annual Arf Walk, Salida. 5K walk for you and your furry friends with fun, food and games preceeding. 719-539-2737.

October 2005
1-2 — 7th Annual John Denver Celebration, Salida. A beautiful remembrance of his music and message. For details: 719-207-1456, www.johndenverlegacy.com.

2-3 — Aspen Leaf Open, Collegiate Peaks Golf Course, 395-8189.

4 — Salida’s 125th Birthday Celebration. 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

8-9 — Award Winning Adventure in Arts Series, ‘Explore the Scene.’ 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

31 — Merchants Trick or Treat Street in Historic Downtown Buena Vista.

November 2005
4 — Craft and Christmas Bazaar, Congregational United Church of Christ, Buena Vista. Lunch and dinner. 719-395-2544.

5 — 10th Annual Chateau Shavano Wine Tasting, Salida. 6 – 9 p.m. Enjoy great wine and great food. 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

12-13 — Award Winning Adventure in Arts Series, ‘Bounty of the County.’ 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.
12 — Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Banquet. Includes silent auction and live entertainment. 719-395-6612.
19 — Xi Mu Christmas Bazaar featuring homemade arts and crafts by local artisans. Buena Vista High School.

December 2005
3 — Christmas Opening — Buena Vista. Celebrate the beginning of the Christmas Season with Santa’s annual visit, carolers, Christmas Card Lane, shopping at local merchants and other holiday features. 719-395-6612.

3 — Annual Christmas Gala, Ark Valley Humane Society, Buena Vista. Silent auctions, food and fun for all. 719-539-2737.

10-11 — Award Winning Adventure in Arts Series, ‘Holiday Happening.’ 877-772-5432 or 719-539-2068.

10-11 — Art and Lodging Tour, Buena Vista. Some of Buena Vista’s finest mountain bed and breakfasts and cabins decorated for Christmas. Local and visiting artists show their work at tour locations. Free. 719-395-6612

11— Holiday Home Tour, Buena Vista. Visit local homes decked out for Christmas. Reception and entertainment follow at Trail West Lodge. 719-395-6612.

31— New Year’s Evening of Lights, including torchlight parade and fireworks. Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area. 888-996-7669.