ORIGIN:
The first festival was organized in 1985 by…read morecommunity business leaders in effort to bring summer visitors to the town previously known for winter skiing on its namesake mountain. In 1999 the festival became a non-profit organization dedicated to wildflower education.
TIME:
The ten day long annual festival typically takes place in the middle of July in order to capture peek wildflower bloom.
COST:
Fees for events vary, and are primarily fund-raisers to support festival organization and facilitation. Each event appears to be limited to 15 participants to ensure active engagement and ability to hear event facilitator and participants as you walk along public trails.
EXPERIENCE:
I came across the small town of Crested Butte, and the wildflower festival, while spending much of one summer helping with field and laboratory research at neighboring Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. I have since returned annually to participate as a festival participant. Some festival events I have experienced include:
"Birding in the Lower Loop: led by decades-long festival leader, participants are introduced to local birds and their relation to wildflowers. Event leader scouts out locations of nests, and ensures everyone's binoculars are adjusted in advance.
"Geology of Paradise": led by two geologists/festival presidents, this hike along Peanut Lake lower loop introduces participants to the geological history of the area, and its impact on location of wildflowers and trees.
"Gothic Wildflowers": led by decades-long resident/scientist, participants are introduced to the unique wildflowers found on the site of Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
"Plant Defense and Survival Strategies: led by Denver Botanical Garden botanist and wildflower specialist, participants learn how how the shape, chemical composition, and color of wildflowers along Brush Creek trail support survival and reproduction.
"Wildcrafted Cocktails": led by professional bartender, participants learned the process of infusing liquors with wildflower leaves, roots, and flowers, as well as how to make three different cocktails that use wildflower-infused liquor. Materials were available for all participants to make (and taste) each of the cocktails.
TIPS:
At around 9500 feet above sea level participants traveling from low elevation need to be mindful of health. In addition, some events travel of steep trails. Taking this into consideration, festival organizers have planned a range from of events that are categorized into different levels to accommodate diverse health and mobility conditions.
Events can sell out quickly, so plan accordingly. In 2022 the festival was featured in a national news broadcast, and apparently this has made many people from distant locations aware of the festival.
New events are added each year, so there is always an opportunity to learn something new.
Events take place in many different public land locations in the area.