Get silly in Durango, get an icy workout on Grand Lake and in Crested Butte, and more

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado, mostly focusing outside of Denver, to help everyone enjoy the entire state. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.

Snowdown festival in Durango

The goofy and sprawling Snowdown festival is currently making Durango more fun and weird. The event changes every year, and this year’s theme is “The Board Game Edition: It’s Your Move.” The festival runs through Sunday, with games, contests, live music, terrain park rail jams and more.

Friday’s additional events include a balloon rally and mass ascension, chili cook-off, a light parade, the 41st annual Snowdown Follies variety show and more.

Saturday brings a crash course derby, a canine fashion show, skiing skill contest, another follies show and much more. For the closing day on Sunday, there will be another balloon rally, a pancake breakfast and more.

Ska Brewing crafted the Chutes and Lagers Czech pilsner as the official beer of the 2025 Snowdown, and the brewery will host music trivia and darts tournaments.

Alley Loop in Crested Butte

The Alley Loop is a Nordic skiing marathon and a qualifier for the American Birkebeiner, North America’s largest cross-country ski race. Even so, it certainly does not take itself as seriously as all that.

The Crested Butte Nordic Center has turned it into a moving costume party that winds through streets and alleyways in town, then onto the Nordic trail network.

Races in several waves and distances start at 9 a.m. Saturday, and culminate in an awards ceremony (for both races and a costume contest) at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, the center hosts an official collegiate race.

Pond hockey in Grand Lake

Grand Lake is Colorado’s largest natural lake, and it hosts the 8th Annual Pond Hockey Classic on Saturday and Sunday.

The adult tournament kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday, with 3 vs 3 games until sundown and $500 prizes on the line for each division. A youth tournament starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, with 3 vs 3 games throughout the day for players ages 9 to 17. Funds raised during this tournament support the Fraser Valley Hockey Association.

Click here for other fun ideas in the Grand Lake area.

Wildfires benefit concert

The star-studded Fire Aid Benefit Concert will be streamed from southern California tomorrow night. But for a much more intimate and philanthropic experience, visit Spirit Hound’s Denver and Lyons locations for LA wildfire benefit concerts on Saturday night.

A full night of local music at each tasting room will raise funds for the Pasadena Humane Society, which has provided care for more than 400 animals affected by the recent wildfires.

Save the date for Ice Fest

The 25th anniversary Cripple Creek Ice Festival runs Feb. 15 to 23, with seven ice carving teams competing. The sculptures will range from extravagant to interactive, including a giant water fountain, a dragon and other mythical beasts. More than 30 vendors also will be set up with a variety of food and gifts. The official Ice Fest gift shop will be in the Double Eagle Hotel and Casino this year.

Get your wine festival tickets

Tickets are on sale for the Ouray Winter Wine Festival. The showcase of Colorado wines comes to the Wright Opera House on Saturday, Feb. 15. Tickets are good for tastings at either 11:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m.

In addition to at least eight Colorado wineries and two Colorado distilleries, boutique food and art vendors will be on hand.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar.