Crested Butte has been described as a surf town in the mountains. The vibe is chill and welcoming. Bench-sitting and patio time are a part of the culture.
Chili & Beer
Since 1999, the Chamber of Commerce has been hosting a Chili & Beer Festival in the Gunnison Valley. In the last ten years or so, the event has found a home at the base of Crested Butte Mountain. Held the weekend after Labor Day, the festival pairs 20+ regional craft breweries from the truly tiny to bigger Colorado staples like Odell Brewing with a chili cook-off and live music. For the past few years, 1500 people have enjoyed the festival, many coming in from out of town for the day.
This year, the Chamber is partnering with the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association and MTB Home to give people a reason to come out for the whole weekend, rather than just a day: One Good Weekend of Chili, Beer, Bikes, and Bands at Evolution Bike Park.
Bikes
Crested Butte has a reputation for punishing races at bike festivals. That’s not what this one is about. One Good Weekend is a beer and music festival for people who like to ride bikes. It’s about embracing that surf town vibe. You don’t have to race. You don’t even have to go uphill if you don’t want to. Evolution Bike Park is partnering with the event to bundle two days of lift tickets in the $119 3-day Festival Entry giving participants access to the entire Bike Park throughout the weekend.
For those looking to ride more cross-country trails, two local Mountain Bike Hall of Famers will lead rides on Meander. Doug Bradbury will lead the Saturday guided ride. Dave Wiens will lead on Sunday. Both of these rides are included in the Festival Pass, but spots are limited to 30 each day so it’s best to buy your tickets and claim your spot early.
Bands
In addition to some local favorites, the event will also feature some big name groups from the front range. During the Friday Night Welcome Party, Rapidgrass Quintet will headline. They won the 2015 Rockygrass Band competition and always put on a great show. Chili and Beer will feature music from The Sweet Lillies and Workshy.
Sunday, September 11, is the biggest day for music. The Reminders, from Colorado Springs, will headline. This hip hop duo has performed with Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, and Big Boi, among others. They previously came to Crested Butte in September of 2014 and the town has been itching for a chance to get them back. For those who can only make Sunday’s show, tickets for just Sunday are available as well.
Get more details about the weekend at mtbhome.com/one-good-weekend and buy your tickets now to get the chance to ride with Bradbury or Wiens.
