A boat of the dead, #52 entry in the coffin races, tries for a win as the crows looks on
Emma Crawford was a young woman from MA who in 1889 came out out to Manitou Springs, CO to partake of the waters for her health. She had been sickly most of her life. She died in 1891 and was buried on top of a local mountain, but her remains were washed down the mountain many years later, in 1929, after construction and erosion took their toll.
A view of the main street looking west into the mountains
The Barker House, once a famous hotel in the late 1800s, now offers apartments for rent along the main strip.
It's not quite clear how the tradition started, but since 1994, the town of Manitou Springs has held an annual parade and coffin race to bring a little light hearted fun (not to mention revenue to the locals) and levity to honor the dead.
The colorful crowd gathered along the Coffin Race path
Go Pirates!! Some of the entries line up along the Parade route
The variety of themes from ghoulish and outlandish to silly and insane, plus the overall creativity and work that went into these incredible entries is impressive!!
The dead cow Ginger family and their flaming skull coffin
A creative Victorian Steampunk theme brought flavor to this entry
Go buff or go home!! I wouldn't have wanted this theme if the weather went south.
What parade is complete without unicorns and clowns?
This idea has been so successful that half a dozen other towns throughout the country now hold their own coffin races. Check out Frozen Dead Guy Days, scheduled for March 8-10, 2019 in Nederland, CO.
This event is for suitable for family in all shapes and sizes
My local Rocky Mountain Steemit Meet-up group decided that navigating this Event would be a great bonding exercise and a Capital idea, so on Saturday, Ocober 27th I ventured forth with packed bag and cameras for the 90 minute drive south to Garden of the Gods, where I could park and catch the shuttle to the Races.
Some of our local Steemians ~ lpfaust, amrauthor, sunravelme, and joel
Manitou Springs itself is a visitors fantasy. The small mountain town began in the 1870s as a scenic health resort, and has slowly grown in the shadow of nearby industrious Colorado Springs as the hippie alternative mecca.
A few of the more colorful parade participants
The weather this year was a balmy 70 degrees, warm enough for this lady to flaunt her skin
The main street is littered with touristy shops and recreational opportunities, such as the nearby Garden of the Gods, Cave of the Wings, Anasazi Cliff dwellings, the historical Cog Railway and Miramont Castle Museum. The hiking trails alone would keep me busy for weeks.
for some, the day was all about dressing up, posture and make-up
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!
Lately the Races have turned into a bit of a White Elephant in that the crowd size has grown to such epic proportions that people need to be shuttled in to town to avoid traffic congestion. In recent years the crowd has grown exponentially from 5,000 in 2010 to nearly 20k this year.
milling thru the crowd..
A good number of spectators came in costume, enough for a Hippie Mountain Mardi Gras flavor. The actual Racers gear ranged from gore to fantasy, each creation a work of art.
meet the flitstones..
My one disappointment during the races was that the crowd size made any amateur photography an incredible challenge, what with moving people and lack of a close shot.
and yet moar pirates!
Even though the Races were the main event, the reality is that the Parade and Races were over in three hours time. But for the younger people, the after-parties were as equally important.
mr pinhead and friend
Along the half mile stretch in town, stores and eateries remained open to hawk their wares. Our favorite was the Penny arcade, a collection of two dozen varying shops and outdoor areas offering games and gadgets. Every dining area was jammed to capacity, especially anything offering beer.
penny arcade
An extended outdoor arts market ranged along the river for Festival de Los Muertos, the after party to the Races. Covered stages offered a variety of hosted music and dance events, and the Rocky Horror shadow cast performance capped the free Festival.
half of the shuttle bus line at Garden of the Gods
On the return trip, the shuttle line was so long that to avoid the hour plus wait we stuffed seven people into a car clown style. The line out of the parking lot took another half hour, as there was only one exit (poor planning imho). Advanced planning and patience, or a local airbnb, is required should anyone wish to attend next year.