Whatcha Gonna Do?

As the old song goes...  And there is a whole lot going on in Gunnison this weekend! 
Start off your weekend with the 1st Friday Gallery Crawl at 5pm in downtown Gunnison.  You can enjoy art, music, refreshments and visit with your friends and visitors.  Find that perfect piece of art for your livingroom!  Pick up a brochure at the Gunnison Gallery, the Gunnison Arts Center or any of the participating galleries or restaurants.  While at the Arts Center, enjoy the free Fridays @ 5" live music on the patio.  Enjoy a glass of wine or your favorite malt beverage and then have dinner at one of Gunnison's great restaurants and cafes.  Whatever your taste - you can find it.  Once your tummy is full, head back over to the Arts Center and enjoy the annual  melodrama production.  This year it's Blame it on the Pony Express".  After the drama, head south out of Gunnison to the Gunnison Valley Observatoryand learn about "The Gas Giants".  There is observing of the night sky through the dome-housed 30" and samaller telescopes following the astronomy program.
Saturday morning, enjoy an early morning bike ride or run, then grad a cup of your favorite coffe at one of Gunnison's home-owned coffee houses.  Breakfast at one of the local restaurants should satisfy your hunger pangs.  At 9:30am, stroll over to the Gunnison Farmers' Market and pick up some delicious and healthy produce, baked goods, jams, jellies, crafts of all kinds and even fire baked pizza.
If Archery is your game, the West Elk Archers will be holsing a Benefit Shoot at the Gunnison State Wildlife Area on Saturday.  Put an apple oon your head - JUST KIDDING - and head out and watch.   
Saturday is your chance to out get into Gunnison - your "BaseCamp of the Rocky Mountains".  You can fly fish, lake or stream fish, hike, boat, waterski, sail, kayak, raft, swim, mountain bike, road bike, climg, ride your horse, or just sit in the sunshine and enjoy the summer.  If you want to be nostalgic about the good old days or want to learn something about Gunnison's heritage, the Pioneer Museum on the east end of Tomichi has fascinating displays of Gunnison's early days.  You can even ring the steam locomotive's bell. 
Satuday night you can once again catch the Gunnison Arts Center's Melodrama or watch some falling stars out of the Gunnison Observatory after dark. Down at the Rodeo Grounds, you can also attend the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Fundraiser Banquet and Auction.  Whew - tired yet?
Sunday morning, savor a leisurely breakfast at one of Gunnison restaurants, cafes or coffee houses.  You can also attend services at one of Gunnison's many churches.  Take a bike ride or hike on the miles of maintained trails at the City's VanTuyl Ranch, located at the east end of Spencer Avenue.  Then take the kids fishing at Pac-Man Pond located in Jorgensen Park, 501 East Tomichi Avenue (East Highway 50) 
Finish out the day by packing or buying a picnic supper and settle back in your lawnchairs at the Arts Center's weekly free Sundays @ 6 free concert in Legion Park.  check out the City's website for more information on many of these activities www.cityofgunnison-co.gov  
Have a fabulous August weekend. 

City Council Action

The Gunnison City Council will be meeting in a work session format tomorrow evening, Tuesday, July 16th, to discuss the following topics and issues:  

A Presentation from Trout Unlimited about the "Our Colorado River Project"; 
A presentation on the 2012 City Audit by Finance Director Wendy Hanson;
Continued Discussion on City Participation in the Community REbuild Program;
Discussion on the City Purchasing Policy;
An Overview of the City 5-Year Capital Projects Plan;
and ending with continued discussion on the City Council's Priorities and Strategic Planning.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend.  Council meetings are held at 7pm in City Hall, 201 W. Virginia Avenue in Gunnison in the 2nd floor Council Chambers.  For more information call 641-8140 or get more information at  www.cityofgunnison-co.gov/council/epackets_home.html
 

A WHOLE lot going on!

That's right.  There is a whole lot going on in Gunnison! 
The Annual Cattlemen's Days Celebration is taking place at the Gunnison County Rodeo Grounds on South Spruce Street this week and weekend.

4-H ShowHogs

Today, Friday, July 12th, you can enjoy the 4-H Market Goat and then Cattle Show.  At 1:30pm you can see the 4-H Round Robin Showmanship Event.  Starting at 7pm, wear your red, white and blue, to the PRCA "Patriot Night Rodeo".  After the Rodeo you can dance the night away at the Elks Lodge on South Main Street, enjoy the thrills and chills on the amusement rides at the 

Watching the action!

Carnival, or head uptown for libations and live music at one of Gunnison's lively restaurants, bars, and brew pub.  For a break from the noise of the rodeo and carnival, drive south of Gunnison to the Gunnison Valley Observatory for public night sky viewing through the 30" publically owned telescope.  The observatory is open for public viewing on Friday and Saturday evenings.  Go to www.gunnisonobservatory.org  for more information.
Saturday morning, head downtown early to claim your spot along Main Street for the Annual Cattlemen's Parade.  While you're waiting for the colorguard, marching bands, floats, antique cars and more, fill up on all you can eat pancakes at the Kiwanis Club's Annual Pancake Breakfast in IOOF Park.  After the parade, you can stroll through the weekly Gunnison Farmers' Market and get some fresh produce, baked goods, electic arts

Great Food at the Farmers' Market
The Dussault's Fire Baked Pizza

and crafts and a variety of foods.  For lunch, there's great food at one of Gunnison's restaurants, burgers and hotdogs provided by the Kiwanis Club at the IOOF Park or sizzling grilled burgers on the patio of the Gunnison Elks Lodge on South Main Street.  Don't forget to stop in the varierty of shops downtown and pickup some fun, colorful and stylish clothes and gift items.  After lunch at the Rodeo Grounds is the 4-H Livestock Auction.  Saturday evening is rounded out by the PRCA Family Night Rodeo, the dance at the Elks Lodge and the Carnival at the Rodeo Grounds.  For more information on the Cattlemen's Days events go to www.cattlemensdays.com

Cattlemen's Carnival

Sunday morning enjoy breakfast and coffee at one of Gunnison's outstanding restaurants and locally-owned coffee shops, then head into the great outdoors and partake in a wide variety of exciting and fun outdoor recreation activities.   You'll understand why Gunnison is the BaseCamp to the Rocky Mountains!  For more information go to www.cityofgunnison-co  Finish up the whirlwind of weekend activities by grabbing a picnic supper, your lawnchair or blanket and settling back to enjoy the Gunnison Art Center's weekly Sundays at 6 Concert at Legion Park.  It's a great way to finish out the weekend.  Enjoy! 

It's the Weekend!

After an explosively delightful Independence Day Holiday, it's time to enjoy a fun-filled Gunnison Weekend!  And there's a lot going on!  

This evening, Friday, July 5th, kicks off with the First Friday Art and Music Walk, in downtown Gunnison starting at 5pm.  There's music, refreshments, along with fantastic and diverse art works, showcased at 11 galleries and businesses.  Stop in the Gunnison Gallery or the Gunnison Arts Center and pickup your Art Walk guide.  There will be a drawing for art at the end of the evening.



Ready for Cattlemen's Days!

Over at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center at the Rodeo Grounds (275 S. Spruce Street) starting at 6pm, is the Cattlemen's Days Kick-Off Dinner Dance! 

That's right - it's Cattlemen's Days in Gunnison!  Take your little buckaroos to the kickoff dinner and dance!  It's for the entire family. 
When the sun goes down and you're looking for a later night venue, head south of Gunnison to the Gunnison Valley Observatory for an astronomy program on the fasinating discoveries of the Hubble Telescope and then enjoy public viewing of the Gunnison night sky through the silver-dome housed, 30" telescope.  It's eductional and relaxing. Bring a jacket, it can get chilly once the sun goes down. 

Annual Trough Balloon Rally

Saturday morning kicks off EARLY, at 5:30am, with the launch of the brilliantly-colored hot air balloons from Jorgensen Park along East Highway 50.  After "chasing" the balloons, stop for your favorite coffee and breakfast at one of Gunnison's hearty breakfast spots. 
The 4-H Horse Show then starts at 8am at the Rodeo Grounds.  It's quite a show of these talented and hard-working young people.  Heading back "up town" at 9:30am to the 100 Block of East Virginia Avenue in the heart of downtown, where you can select fresh produce, natural meats, delectable baked goods, ecletic crafts and a selection of Western Colorado wines at the weekly Gunnison Farmers' Market.  There's also prepared foods and lively music. 
After this busy, fun-filled morning, recharge with a delicious lunch at one of Gunnison diverse eateries and then head out into the Gunnison Valley - your "Base Camp of the Rocky Mountains"!  The area offers a myriad of outdoor recreational opportunities.  There's just about everything you can imagine to enjoy the great outdoors in Gunnison.  


Ready for the Horse Show

After dinner, you can go back out to the Gunnison Valley Observatory and learn out "Comets, Meteors and Asteroids - Oh My!"  Kids may get an opportunity to create a meteor impact crater or two and to touch an actual meteor!  The program starts at dusk with telescope viewing following the program at dark. 

Sunday, July 7th, is the Cattlemen's Days Open Horse Show at the Rodeo Grounds.  Dust off your cowboy or girl hat and your boots and enjoy the show.  Finish out the weekend by relaxing in your lawn chair at Legion Park for the Gunnison Art Center's "Sundays at 6" free conert series. 

"TRI" it out !!!

Calling artists and creative people of all ages.  The Gunnison Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring a LOGO CONTEST for the upcoming "Gunnison High Tri" . 

The inagural Gunnison Triathlon will feature swimming, biking and running - hence the TRI.  Individuals are asked to create a logo with the three elements and the name "Gunnison High Tri" in the design. 

Artists may submit up to two entires and must complete an entry form for each.  There is a $50.00 cash prize for the winner.  The winner will be announced at the July 17th Triathlon Kickoff Party.  Enties must be submitted by 5PM, Monday, July 15th at the Gunnison Community Center. For more information and to get an entry form, email Ginny at gseckman@cityofgunnison-co.gov. 

Another "Cool" Weekend

If your brain is starting to melt in Grand Junction, the Colorado Front Range, Texas, Oklahoma or just about anywhere else, Gunnison, Colorado, is the COOL place be!  Not only are our tempteratures pleasant, we have a weekend of great activities for you to enjoy. 

Friday and Saturday heralds the First Annual Gunny Grass Bluegrass Festival.  The Festival is being held at the I-Bar Ranch, located just on the eastern edge of the City.  The venue offers on-site camping, ample crowd capacity, a stunning setting, and most improtant - "Hot" Colorado and National Bluebrass Bands - in this fantastic COOL setting.  If you're not into camping, Gunnison offers a wide variety of lodging availablity.  For more information about the festival, go to http://ibarranch.com/gunnygrass/ 

Farmers' Market

Saturday morning, after grabbing your favorite espresso or latte and a bagel at one of the locally-owned coffe shops, head on downtown for the Gunnison Farmers' Market.  There's fresh produce, delicious and wholesome baked goods, Western Slope Colorado wines, eclectic crafts, 5-minute massages, food, live music and congenial company. The Market happens every Summer Saturday starting at 9:30am at the corner of North Main Street and East Virginia Avenue.


Mountain biking with
the Wildflowers



Saturday afternoon experience why Gunnison is the  "BaseCamp of the Rocky Mountains"  If you want to be in the beautiful outdoors, Gunnison provides just about everything you can imagine in premier outdoor recreation opportunities, from the largest lake in Colorado (Blue Mesa Reservoir) to the granite cliffs-climbing routes of Taylor Canyon to the challenging and scenic singletracks of Hartman Rocks.  If cooling off is your primary objective, kayak or raft on the Gunnison or Taylor Rivers.  You can even drag a fishing line behind your craft.



Kayak the Gunnison



After a delicious dinner at one of Gunnison's fine restaurants, discover that Saturday night is the start of the Summer Astronomy Program Series at the Gunnison Valley Observatory, located south of Gunnison across from the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.  Saturday, June 29th is "Family Night - Astronomy 101".  Dr. Suzanne Taylor of Western State Colorado University will talk about the constellations of the summer night sky.  The www.gunnisonobservatory.org for details. 

Gunnison Valley Observatory

Observatory opens at dark (you can't see the stars until then :-) No reservations are required and there is a small donation entry fee.  Go to

On Sunday mornng, after having a hearty breakfast at one of Gunnison's fine cafes or restaurants and then playing in the great Gunnison outdoors, finish up the weekend by kicking back, relaxing and listening to the "Sundays @ 6" outdoor live-music concert at Legion Park presented by the Gunnison Arts Center.  By the end of the weekend, you will be cooled off and relaxed! 

Come on Up...We're OPEN for Visitors!

Canoeing on the Gunnison River

That's right, Gunnison is welcoming visitors.  The large West Fork Fire Complex is located well south of the Gunnison Valley - across the Continental Divide and is not affecting all of the great outdoor recreation the Gunnison Valley has to offer! 

Although Gunnison County has implemented a precautionary Stage 1 Fire Ban, effective this morning, Monday, June 24th, visitors are still able to have small campfires in established campgrounds that provide metal and concrete fire rings.  So as of now, you can still make those s'mores and sing songs around the campfire.  We just ask you to be VERY careful.  There are plenty of Forest Service and Commercial Campgrounds in the area.  If camping out isn't your cup of tea, Gunnison has lots of hotels, motels, condos, and cabins, from luxurious to rustic!  

Mountain Wildflowers



Biking in the Wildflowers

The weather is great in the Gunnison High Country.  You can fly fish, stream and lake fish, kayak and raft on the Taylor and Gunnison Rivers, rock climb, boat, swim, sail, and water ski at the State's largest lake - Blue Mesa Reservoir, road bike, trail run, hike, play golf or tennis, climb a mountain, pop some 360's on your skateboard at the Gunnison SkateBowl, mountain bike on scenic and seculded single track trails,  ride your BMX bike on the Jorgensen track, listen to toe tapping Bluegrass or Country Music at the I-Bar Ranch, jeep to ghost towns, crack rocks on old mine dumps, look deep into the night sky after dark at the Gunnison Observatory, shop for eclectic clothes and gifts, munch and slurp ice cream cones downtown, sip microbrews or fine wines, sample delicious food of all kinds from down-home BBQ to juicy steaks and seafood to Nepalese cuisine,  swim, catch a movie, or just slow down the pace and veg-out while looking at the blooming wildflowers.  Go to www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com for more to do!  It could take you all summer! 

Come on Up - We're waiting for you! 



Blue Mesa Reservoir