Cripple Creek Ice Festival!

 Ok! Here we go!  The Cripple Creek Ice Festival kicked off last weekend!  This was a great Ice Carving Demonstration and Display by some of the nations top ice carvers.  None of whose name I can remember!  I spent way too much time at the Ice Bar, but I did actually get a chance to take some photos.  They were still working on the carvings when I got there.  People were wandering through the streets, visiting, kids playing and families walking dogs, kids, grandmas etc.  The photo on the top right is the Centerpiece of the festival; a 15 ft hi mountain with a locomotive and elk, sheep and goats around.  Its pretty cool.

 Below is a picture of the Ice Bar.  They served really yummy martinis here and I saved myself for a whole month so I could help support the Ice Bar!  They pour your martini down a small Ice Luge and  you have to catch it in your glass.  But you get to watch!  And they sold plastic martini, beer and wine glasses with the logo on them. Could not resist! 

Mountain View Wineries came and displayed a couple of wines from some of Colorado's Wineries.  You could buy by the bottle or glass.  We thought this was a nice touch up here in the 'Creek and were happy to have them!  Gave them plenty of support also!

 Everyone was wandering, visiting, chatting and watching the carvers at work. These ice donkeys are in front of the INFAMOUS Brass Ass Casino which has just expanded with more machines and floor space.

This Elk with Trees is in front of the Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino, one of the sponsors of this event.

This Visitor had the coolest dog, a Newfy!

She is water rescue trained! You meet the nicest people just wandering the streets of Cripple Creek!

Here is the Colorado Rocky Mountain sheep with a happy Tourist getting her photo taken by friends.

Here is a picture of me with a martini standing in front of the Moose Ice Sculpture.  I have 2 souvineer martini glasses in my pockets, which I eventually gave to tourists that oogled them. So now you all know what I look like! 

The Festival continues through this weekend with more carving demonstrations, ice bar, wine bar and on Saturday the Downhill Derby starts around 10 am.  This event consists of gravity fueled homemade box cars/trucks & whatever time testing and racing down a grade and then making a 45 degree turn onto 2nd st. Here is a link to the Schedule of Events Page: http://www.cripplecreekevents.com/images/ice_fest_schedule_events.pdf 

 I am not sure I can go to this, but if I do I will sure try to get pics!  There are always some great photo opps in Cripple Creek, so come on up, because Yonder Lies Cripple Creek, Co and plenty of good family fun!