President’s Day Weekend in Estes Park - 01/30/2008

President’s Day Weekend Events in Estes Park: A Synopsis
Feb: 16-17: Rails in the Rockies Model Railroad Exhibition, Estes Park Conference Center

Feb. 16-18: Snow Play at Hidden Valley

Feb. 16: Winter Trails Day, Glacier Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park

Feb. 16: 16th Annual Imagine This! Estes Park High School

Feb. 16-17: Snowshoe Ecology Walk with a Ranger, Rocky Mountain National Park

Feb. 16: Postcards from Lodges Past, free, Estes Park Museum

Feb. 16-17: Skins and Skulls, free, Rocky Mountain National Park Headquarters

Feb 16: 2008 Lyceum Series, free, Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium

Feb. 17: Estes Park Music Festival Winter Concert, Stanley Hotel

Although it is wintertime, and many people opt out for the warmth and sunshine at the beach over a long holiday weekend, Estes Park sets the stage for visitors who enjoy outdoor wintertime activities, as well as indoor special events. Weekend highlights include:

February 16:
Winter Trails Day is a one-day event geared towards families, hikers, fitness walkers, recreational enthusiasts, school groups and youth organizations who are interested in learning more about the sport of snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Activities include guided snowshoe hikes, winter safety presentations, orienteering demonstrations and expert advice on fitting and selection of snowshoes. There will be a kid’s scavenger hunt; ongoing demonstrations and free use of snowshoes. The day’s events take place in the Glacier Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and are free, but entrance fees to the park apply.

16th Annual Imagine This! Kids and adults can catch the magic at the annual family arts festival that offers fun and educational experiences designed to teach young people an appreciation for the arts. Children can visit various booths and “see it,” “hear it” and “do it,” taking away both handmade treasures and learning experiences. There will be live musical entertainment throughout the day including classical and pop performances, Middle Eastern dance, Dixieland Jazz and American Folk music. A silent bid auction with artwork and merchandise donated by local merchants will be on-going, and proceeds from the sale will benefit 2008 educational programs sponsored by the Arts Council.

Imagine this! begins at 11 a.m. at the Estes Park High School; admission is $1 per person.

The Estes Park Museum is hosting a special presentation on Saturday afternoon titled; “Postcards from Lodges Past." Many of these historic lodges in and around Rocky Mountain National Park no longer exist except on old photographs and postcards. See the interiors the amenities the inn and hotels offered through the eyes of a tourist from the 1900s. The program begins at 2 p.m. and is free.

The Museum also has two new exhibits; “Estes Park in the 60s” – a collection of memorabilia that will be added to the museum’s permanent exhibit called “Tracks in Time,” and “High Country Health and Medicine” a kid’s friendly exhibit that examines the history of human health and medical practices in the Estes valley, from the healing promise of mountain air to the challenges of medical care in a community thriving on remote lifestyles and wilderness recreation.

The Museum’s hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Both exhibits are free.

Rocky Mountain National Park is presenting their 2008 Spring Lyceum Series titled; “Learning Lessons: Management Decisions of the Past and Future”. The hour-long Saturday night seminar series explores how past decisions on ecological issues not only affects the future of the park, but also lands outside park boundaries. The Lyceum is held in the auditorium at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center at 7 p.m., and is free.

February 16-17:
Rails in the Rockies XI is packed with family fun. With over 15,000 feet of model railroading excitement kids of all ages can get lost in different scales of model railroad layouts. There is also a Junior Layout – where kids can actually run their own trains! And kids can enter to win a Lionel Special Edition of Harry Potter’s Hogwart’s Express. Doors open at the Estes Park Conference Center at 9 a.m. for two days of railroading enjoyment. Admission is $5 for adults; free admission for kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult.

Snowshoe Ecology Walk led by park rangers is a two-hour beginner-level educational trek. The programs begin at 12:30 p.m. and explore the natural world of a sub-alpine forest while introducing participants to snowshoeing skills and winter safety. Participants must bring their own snowshoes, (rentals are available at outfitter stores in Estes Park), and ski poles can be helpful. There is a limit of six people per reservation. Children under 8 are not allowed for safety reasons.

Sleds, skiers, hikers and children in backpacks are also not allowed. Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling the park at (970)586-1223 no sooner than seven days in advance. Details of the tour, including location, will be given at the time the reservation is made. There is no charge for these programs; however a park entrance fee is required.

Skins and Skulls is a ranger-led 30 minute program offering families a hands-on experience to safely feel skins and skulls while learning about the wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park. The free program begins at 3:00 p.m. at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.

Snow Play at Hidden Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park is a protected area for families to sled and tube and is open only during daylight hours. Snowshoers and skiers are discouraged from passing through the area. The fenced section is in the bowl or confluence where the runs came together when Hidden Valley was a downhill ski area.

There is a large parking lot, indoor facilities; including flush toilets, and a warming hut with benches to warm up and/or enjoy a picnic lunch. On weekends park rangers are present to monitor activity. Park officials request that visitors call 970-586-1203 ahead of time to check on weather and snow conditions. There is no charge to use the snow play area at Hidden Valley, but park entrance fees do apply.

February 17:
The Estes Park Music Festival is hosting its Winter Music Concert Series with a performance by pianist Margaret Patterson accompanied by opera vocalist Elizabeth Blades Skinner.

In the past, Patterson performed in the Washington D.C. area as a soloist and accompanist, and in 2004 she received 2nd prize in the international Simone Belsky Music Competition held in Litchfield, CT. Skinner’s musical theater experiences spans more than 40 yrs; she has had leading roles in professional opera, operetta and on Broadway. She received both Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

The Music Festival concert begins at 2 p.m. at the Stanley Hotel. Admission is $5; there is no charge for children under 12 and students.