If you're staying in the Pikes Peak area the last weekend of June, clear your Saturday. Donkey Derby Days returns to Cripple Creek June 26–28, 2026 — and it's one of those small-town Colorado traditions that's far more fun than it has any right to be. We send guests up the hill for it every summer, and they come back grinning.
Here's what it is, why the donkeys matter, and how to do the weekend right — from hosts who are only about 20 minutes away.
First, the donkeys
Cripple Creek's donkeys aren't a gimmick brought in for the festival. They're a free-roaming herd that lives in and around town year-round — descendants of the burros that hauled ore and supplies during the 1890s gold rush. When the mines wound down, the donkeys stayed. Today they're cared for by a local volunteer group and they wander the hills (and sometimes the streets) as Cripple Creek's unofficial mascots.
During Donkey Derby Days, they're the guests of honor. You'll likely meet a few right on Bennett Avenue. They're friendly, but they're still wild animals — admire them, snap your photos, and follow the local volunteers' guidance on feeding.
The main event
The festival has run for more than 90 years, making it one of the oldest celebrations in the region. The weekend usually includes:
- The donkey races — the signature event, equal parts competitive and hilarious.
- A downtown parade along the historic Bennett Avenue.
- Gold panning and mining-heritage demonstrations.
- Food vendors, craft booths, and live music through the weekend.
- Family activities that make it an easy day with kids.
It's free to attend, walkable, and genuinely family-friendly. Check the official Cripple Creek events calendar for the final 2026 schedule and start times before you head up.
Local tip: Parking in downtown Cripple Creek fills fast on parade morning. Arrive before 9am, park once, and walk — the whole event is within a few blocks. Bring layers; at 9,500 feet the mornings are crisp even in late June.
Make a full day of it
Cripple Creek rewards a longer visit. While you're there, the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine tour takes you 1,000 feet underground in an original shaft, the historic casinos occupy beautifully preserved Victorian buildings, and the surrounding drives — Gold Camp Road, Shelf Road — are some of the prettiest in the county. Pair the festival with a mine tour and an early dinner and you've got a perfect Colorado Saturday.
Where to stay
Donkey Derby Days draws a crowd, and lodging in tiny Cripple Creek is limited. Our six cabins in Florissant and Woodland Park put you 15–25 minutes away — close enough for an easy morning drive to the parade, but tucked into the quiet pines with a hot tub waiting when you get back. Several sleep 8–12, so they're ideal for the kind of multi-family group this weekend is made for.
Planning a late-June trip?
The last weekend of June books up fast around the festival. Reserve one of our cabins direct and save up to 15% vs Airbnb — same cabins, same hosts, no platform fees.
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