Pioneer Days is a celebration of the community's roots. Crawford Pioneer Days, like many small town community celebrations, really is special to those who live locally. The Town park is filled with local vendors showing their wares. Crawford, long-running Pioneer Days (44 years!) is truly a celebration with neighbors. What makes this celebration unique and a must attend event is the fireworks display over the lake.

A locally produced Melodrama starts Thursday evening. The melodrama produces much laughter and fun for family and friends. The Melodrama will have 2 shows on Saturday. Friday evening features the annual Pioneer Days benefit auction and Fire Auxiliary dinner at Town Hall. Then on Saturday morning the festivities kick off with a Fireman's Pancake Breakfast, followed by the fun-filled 10am parade down the main street. After the parade the whole community gets together at the Town Park to socialize, enjoy the live music, browse the craft booths, eat fair food, to watch the outhouse races and hay bale races while the kids participate in the kids activities.

The grand finale is the fireworks display Saturday evening over the lake at the Crawford State Park.

Crawford Pioneer Days 2023 Dignitaries

People who have made contributions to improve our community

Grand Marshal

Pat Polson

King and Queen

David & Tamara Hauze

Schedule of events

Thursday, June 8th

Old Fashioned Dessert Theater Melodrama

“Aunt Fanny’s Last Laugh, or Where There’s A Will, There’s A Won’t”

Performance inside Crawford Town Hall (upstairs) in assembly hall

Doors Open at 6:00pm.  Show Starts at 6:30pm Tickets are $6.00 and dessert is included.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Crawford Town Hall, Lazy J Coffee Shop,

North Fork Boardwalk Restaurant or by calling Katie at 970-201-3423.

Tickets will be available and at the door until sold out

Friday, June 9th

Baking Contest

Entries to Town Hall 9:00am-2:00pm

Judging: 2:30-3:00pm

Fire Auxiliary Fund Raising Dinner

Menu: Spaghetti with Salad and Bread

4:30-6:00pm   Adults $10/Kids $5 (8 and under)

All proceeds benefit the Annual Fireworks Fund

Introduction of Grand Marshal & King & Queen

5:00-5:30pm

Announce Baking Contest Winners

5:35-5:55pm

Annual LIVE Auction

6:00-7:00pm

All proceeds benefit Crawford Pioneer Days

Saturday, June 10th

~ Morning ~

5K Run organized by the Montessori School

Location: Starting Point: Crawford State Park Peninsula Day Use Area

(registration forms will be available there, same-day)

Staggered start times: 8:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m.

No Fee (donations gladly accepted)

T-shirts available: child/youth: $10, adult: $15

Questions: Contact this year's Coordinator: Camille Bair [email protected] 

Crawford Fire Department Pancake Breakfast

6:00-10:30am

All proceeds benefit the Annual Fireworks Fund

Arts, Crafts & Food Vendors

9:30am-4pm

Flyover

Local pilots showing off their planes and flying skills

9:45am

Parade

"From Pioneer Days to Modern Ways"

Starts at 10am

Pre-Registration is required for all General & Equine/Animal entries. There are no limits to our entry numbers. The cut-off date for pre-registration is June 5th, 2023.

Register here

Outhouse Races

Immediately following parade

Music in the Park by David and Tamara Hauze

Music throughout the day

Old Fashioned Melodrama

11:30am

~ Afternoon ~

Music in the Park by David and Tamara Hauze

Music throughout the day

Hay Bale Races

12:00

Do you want to enter the Crawford Pioneer Days Hay Bale Race?

Our Theme this year is: From Pioneer Days to Modern Ways!

“SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR HAY BALE SPONSOR, JOHN & MARLYSE CUNNINGHAM"

Two Divisions - $500 prize money split between these 2 Division:

*Tweens/Teens (*10-18 Yrs.) & Adults (19 Yrs. & Up)

(*Must be able to lift and carry hay bale in order to participate

Please click on the Hay Bale Entry link below for Hay Bale Entry Form and details.

(Hay Bale Race Entry Form)

Hay Bale Race Information:

Where: Crawford Town Park Grass (East end of the Park).

When: 12:00 noon, Saturday June 10th, 2023.

What: This is a timed race between two contestants at a time. Each contestant will have a stack of 3 bales of hay. At the starting sound contestants will pick up their first bale of hay, run with it approximately 50 feet and start a new stack. They will then return to the starting line, pick up the next bale, take it to the end, and continue until they have a completed stack at the finish line. Each heat will be timed.

Rules: No hay hooks or cleats are allowed. Gloves are okay. Contestants cannot drop any bales (if you trip and fall you can get back up and keep going) and finished stack must remain standing.

There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner in each of the two divisions (Tweens/Teens & Adults)

1st Place will be awarded $125, 2nd Place $75, and 3rd Place $50

Questions: Contact this year's Coordinator: Connie Layton (970) 874-5954  

Old Fashioned Melodrama

1:30pm

Free Kids Activities in the Park

1:00-3:30pm

Relay Races,  Tug of War Watermelon Eating Contest (3:00pm),& More

Kids, come one come all and join us for fun and games at the Kids Games!

Lots of games starting at 1:00  with a Watermelon Eating Contest At 3:00

Kids Games Information:

Where: Crawford Town Park Grass (East end of the Park).

When: 1:00 - 3:30, Saturday June 10th, 2023.

What: This is a variety of fun games and free form play for the kids to participate in.  The list of games will be wrapped up at the end with a Watermelon Eating Contest at 3:00.

Games Line Up: (At this time the game line up is being developed. Below is a sample list of games from past years.)

Tug-o-war

Jump rope

Hula hoops

Bubbles (for the younger kids)

3 legged race

Spoon and egg carry

Ball carry relays

Sponge toss

Sponge relay

 And the finale of the day is the Watermelon Eating Contest at 3:00.

~ Evening ~

Fireworks Extravaganza

At Crawford State Park Reservoir @ dusk

FREE ADMISSION! Please put a donation in the boots.

PLATINUM SPONSORS: Smith Fork Ranch                                                                                         

GOLD SPONSORS: Alpine Bank, Bank of Colorado, Cunningham Auction Services,DMEA, Elevate, Redemption Mill, TDS Telecom, VM West   

SILVER SPONSORS: Delta Health, Dufon Land & Cattle, First Colorado National Bank, Fruitland Mesa Women's Club, High Country Shopper, KSK Traffic Control, Needlerock Mountain Realty, Phil’s Towing, Roberts Enterprise, The Desperado, United Business Bank, West Elk Mines, Western Colorado Realty

Festival Dates: June 8th thru 10th, 2023

Location: Crawford Town

Click here for more information