It’s that time of year again! Territory Days, one of our region’s most beloved festivals, is happening this month—and we thought it was definitely one to highlight if you haven’t yet heard about it or attended.
Territory Days began in 1975 as a celebration of the time when Colorado wasn’t even a state yet. In 1859, the small settlement of El Dorado renamed itself Colorado City. It became the official first permanent town in the Pikes Peak region, and it was pivotal in the grown that the region experienced during the railroad expansion and gold rush that followed.
As the gradual growth and expansion we’ve seen happened over the past 150 years, Colorado City has now become Old Colorado City. It’s part of Colorado Springs as a national historic district that has numerous shops, art galleries, and restaurants—which boast a distinct local flavor and celebration of all things Southern Coloradan and the Wild West.
Every May, Territory Days celebrates the founding of that first permanent settlement, the gold rush that followed, and our history in this region through a three-day event that happens in Old Colorado City. At Territory Days, you’ll get to experience good food, spirits, and entertainment. Between 80,000 and 140,000 guests come out for this event, so it’s definitely a huge event for the region!
Territory Days goes on from May 25-28th, 2018, from 10am-6pm during Memorial Day weekend. It’s absolutely free to attend—but bring money for all the good food and spirits you may want to try, as well as the other vendors and arts that may be there.
For more info:
www.shopoldcoloradocity.com/event-calendar/#!event/2017/5/27/territory-days