A Celebration Like No Other
Every summer, Cripple Creek throws a party like no other — a tribute to its wild west past, gold rush legacy, and most importantly, its free-roaming donkeys. Welcome to Donkey Derby Days 2025, a three-day festival that blends small-town charm with quirky tradition, drawing visitors from all over Colorado and beyond. This year’s event was a visual feast: donkey races, a parade, bustling vendor stalls, and scenes straight out of a frontier daydream. As a photographer, I was there to capture the magic — and the four-legged, shaggy stars of the show (click any image for light box gallery):
A Legacy on Hooves: The History of Donkey Derby Days
The roots of Donkey Derby Days go back to 1931, when the festival was created to raise money for the Two Mile High Club — a non-profit that still cares for Cripple Creek’s beloved donkey herd. These animals aren’t just a fun attraction; they’re living remnants of the town’s gold-mining past, once used to haul ore through the rocky tunnels that lie beneath the streets.
Over the decades, the festival has grown from a simple race to a full-on summer celebration — complete with beer gardens, bounce houses, water features, and a main stage featuring Colorado talent.
Street Fair Highlights: Local Flavor on Bennett Avenue
Between 2nd and 5th Street, over 90 vendors set up shop this year, offering everything from handmade goods to mouthwatering eats. The fair was more than just shopping — it was a sensory playground, with the smells of smoked meats in the air, the clink of vendor tools, and the steady rhythm of street musicians adding to the atmosphere.
Cripple Creek isn’t just a backdrop for this event — it’s a character in its own right.
A Town Frozen in Time
With roots in the late 1800s gold rush, Cripple Creek still boasts its Victorian architecture and saloon-style storefronts. Today, many of these historic buildings have been transformed into boutiques, museums, and casinos that line the town’s main drag.
Casinos & Culture
Since gaming was legalized in the early ’90s, Cripple Creek has become home to iconic casinos like Midnight Rose, McGill’s, and The Brass Ass, each offering classic table games, restaurants, and lodging.
Donkey Derby Days also coincides with live entertainment at venues like the Butte Theater, giving visitors even more reasons to make a weekend out of it.
Scenic Beauty & Access
Nestled near Pike’s Peak, Cripple Creek offers stunning mountain views, hiking trails, and scenic drives. For those coming from Colorado Springs, the Ramblin’ Express shuttle is a great way to reach the festivities without the parking hassle.
Through the Lens: A Photographer’s Perspective
As a photographer, events like Donkey Derby Days are a dream. The characters — human and animal — are as rich in expression as the backdrop is in texture. The way the sunlight cuts through the dust during the donkey races… the expressions of the kids watching in awe… the detail in the handmade goods and the weathered wood of historic buildings — it’s all visual poetry.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Race
2025 Donkey Derby Days isn’t just a quirky tradition — it’s a living tribute to the heart and history of Cripple Creek. Whether you come for the donkeys, the food, the live music, or the old-time charm, you’ll leave with memories and stories worth keeping.
And if you’re a fellow photographer or visual storyteller, bring your camera next year — this town doesn’t just tell a story, it becomes one.
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