Jaunted

The main event of the Emma Crawford Festival on October 27 is the Coffin Race. Teams of five build rolling coffins, find a ride-along Emma and don wacky costumes for a day of heats down Manitou Avenue. Speed alone won't win you a championship: Creativity in your coffin design counts, too. And lest you think this is only for locals, the Chamber of Commerce invites anyone and everyone to celebrate Emma's memory.

And why not? She was the perfect kind of girl for a small Colorado town. Having moved to Manitou Springs for the mineral waters and fresh air, she loved the area's nature and nearby Red Mountain. After being buried on its granite peaks, Emma's grave was eventually washed away, leaving nothing but a memory of her.

Leading up to the afternoon race is a parade of all the competitors. And the night before the parade, local inns and B&Bs host haunted dinners and reenacted wakes for Emma. They're great fun, unless of course you're busy putting the finishing touches on your flame-throwing hearse.

Getting There:
Manitou Springs is 73 miles south of Denver, high in the Rockies. You'll be just six miles from Colorado Springs, with all its activities, and you can catch the Pike's Peak Cog Railway out of Manitou Springs for some nature watching.

Related Stories:
· Emma Crawford Festival [Official Site]
· Fall Festivals coverage [Jaunted]
· Fall Festivals Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: Zen Curmudgeon]

Where: Manitou Springs, CO, United States, 800829

Tags: Fall-Festivals-Map / Fall Festivals / Rural Travel / Active Travel

by pbb