Glenwood Springs, Colorado, sits in a region known for its scenic natural wonders. It is at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers and is surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Elk Mountain Range, part of the vast Colorado Rockies. The area is a haven for outdoor recreation activities, including skiing, hiking, mountain biking and fishing. Glenwood Springs also attracts art aficionados every autumn with its colorful Fall Art Festival, a town fixture for more than five decades.
Billed as Colorado's largest non-juried arts show, the Glenwood Springs Art Guild's Fall Art Festival is the guild's only fundraiser and a chance for professional and amateur artists to display and sell their works. The event typically lasts five days and is held in late September at the Ramada Glenwood Springs, which provides on-site accommodations. Festival proceeds go toward local art education and scholarships for current and aspiring artists in the region.
Patrons at the festival's opening night gala, held the evening before the event opens to the public, have the opportunity to view and purchase one of more than 1,000 original works of art before they are made available to the public. Patrons are also given the first chance to make purchases from the festival's "bargain bin," which is filled with original creations priced at $125 or less. The evening gala includes music, hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and the chance to meet many of the event's featured artists.
Thousands of original pieces of art are displayed and available for purchase at the Glenwood Springs Fall Art Festival. Among the professional and amateur categories are sculpture, pottery, graphics and a variety of paint mediums, including oil/acrylics, pastel and watercolors that include abstract, landscape, portrait and still life divisions. Winners in each category are chosen by a panel of judges, and a festival grand champion and reserve champion are also selected for both amateurs and professionals.
While visiting Glenwood Springs for the art festival, take time to see some of the region's other attractions. The Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, a natural hot springs that first opened to the public in 1888, is more than two blocks long, produces more than 3.5 million gallons of water daily, and has a consistent temperature of 90 to 93 F. Admission includes access to two water slides, a children's pool, poolside restaurant and locker rooms with showers. At Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, tour underground caves and brave thrill rides that include cliff-hanging coasters, a 625-foot-high zip ride and a giant swing over Glenwood Canyon. Or get an up-close look at the area's scenery by hiking on trails that take you to Whitewater National Forest, Glenwood Canyon and the turquoise waters of Hanging Lake.
