LIFE AT CHIMNEY ROCK FESTIVAL- JUNE 7TH & 8TH
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) is excited to announce its annual Life at Chimney Rock Festival, a two-day event celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Ancient Puebloans. The festival will take place on Saturday, June 7th, and Sunday, June 8th, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day at Chimney Rock National Monument. Once again, thanks to a special announcement from the U.S. Forest Service, the festival will be Fee-Free, allowing visitors to experience this vibrant event without an entrance fee.
The Life at Chimney Rock Festival offers a unique opportunity for families and history enthusiasts to explore the fascinating skills and traditions of the Ancients. Attendees will enjoy interactive demonstrations led by CRIA volunteers, featuring hands-on activities such as pounding yucca, making coil pottery, creating rock art, weaving, corn grinding, and learning how to throw a spear using an atlatl. In addition, guests will have the chance to learn about astronomy, flint knapping and dendrochronology, and sample traditional foods like Anasazi beans. A highlight of the festival will be the opportunity to observe a peregrine falcon up close.
Food vendors will be offering a variety of delicious lunch items and drinks, including barbecued pork, fry bread and frito pie, to keep attendees fueled throughout the day.
The festival will also feature an exciting Native American Market showcasing artwork from talented artists representing various Native American cultures. Vendors from the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, Santo Domingo, and Santa Clara, as well as the Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, and Southern Ute Nations, will be selling pottery, jewelry, paintings, wood carvings, and more. Many of the artists will also be demonstrating their craft and sharing their knowledge with visitors.
The cultural celebration continues with Native American dance performances. This year, the festival will feature two dance groups: the Fragua Family from Jemez Pueblo and the Roach Family Dancers from Gallup, New Mexico. The Fragua Family will perform at 2:00 PM on
Saturday and Sunday in the amphitheater. The Roach Family Dancers will perform at 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday in the Visitor Plaza. For this location, visitors may provide their own camp chairs for seating.
Thanks to the Forest Service’s generous waiver of the daily activity fee on June 7th and 8th, visitors will have free access to the festival as well as all of the regular amenities at Chimney Rock National Monument, including self-guided tours of the cultural sites, the nature trail, and the Visitor Plaza. The Monument will be open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM for those wishing to explore the site.
The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association invites everyone to join us in celebrating the living history of the Ancestral Puebloans at this year’s Life at Chimney Rock Festival. We hope to see you there for a fun and educational weekend for all ages!
Event Details:
Dates: Saturday, June 7th & Sunday, June 8th, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Chimney Rock National Monument, Chimney Rock, CO
Admission: Free (No entrance fee)
For more information about the event, visit www.ChimneyRockCo.org or contact the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association at (970) 731-7133.
About Chimney Rock Interpretive Association
The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and educating the public about the cultural and natural heritage of Chimney Rock National Monument. Through events like the Life at Chimney Rock Festival, CRIA fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the region’s rich history.
Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) and the San Juan National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, are working in partnership to preserve and develop educational opportunities about the significant archaeological, cultural, geological and biological resources at Chimney Rock National Monument. CRIA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer association and receives no funding from the US Government.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Because the Forest Service has waived the daily activity fee on June 7th and 8th in honor of Life at Chimney Rock, the entrance to the festival is Free! Visitors to the Monument will have access to the festival and all the regular amenities at the site. These include self-guided tours of the cultural sites, access to the nature trail, and Visitor Plaza. The Monument is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
