Holy Spirits! Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival Returns Oct 21-23

When you ask most people what they associate with October, they’ll probably say Halloween. Ask a Breckenridge local, or anyone who knows anything about Rocky Mountain spirits, however, and they might just go instead with the Breckenridge Craft Spirts Festival. Returning for its seventh year to the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge and surrounding pubs, taverns, and cocktail restaurants, the festival is the perfect way to warm your core before Winter.

Events to Celebrate Breckenridge History

NOTE: most events take reservations so be sure to visit the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival website to book a reservation.

Events on Friday begin early with an all-ages ghost town and gold mine tour beginning at 10am. Don’t worry! We hear spirits help relieve goosebumps from the inside, and there will soon be spirits aplenty.

The ghost town and gold mine tour sparks a weekend-long celebration of historic Breckenridge. An additional all-ages Tombstone Tour of Breckenridge’s historic Cemetery continues the celebration at twilight on Friday. There’s also a historic Saloon Tour starting at the same time on Friday for those 21+.

The first workshop of the weekend also begins on the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival’s first day. “Women of Distilling” features Moderator Amanda Faison, food editor of 5280 magazine, and six women panelists representing four local distilleries from the Rocky Mountain area. Take a peek at how these creative and talented women are putting their stamp on the distilling industry.

Finally, the Seventh Annual Poker Run and Bar Mix-Off kicks off the late night with a self-guided tour of Breckenridge’s historic bars and taverns. Put on some comfortable shoes and barhop your way to the chance at great prizes! Contestants receive playing cards at each of the participating Breckenridge establishments. Best 5-card hand at the Poker Showdown at the Still on the Hill Grand Tasting event, wins!

And that’s just the first day!

Saturday also begins early with a stunning French Gulch Snowshoe hike (weather dependent) and a – you guessed it- Historic Walking Tour of Breckenridge. After getting up and out early on a snowshoe hike or walking tour, refuel with Colorado Mountain College chefs Ian Buchanan and Doug Schwartz at the college on Airport Rd. Popular classes include ‘make your own whiskey glass’ and Essence of Spirits.

The culmination of the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival is the Still on the Hill Grand Tasting event from 4-7pm on Saturday at the Riverwalk Center. Over 30 distilleries providing spirits tastings and ‘mini-cocktails’, to those 21+ years of age. Tickets are still available, but tend to sell out.

It wouldn’t be right if there wasn’t a historic Haunted Breckenridge Tour, as well. It starts at 7:30pm and is all ages. The place to be late night will be the Gold Pan Saloon for the official after party. Get your stomping feet moving with live music running until 2:00am from local hop-skipping bluegrass band the Honey Gitters.

No festival is complete without a proper hangover brunch. And the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival does not deviate from such a necessity.  On Sunday, various restaurants around Breckenridge will feature hangover-friendly cocktails and brunch menus. Yes, there will be football.

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Why stress about where to stay for BCSF? SkyRun Breckenridge is your source for premium rental property living in Breckenridge. Many SkyRun lodging properties are a walk or short bus ride distance to the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival festivities at the Riverwalk Center and on Breckenridge’s Main Street. Don’t stay far away, live like a local and make those lasting memories with SkyRun Breckenridge.