Culture and Community: An alphabetized rundown of Steamboat Springs events, festivals, associations, programs and more
Bud Werner Memorial Library
This 33,000-square-foot facility overlooks the Yampa River downtown, with dedicated spaces for children and teenagers, a coffee shop, large community and conference rooms, artwork and more. It also offers 30 public computers, downloadable audio books, an electronic stocking system and free wireless. steamboatlibrary.org
Community Center
The 8,400-square-foot Steamboat Springs Community Center sits alongside the Yampa River adjacent to the Stock Bridge Transit Center. With easy car, bus and bike access, it serves as a meeting place for the community, capable of accommodating 382 people for receptions, multi-media presentations and more. steamboatsprings.net
Festivals
Steamboat hosts a wide array of spectator-friendly festivals every year, from Art in the Park, Yampa River Festival and Steamboat Pilot & Today Hot Air Balloon Rodeo to Winter Carnival, Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup, Crane Festival and Oktoberwest.
Fine Art
More than 17 art galleries are located downtown and near the base of the ski area. Some feature nationally renowned artists while others showcase regional and local visual artists. The Steamboat Art Museum and the Depot also host exhibits.
First Friday Art Walk
Art venues and supporting businesses extend their hours the first Friday of each month to showcase visual and performing artists. Appetizers and refreshments are served.
Free Summer Concert Series
This series brings in great national acts throughout the summer at the base of Howelsen Hill downtown. The events are free and fun for the whole family, offering food, music, libations and more. “It’s a great tradition in the summertime here,” says series President Coleman Cook. keepinitfree.com
Gondola Square
With a $10 million base area improvement, Steamboat Ski Area has a great stage at the base of the resort, where it hosts free concerts, movies and more. steamboat.com
Literature
Literary Sojourn is the oldest established literary festival in the Rocky Mountains. Nominees and recipients of literary awards, including the National Book Award, the Edgar Award and the Pulitzer Prize, have presented here. literarysojourn.org
Opera Steamboat
Opera Steamboat brings artists from the world’s great opera houses to Steamboat to collaborate with local artists. It also presents the Resident Artists Spotlight and Outstanding Artists concert series throughout the year. operasteamboat.com
Politics
The free, nonpartisan Seminars at Steamboat are casual talks with high-caliber experts that focus on domestic and foreign policy, social issues, health, economy, natural resources and the environment. seminarsatsteamboat.com
Pro Rodeo
Professional rodeo performances are held Friday and Saturday nights from June through August at the Romick Rodeo Arena at Howelsen Hill. Events include bull riding, barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and more as part of the PRCA Pro Rodeo Series. steamboatprorodeo.com
Steamboat Art Museum
Promoting and presenting visual arts that reflect the region’s culture and heritage, the Steamboat Art Museum is housed in the historic First National Bank building downtown, a gift to the city from the estate of rancher and artist Helen Rehder. It’s hosted more than 40 exhibitions, with nearly 100,000 people from every state visiting. steamboatartmuseum.org
Steamboat Creates
Riding the wave of Steamboat being named an official Colorado Creative District, and ranking second in arts vibrancy among all small cities by SMU DataArts, nonprofit Steamboat Creates produces art and cultural events and serves as an advocate for more than 30 affiliated organizations. Housed in the historic train depot at 1001 13th St., it manages the Eleanor Bliss Center for the Arts, encompassing two galleries and a community resource center. steamboatspringsarts.com
Steamboat Symphony Orchestra
Steamboat boasts a professional orchestra that performs throughout the fall and winter months, under the direction of conductor Ernest Richardson. steamboatorchestra.org
Tread of Pioneers Museum
The Tread of Pioneers Museum recently completed an expansion and remodel, enabling it to showcase and celebrate the Yampa Valley’s rich and diverse heritage, from Native Americans to Olympic skiers. treadofpioneers.org
Yampa River Botanic Park
The city-owned, six-acre Yampa River Botanic Park, located off the bike path and river downtown, contains ponds, berms and more than 40 gardens, and hosts free Music on the Green concerts throughout the summer. yampariverbotanicpark.org
Strings Music Festival
The award-winning Strings Music Festival is a nationally recognized venue and music festival offering classical and contemporary programming. With an annual $2 million budget and housed in the 6.5-acre Strings Festival Park, the Festival is led by music director Michael Sachs and executive director Elissa Greene. The festival is known for bringing in everyone from classical superstars to jazz virtuosos and rock legends. “Steamboat is a special place and it’s amazing to have this type of music facility here,” says Sachs. “It’s a true, world-class, year-round performing arts organization.” stringsmusicfestival.com
Chief Theater
Located in the heart of downtown, the Chief Theater is a performing arts and cultural venue that continues to bolster Steamboat’s arts, culture and entertainment scene. Built in 1926, the theater was recently renovated and has hosted performances by such acts as the Wood Brothers, Uncle Lucius, John McEuen, Tony Furtado, Todd Park Mohr and more. It also hosts comedy acts, documentary screenings, drama performances and other programs. “We try to offer something for every facet of the community,” says Executive Director Scott Parker. chieftheater.org
Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp
Founded in 1913, Perry-Mansfield is the nation’s oldest operating performing arts camp. As well as offering dance, theater and drama instruction, it hosts special performances throughout summer, from festival readings and playwright screenings to professional dance performances at its Julie Harris Theater. perry-mansfield.org
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