We’ve noticed that neighborhood festivals at or near sea level never seem to involve elk, so we highly recommend Elk Fest: Estes Park’s endearing festival for a refreshing change from the usual floats-and-candy routine. After all, wild elk are simply majestic.
You can’t see this huge and wondrous animal in just any old habitat, which is why Estes Park celebrates them every October. Many unique events comprise the main festival. These include bugling competitions - without instruments, of course, because you must use your own voice to bugle like the elk do. These are deep, resonant tones that carry on for awhile in a rhythmic timbre, and finally rise fast to a piercing, fast squeal before ending in a series of unintelligible grunts. You have to hear it to fully understand what an elk sounds like!
There are many more games and events that pay homage to the animals, such as the Mountain Man Rendezvous, Native American storytelling, music, sports, and elk watching.
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Things to know:
Region: Estes Park
Average temperature: Average October low 31 degrees, high 59 degrees F.
Entrance fees : Tickets for the elk-viewing bus tours are $5 per person.
Average population: 6,268
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