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Coffin Races 24

Visit Estes Park
Get Involved with Events & Initiatives

Start planning now to be part of Estes Park’s upcoming winter events and milestone celebrations. From high-energy competitions and iconic festivals to statewide commemorations and national events, there are many ways for local businesses and organizations to get involved.

Estes Park Skijor (January 23–25, 2026)

Brings thrilling horse-and-skier races, family-friendly activities, local vendors, and strong attendance, making it a prime opportunity for sponsorships, vendor participation, promotions, and lodging packages. With record-breaking attendance expected again this year, this is the perfect opportunity to get involved. Event highlights include: a Kid Zone packed with winter fun, a cozy Warming Hut with hot drinks and treats, local vendors, and a variety of food and beverage options throughout the event.

Ways to Get Involved

  • Include 300 giveaways or promotional items in SkiJor competitors’ welcome bags and submit your special offers through OLIVE to reach competitors who stay in Estes Park from Friday through Sunday and actively support local businesses: Deadline January 20, 2026.

  • Volunteer: Sign up here - https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/CO/EstesPark/EstesParkSkijor

  • Compete as a horse-and-rider team or as a skier

  • Sponsor the event (logo placement, announcements, vendor space, and more)

  • Host a booth or vendor stall: Deadline December 23, 2025

  • Advertise in the event program or on social media

  • Offer skijor-themed specials (gear sales, themed food or drinks)

  • Host an after-party or awards celebration

  • Promote the event through your social media and newsletters

To learn more and get involved, email community@visitestespark.com, and visit our SkiJor event page for full event details: https://www.visitestespark.com/events-calendar/estes-park-skijor/

 

Frozen Dead Guy Days (FDGD) | March 27–29, 2026

Start planning now to be part of the legendary 2026 Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival! This iconic celebration brings the Estes Valley to life with all things weird, wild, and wonderfully chilly. Festival favoriates include: The legendary Coffin Races, live music, food, and games, bar crawl and after-parties, Royal Blue Ball, Polar Plunge, Bands & Bloody’s Brunch. 

Ways to Get Involved

  • Call to Artists! Aspen & Evergreen Gallery is excited to announce a Call for Artists for our Dead of Winter Art Exhibition and Frozen Dead Guy Day Art Sale. It is an inspired art exhibition and sale taking place this March in Estes Park.

    Artists working in all visual art mediums are invited to apply. Work should be inspired by winter, folklore, dark humor, surrealism, and the playfully strange spirit of Frozen Dead Guy Days. This program is designed to celebrate creativity, encourage community engagement, and bring art into the heart of the festival.

    Selected work will be featured in the exhibition and available for sale. Due to space limitations at the gallery, not all pieces can be displayed simultaneously. Entry Applications due: February 15. To apply, go to: Dead of Winter Submission Form

  • Submit Frozen Dead Guy Days–themed lodging packages, special offers, and satellite events in OLIVE

  • Submit Bands & Bloody’s Brunch events in OLIVE

  • Extend your business hours during the festival

  • Serve as a stop on the bar crawl (contact Ingrid, owner of The Barrel)

  • Promote the festival on your social and digital platforms

  • Register a coffin race team representing your business

  • Take the Polar Plunge

To learn more and get involved, email community@visitestespark.com, and for more event details, visit https://frozendeadguydays.com/

 

America 250 – Colorado 150 | 2026 Celebrations

Be part of a once-in-a-lifetime milestone as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and Colorado marks 150 years of statehood—making Colorado the only state celebrating both anniversaries in 2026.

These statewide celebrations will feature community events, educational opportunities, and special experiences. The Colorado Tourism Office and the America 250–Colorado 150 Commission are also sponsoring drone shows across the state, including Estes Park’s drone show on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Frozen Dead Guy Days. 

Ways to Get Involved

  • Colorado Digital Passport Program: Sponsored by United Airlines, this free program rewards participants for exploring Colorado’s heritage and hidden gems

  • Funding Opportunities: Over $5 million committed to support commemoration projects

  • Statewide Event Calendar: Submit events to be part of this historic celebration

  • Local Organizing Committee: Join the local Estes Park organizing committee

Learn more, access the community toolkit, and submit events through the America 250 – Colorado 150 program:
https://www.historycolorado.org/colorado-150

To get involved locally email community@visitestespark.com.

 

Sundance Film Festival Packages | January 2027

Start preparing now to promote your business ahead of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival.

Beginning in January 2027, Boulder will host the Sundance Film Festival, and Visit Estes Park is partnering with Visit Boulder to help local businesses capture this opportunity through coordinated marketing of lodging and experience packages.

Visitor data from Park City, Utah shows that experience-based packages sell faster than room-only rates during the Festival. Travelers are seeking curated, destination-driven experiences.

Package Ideas

  • Authentic Estes Park experiences

  • Exclusive local adventures

  • Attraction tickets or guided tours

  • Relaxation and wellness offerings

  • Outdoor or seasonal add-ons

To maximize interest, keep packages affordable and experience-focused.

 

Beyond Program

What is the Beyond Program and why should I submit offers to OLIVE?

Estes Park’s festivals and events attract tens of thousands of visitors each year, and the Beyond Event program is your opportunity to connect directly with these attendees. This partnership among Visit Estes Park, the Estes Chamber, and the Town of Estes Park helps direct festival-goers directly to local businesses through special offers, lodging packages, and event-specific promotions.

When you submit an offer, it’s featured on a dedicated page at VisitEstesPark.com and shared with visitors via event posters, blog articles, social media, and targeted media outreach. We also distribute 1,000 posters across Estes Park and the Front Range, each featuring a QR code that links directly to Visit Estes Park's website with your offer. In 2025, 178 online coupons generated 23,865 click-throughs, with one offer alone receiving 1,293 clicks. Some of our top-performing social media posts highlighting Beyond offers reached over 52,000 views!

This is free advertising for your business, and all it takes is uploading your offer into OLIVE.

How can I get involved?

It’s easy to share your specials with Visit Estes Park! Log in to your OLIVE account anytime to submit a special offer. Offers don’t have to be discounts they can simply showcase a menu item, product, or service. Event-themed specials are particularly popular; for example, elk-themed promotions during Elk Fest received major attention.

Adding your offers to VisitEstesPark.com is free, and all businesses with an Estes Park business license receive a complimentary web listing, which includes the ability to feature offers. For maximum exposure, we recommend submitting your offers at least 90 days before the event date.

What is OLIVE?

OLIVE stands for Online Link Into Visit Estes. It’s your central hub to update your account information, add events and offers, and respond to sales leads and service requests. Access the OLIVE login page here. If you don’t know your username or password, or aren’t sure you have an account, email community@visitestespark.com for assistance.

How do I add events and offers to OLIVE?

Follow the instructions below to add special offers, lodging packages, or events. Once submitted, your entry will be reviewed, and you will be notified within 24 hours.

How to Add Events

  1. Once logged in, navigate to Collateral and select the Calendar of Events.
  2. Click Add Event and fill in the required information.
  3. Click Save. Visit Estes Park will review the submission and respond within one business day.
  4. These will be featured on the event landing pages based on the date selected.

How to Add Special Offers & Lodging Packages

  1. Once logged in, navigate to Collateral and select Media.
  2. Click Add New Media to upload an image/logo for the offer (please upload images without text).
  3. Fill in the required information and click Save.
  4. Next, navigate to Collateral and select Special Offers.
  5. Click Add Offer and fill in the required information.
  6. Select the appropriate categories: Destination Events Include:  Estes Park Skijor, Frozen Dead Guy Days Season, 250/150 Commemoration, Catch the Glow Holiday Season, and Sundance. Seasons Include: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Holiday.
  7. Click Save. Visit Estes Park will review the submission and respond within one business day.

Add events, special offers, and lodging packages to OLIVE.

 

    Estes Park Visitor Center
    500 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517 | 970-577-9900

    Visit Estes Park Business Office
    P.O. Box 4426, Estes Park, CO 80517

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