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Fremont County Heritage Days Have Arrived!

Find event information below.

23sep8:30 AMOff the Beaten Path: A 4x4 Bone Wars Historical & Geological ExperienceA Special Heritage Days Tour Presented by Colorado Jeep Tours (Family & Dog Friendly) Reservation ( 2 times available)8:30 AM 50905 US-50 West Cañon City Event Organized ByColorado Jeep Tours

23sep9:00 AMCañon City Farmers' Market and GatheringHomegrown Produce, Handmade Crafts, Fresh Baked Bread, Food & Entertainment9:00 AM 735 S 9th St. Cañon City Event Organized ByCommunal, LLCEvent Type Heritage Day Event

23sep10:00 AMApple Season at the Amy HomesteadEnjoy Cider and Homemade Apple Pie (bring a picnic lunch)10:00 AM 2280 Howard Creek Rd. (CR #4) 2-miles west of US-50, Howard Event Organized ByWestern Fremont Historical SocietyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

23sep(sep 23)10:00 AMAnnual Harvest FestWine, artisans, food and entertainment on the lawn.10:00 AM 3011 East Highway 50, Cañon City Event Organized ByWinery at the Holy Cross AbbeyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

23sep1:00 PMProspect Heights Jail OpenTours of this historic 1906 building support preservation1:00 PM 1315 S. 4th Street, Cañon City Event Organized ByFremont County Historical SocietyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

24sep8:30 AMThe Old Days: A Cañon City & Royal Gorge Historical Experience (Reservation Required)A Special Heritage Days Tour Presented by Colorado Jeep Tours (Family & Dog Friendly) (2 Times Available)8:30 AM 50905 US-50 West Cañon City Event Organized ByColorado Jeep ToursEvent Type Heritage Day Event

24sep9:00 AMThe Great Gold Boom! Historic Experience & Leaf Peeping Jeep Tour.A Special Heritage Days Tour Presented by Colorado Jeep Tours (Family & Dog Friendly) Reservation Required9:00 AM 50905 US-50 West Cañon City Event Organized ByColorado Jeep ToursEvent Type Heritage Day Event

24sep1:00 PMOpen House With A Look Back Into History1:00 PM 70 Co. Rd. 56, Howard, Colorado Event Organized ByWestern Fremont Historical SocietyEvent Type Western Fremont Historical Society

28sep8:00 AMFlorence Historical Archive Table @ Florence Farmers MarketHistory of Buildings and Development in Florence, Colorado8:00 AM Pikes Peak & 3rd Street, Florence Event Organized ByFlorence Historical Archive, Inc.Event Type Heritage Day Event

28sep8:00 AMFlorence Farmers' MarketFind Homegrown Produce & Homemade Crafts8:00 AM Pikes Peak & 3rd Street, Florence Event Organized ByFlorence Farmers MarketEvent Type Heritage Day Event

28sep6:30 PMOld Timey Movies -- Filmed Here!Celebrating movies filmed in Fremont County. Register on the Museum's website6:30 PM 612 Royal Gorge Blvd. (US-50) Cañon City Event Organized ByFriends of the Museum & History CenterEvent Type Heritage Day Event

30sep8:30 AMThe Old Days: A Cañon City & Royal Gorge Historical Experience (Reservation Required)A Special Heritage Days Tour Presented by Colorado Jeep Tours (Family & Dog Friendly) (2 Times Available)8:30 AM 50905 US-50 West Cañon City Event Organized ByColorado Jeep ToursEvent Type Heritage Day Event

30sep9:00 AMCañon City Farmers' Market and GatheringHomegrown Produce, Handmade Crafts, Fresh Baked Bread, Food & Entertainment9:00 AM 735 S 9th St. Cañon City Event Organized ByCommunal, LLCEvent Type Heritage Day Event

30sep9:00 AMThe Great Gold Boom! Historic Experience & Leaf Peeping Jeep Tour.A Special Heritage Days Tour Presented by Colorado Jeep Tours (Family & Dog Friendly) Reservation Required9:00 AM 50905 US-50 West Cañon City Event Organized ByColorado Jeep ToursEvent Type Heritage Day Event

30sep10:00 AMHike with a Paleontologist2-hour hike exploring the history of the Western Interior Seaway fossils. Register at the Museum website.10:00 AM 13789 County Road 3 (Temple Canyon Road) Cañon City Event Organized ByRoyal Gorge Regional Museum & History CenterEvent Type Heritage Day Event

30sep1:00 PMProspect Heights Jail OpenTours of this historic 1906 building support preservation1:00 PM 1315 S. 4th Street, Cañon City Event Organized ByFremont County Historical SocietyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

01oct2:00 PMHistoric Garden Park School OPEN HOUSEHistoric Garden Park School OPEN HOUSE: The Dinosaur Discoveries of Garden Park with Paleontologist Joshua Broussard.   This one room adobe schoolhouse opened in 1895 and closed in 1961.2:00 PM 5800 Garden Park Road (County Road 9), Garden Park Event Organized ByFriends of Garden Park SchoolEvent Type Heritage Day Event

07oct7:00 AMPenrose Apple DayA time-honored tradition in Penrose since 1935. Includes a parade, apple pie contest and free pie, vendors, entertainment & many related events7:00 AM Broadway, Penrose Event Organized ByPenrose Chamber of CommerceEvent Type Heritage Day Event

07oct9:00 AMGenealogy Program -- Pony ExpressVirtual Event via Zoom9:00 AM Event Organized ByRoyal Gorge Regional Museum & History CenterEvent Type Heritage Day Event

07oct9:00 AMCañon City Farmers' Market and GatheringHomegrown Produce, Handmade Crafts, Fresh Baked Bread, Food & Entertainment9:00 AM 735 S 9th St. Cañon City Event Organized ByCommunal, LLCEvent Type Heritage Day Event

07oct10:30 AMPenrose Apple Day ParadeOur Roots Run Deep10:30 AM Broadway, Penrose Event Organized ByPenrose Chamber of CommerceEvent Type Heritage Day Event

07oct1:00 PMProspect Heights Jail OpenTours of this historic 1906 building support preservation1:00 PM 1315 S. 4th Street, Cañon City Event Organized ByFremont County Historical SocietyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

14oct9:00 AMCañon City Farmers' Market and GatheringHomegrown Produce, Handmade Crafts, Fresh Baked Bread, Food & Entertainment9:00 AM 735 S 9th St. Cañon City Event Organized ByCommunal, LLCEvent Type Heritage Day Event

14oct9:00 AMTunnel Vision DuathlonPairing mountain biking and hiking/trail running on historic trails9:00 AM 221 Griffin Ave. Cañon City Event Organized ByFremont Adventure Recreation (FAR)Event Type Heritage Day Event

14oct10:30 AMEquine Digit TourEDSS will be hosting us on Saturday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m. for a tour and an opportunity to watch a class. Lunch at the Gooseberry Patch. Meet at 9:45 at the museum to join the car pool.10:30 AM 15860 State Hwy 115, Penrose, CO 81240 Event Organized ByEDSSEvent Type Heritage Day Event

14oct1:00 PMProspect Heights Jail OpenTours of this historic 1906 building support preservation1:00 PM 1315 S. 4th Street, Cañon City Event Organized ByFremont County Historical SocietyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

14oct5:00 PMHistoric Greenwood Cemetery Walking TourTwilight walking tour of Cañon City's oldest cemetery dating to 1876. Participants must be able to stand and walk on uneven ground for 1.5 hours.5:00 PM 1251 1st St, Cañon City Event Organized ByRoyal Gorge Regional Museum & History CenterEvent Type Heritage Day Event

21oct9:00 AMCañon City Farmers' Market and GatheringHomegrown Produce, Handmade Crafts, Fresh Baked Bread, Food & Entertainment9:00 AM 735 S 9th St. Cañon City Event Organized ByCommunal, LLCEvent Type Heritage Day Event

21oct1:00 PMProspect Heights Jail OpenTours of this historic 1906 building support preservation1:00 PM 1315 S. 4th Street, Cañon City Event Organized ByFremont County Historical SocietyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

28oct9:00 AMCañon City Farmers' Market and GatheringHomegrown Produce, Handmade Crafts, Fresh Baked Bread, Food & Entertainment9:00 AM 735 S 9th St. Cañon City Event Organized ByCommunal, LLCEvent Type Heritage Day Event

28oct1:00 PMProspect Heights Jail OpenTours of this historic 1906 building support preservation1:00 PM 1315 S. 4th Street, Cañon City Event Organized ByFremont County Historical SocietyEvent Type Heritage Day Event

28oct6:00 PMMarshall Felch's Ghost Story -- Dead Man's CanyonHear the chilling tale of Dead Man's Canyon told by Marshall Felch as recreated by Dan & Joann Grenard6:00 PM 612 Royal Gorge Blvd. (US-50) Cañon City Event Organized ByRoyal Gorge Regional Museum & History CenterEvent Type Heritage Day Event

19nov2:00 PMStacey Cline "Prison Museum"More information to come in November newsletter2:00 PM E. Main & Steinmeier, CANON CITY, CO 81212 Event Organized ByFremont County Historical SocietyEvent Type Historical Society

On August 8, 2022 the Fremont County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed September and October 2023 as Fremont Fall Heritage Days. Sponsors include the Fremont County Heritage Commission, Fremont County Historical Society, Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center, Florence Historical  Archive and the Western Fremont Historical Society.

Fremont County clubs, organizations and businesses interested in hosting heritage related events are encouraged to provide information on events or activities they plan to host. Please provide information on an Event Form and it will be included in the schedule posted on this website.

Event Forms are available online below or at the Royal Gorge Regional Museum & History Center, 612 Royal Gorge Boulevard. Please submit as soon as possible.

Questions? Email [email protected].

heritage form printable

Event Form (Printable)

There is no cost to the event organizer for the Heritage Commission and partnering groups to list the event on the Heritage Days Schedule and post on this website.

heritage form fillable

Event Form (Fillable PDF)

There is no cost to the event organizer for the Heritage Commission and partnering groups to list the event on the Heritage Days Schedule and post on this website.

fillable form instructions

Fillable Form Instructions

Download this sheet for instructions on how to complete the Fillable Event Form.  Any questions can be sent to [email protected]

Welcome to Fremont County Colorado

The Arkansas River comes rushing out of the Rocky Mountains onto the Great Plains through Fremont County. The river’s course was the route followed by a host of early explorers, trappers and mountain men including Zebulon Pike in 1806 and the County’s namesake John C. Fremont in several expeditions during the 1840s. Located 30 miles southwest of Pikes Peak, notable dinosaur fossil discoveries have been made here since the 1870s as well as some of the earliest vertebrate fossils known to science. Wide-ranging geologic sites provide examples of numerous eras in earth history and processes that shaped our planet, as well as a rich assortment of minerals.

Established in 1861 as one of the original 17 counties in the Colorado Territory, the state’s earliest orchards, cattle ranches and oil wells were in Fremont County which was also the site in 1871 of the Territorial Prison. Often referred to as Colorado’s Banana Belt or Climate Capital due to its relatively mild winter climate and abundant sunshine, early-day mine owners from Leadville and Cripple Creek escaped colder, harsher conditions at 10,000’ high mining camps here. Cañon City and Florence, at an elevation of 5,400’, were the last places that wagon loads of goods could easily reach and they became important support centers for mining areas.

Mine owners brought their wealth and built homes here in while investing in real estate and agricultural enterprises along with successful merchants. The resulting magnificent homes and commercial buildings remain today. These historic downtowns date back to the 1870s and residential districts display late 1800s and early 1900s architectural styles that offer insight into post-Civil War development in the west, as do railroad stations, churches and school buildings.

Beyond nostalgia, orchards and farms in the Penrose area and eastern Fremont County, as well as grass-fed beef from the western part of the county, delight the palates of today’s visitors with locally produced food and authentic heritage experiences. In late spring and summer, Farmer’s Markets in Cañon City, Florence and Cotopaxi offer fresh produce, bread and homemade specialties for all tastes. Fall brings harvest festivals, apple cider, wine tastings, pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Specialty shops and restaurants make locally produced food items and craft brews year ‘round. Antique shops abound.

Fremont County’s rich history and varied heritage experiences are easily accessible to Front Range residents and visitors. Cañon City and Florence are conveniently located in south-central Colorado just west of the I-25 corridor, 45 minutes southwest of Colorado Springs via highway 115, and just 30 minutes west of Pueblo on US-50; with access from the north provided by CO-9. The Heritage Tourism experiences available in Fremont County are ideally matched with Gold Medal fishing for the outdoor enthusiast, world class rafting for the adventure seeker and the 1,000’ high Royal Gorge Bridge and park for sightseers.

Fremont County Organizations

Fremont County Heritage Commission

Fremont County
Heritage Commission

The Fremont County Heritage Commission (FCHC) was originally set up as representing each geographic area of the county, and the major interests of the citizens

Crossroads
Through Time

Provides a quality educational experience for all ages by encouraging an understanding and appreciation for Fremont County’s rich geological, paleontological and historical heritage.

Friends of the Museum

Friends of the
Museum

A 501(c)-3 non-profit organization that supports the Heritage Center by raising funds for educational programs, conservation and preservation projects for the museum.

Stones
‘N’ Bones

An all-volunteer organization of geology and paleontology enthusiasts with a passion for studying Fremont County’s rich landscape and sharing knowledge and experiences.

Fremont County
Historical Society

A non-profit 501(c)3 organization with tax deductible dues. The FCHS Board of Directors hold monthly meetings and publish newsletters every other month on heritage topics.

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