Cripple Creek, Colorado, begins its 95th [1] annual Donkey Derby Days festival today, featuring donkey races through the center of town.
The event preserves the cultural legacy of the region's mining industry. By honoring the animals that once supported the local economy, the town maintains a tangible link to its frontier origins.
The festival runs from June 26 to 28, 2026 [2]. The centerpiece of the celebration is a series of races held on a half-mile course that winds through the town streets [3]. These races serve as a tribute to the pack animals used by gold miners nearly a century ago.
Organizers said that the tradition has continued for 95 years [4] since miners first released their animals. The Two Mile High Club, which acts as the stewards for the Cripple Creek donkeys, manages the animals and oversees the festivities.
"It's our only true living connection to our history here in Cripple Creek," a Two Mile High Club spokesperson said [5].
The event draws visitors to the U.S. mountain town to witness the races and engage with the history of the gold rush. The festival combines athletic competition for the donkeys with community gatherings intended to educate the public on the town's development.
Local officials and the Two Mile High Club said that the event is essential for keeping the town's identity intact. The races are not merely for entertainment but are viewed as a living museum of the town's operational past [4].
“"It's our only true living connection to our history here in Cripple Creek,"”
The longevity of the Donkey Derby Days illustrates how small American towns use niche cultural traditions to drive tourism and preserve historical identity. By centering the festival on the specific role of donkeys in mining, Cripple Creek converts its industrial past into a sustainable cultural asset.
