CREEDE— Labor Day weekend kicked off on Friday, Aug. 31 in Creede with a thick layer of fog lying along the ground. The annual Balloon Festival participants met at the Mineral County Airport only to find that the fog was going to ground the balloons for yet another year, though many set their balloons up and had them glowing in the early morning hours for guests to see. Over the last two years, rain and colder weather have kept the balloons on the ground, and everyone was in high hopes to not have the same thing happen again this year.
Luckily for everyone coming to the area for the Labor Day festivities, Saturday morning proved to be an entire different story. The morning bloomed clear and bright as balloon pilots gathered once again at the airport to set up for a fun-filled morning. The weather allowed the balloons to lift off and fill the sky with a wide variety of color and design, officially kicking off the Labor Day festivities for the first time in two years.
The Mineral County Search and Rescue team made their second annual breakfast for the attending crowd, pleasing hungry guests with a pancake and sausage treat. All funds collected during the breakfast go towards helping the department purchase new equipment and pay for additional training exercises. The morning was a huge success bringing in hundreds of hungry guests, eager to see the balloons lift off of the ground. It was a great way to begin an entertaining day packed with activities for everyone to enjoy.
Later in the morning contestants participating in the Annual Creede Mountain Run gathered on Main Street at the starting line, with the sidewalks packed full of guests ready to cheer the group of runners and walkers on as they embarked on their two, 12 or 22-mile race. The race began at 9 a.m. with more than 100 participants. As participants finished, they gathered at a tent set up behind Basham Park in the Days of ‘92 mining arena to accept a medal for their participation. “We were so happy with the turnout. We had hoped for over 200 participants, but we are thrilled with how everything turned out,” said Assistant Chamber Director Pam Hahs.
See winners listed below.
Following the race, guests scattered out along Main Street to await the start of the annual Salsa festival and to enjoy the beautiful fall morning in Creede. Salsa participants spent the time between activities setting up for the event, preparing their salsa entries and decorating their serving stations for the coming crowd.
Sunday once again bloomed bright and clear as the balloons lifted off yet again for the holiday weekend and gravity derby contestants gathered at the north end of Main Street for the annual competition. This year there were several new contestants ready and willing to show off their homemade buggies, including Johamy Morales, with the Creede Repertory Theatre.
There are three age groups: youth, teen and adult for the derby with over 15 contestants. The race kicked off as the racers flew down Main Street with guests cheering for their favorite participants. Winners for the derby are as follows: first place in the youth category went to Lucy Brittian; first place in the teen category went to Jenna Fairchild, and first place in the adult category went to Robert Goodwin.
Next up for Creede will be the Cruisin’ the Canyon Car show later in October and the Chocolate Festival at the end of November.

Creede Mountain Run winners

2-Mile Run
MALE
Ages 19 & under
1-Harrison Augur
2-Jay Wood
3-Hayden Scoular
Ages 20 – 29
1-Jake Davis
Ages 30 - 39
1-Luke Yoder
2-John Casey
Ages 40 – 49
N/A
Ages 50 - 65
1-Michael Surovik
2-Keith Cerny
3-Matt Davis
Ages 66 & Over
1-J.B. Alexander

FEMALE
Ages 19 & under
1-Savannah Surovik
2-Ainsley Surovik
3-Cassidy Clark
Ages 20 – 29
1-Jenni Davis
2-Bailey Davis
Ages 30 - 39
1-Katie Yoder
2-Saddik Hiestand
3-Cat Augur
Ages 40 – 49
N/A
Ages 50 - 65
1-Anne Pizel
2-Polly Jones
3-Debra Sowards-Cerny
Ages 66 & Over
1-Suzanne Hitt
2-Connie Hebert
3-Rita Lamb

2-Mile Walk
Overall: Derrick Coleman & Charlotte Meillon
12-Mile Run
MALE
Ages 19 & under
N/A
Ages 20 – 29
1-Warren Eaton
Ages 30 – 39
1-Eric Surovik
2-Michael McNeil
3-Michael Ross
Ages 40 – 49
1-Brian Vanderbroek
2-Kieran McCarthy
Ages 50 - 65
1-Kip Nagy
2-Joe Euraets
3-Tim Edgar
Ages 66 & Over
1-John Hocker
2-Rick Wentz

FEMALE
Ages 19 & under
N/A
Ages 20 – 29
N/A
Ages 30 – 39
1-Stacy Davis
2-Kellyn Ross
3-Kate Michaels
Ages 40 – 49
1-Laura Eloe
2-Kerry Rice
3-Bobbie Rappe
Ages 50 - 65
1-Tania Pacev
2-Tammy White
Ages 66 & Over
1-Nancy Thweatt
2-Francoise Carpenter

22-Mile Run
Ages 19 & under
N/A
Ages 20 – 29
1-Tanner Small
2-Kyle Gustafson
3-Andrew Howell
Ages 30 – 39
1-John Winternitz
2-John Patterson
3-Stephen Chambers
Ages 40 – 49
1-Eric Hogue
Ages 50 - 65
1-Mark Minor
2-Jim Stone
3-Mo Coile
Ages 66 & Over
1-Woody Whitlock

FEMALE
Ages 19 & under
N/A
Ages 20 – 29
N/A
Ages 30 – 39
1-Laura Bulkholz
2-Katlin Fullen
3-Rachel Link
Ages 40 – 49
1-Martha Levine
Ages 50 - 65
1-Amanda Caldon
2-Deb Haverfield
Ages 66 & Over N/A