Gunnison Summer Kick Off

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Event Description

Two weekends bookending one mountain week. Roll into Blue Mesa Friday for the Gunnison River Festival, settle into the Gunnison Valley for the week, then celebrate Father's Day a day early on Saturday with a campground brunch (cooked for the dads, by the rest of us) and an afternoon takeover of High Alpine Brewing in downtown Gunnison.

What to Expect

This is a family friendly gathering. Kids of all ages welcome. The two races we're entering as a group are the Tube Race (open to everyone, tubes and PFDs provided) and the Hooligan Race (costumes + anything that floats that isn't a boat). Sign up together, get wet together, win or lose together. The middle of the week is low key — bunco, paint and sip, group campfires or day trips to Crested Butte and Black Canyon.

Schedule

Fri Jun 12 — Arrival + River Festival Day 1

Note: If you cannot arrive on Friday, you can meet us at the River festival Saturday once you arrive

Check-in at Thousand Trails Blue Mesa (TT check-in opens 1:00 PM)
3:30 PM — Group welcome circle at Clubhouse #1 — chair, drink, introductions.
Tube Race and Hooligan Race group sign-ups happen here.
4:30 PM — Optional carpool to Taylor River for the Downriver Race
5:30 PM — Taylor Downriver Race (rafts + kayaks, spectating)
7:30 PM — Optional: Live music + awards at Harmels on The Taylor (Taylor Race afterparty)

Sat Jun 13 — Gunnison River Festival

9:30 AM — Carpools depart campground for the Gunnison Whitewater Park
11:00 AM–4:00 PM — Kids Zone (Trailhead Children's Museum + face painting)
11:00 AM — Canine Big Air
12:00 PM — Raft Rodeo
1:00 PM — Kayak Freestyle
1:30 PM — Tube Race — GROUP ENTRY (tubes and PFDs provided by the festival)
2:00 PM — Surf Jam
3:00 PM — Hooligan Race — GROUP ENTRY (costumes + anything that floats
that isn't a boat)
3:30 PM — Prize drawing
Evening — group dinner at the campground (potluck or pitch-in BBQ)

Sun Jun 14 — Crested Butte

9:00 AM - Carpools leave for Crested Butte
10:00 AM - Wander the amazing farmer's market in downtown Crested Butte, check out the shops, take a hike and maybe even take the free shuttle up to the ski area where you can ride the lift for astonishing views.

Mon Jun 15 — Connection day

7:00 PM - BYOD campfires Bring your own dinner and connect with others over the campfire

Tue Jun 16 — Tournament Day

9:00 AM - Kids Fishing Derby
3:00 PM - Mini Golf Tournament
6:00 PM - Bunco Tournament
Prizes for each event-Sign up in advance

Wed Jun 17 — Crafty Day

1:00 PM - Kids craft time (craft to be determined based on ages of those in attendance)
6:00 PM - Paint and Sip

Thu Jun 18 — Recovery Day

No planned activities, but feel free to add community events. Maybe a trip to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Fri Jun 19 — Water Day

Paddleboard in a cove on the reservoir
Rent a pontoon boat from the Marina
Swim at the onsite pool
Play at the Gunnison Whitewater Park

Sat Jun 20 — Fake Father's Day

9:00 AM — Brunch at Clubhouse #1. Cooked for the dads, by everyone
else. We'll provide the eggs, meat, potatoes, bloody mary's and coffee
You bring a potluck pastry, fruit, mimosas, or anything else that needs to be part of brunch. Dads sit and get served.
12:30 PM — Brunch winds down. Dads nap-time encouraged.
2:30 PM — Carpool/caravan to Gunnison. Designated drivers assigned in
advance so dads (and anyone else) can relax without thinking about the
drive back.
3:00 PM — High Alpine Brewing takeover begins. Reserved space, pizzas,
salads, beer.
4:00 PM — Happy hour kicks in
Evening — stay as long as you want; carpools head back when ready.

Sun Jun 21 — GTFO

You can stay if you arrange it with the campground or your Thousand Trails reservation allows, but the planned programming comes to an end.

Campground / Venue Info

Book your stay with your Thousand Trails membership OR
10 retail sites are reserved for this group. Mix of full hookups (30 + 50 amp),
partial hookups, and water/electric. Most are back-in; a few pull-thrus.
Site assignment handled by us — let us know rig length and hookup
preferences on registration.
Amenities: indoor + outdoor pools, mini-golf, game room, two clubhouses,
laundry, playground, stocked fishing pond, horses on the property.
Connectivity: no cell service on-site (any carrier). Free Wi-Fi at the
main building only — bring Starlink if you need to work.
Check-in/out: TT check-in 1:00 PM Friday Jun 12, checkout 11:00 AM
Sunday Jun 21. If you want to arrive earlier or stay later, book those
nights directly with TT.
Father's Day takeover venue: High Alpine Brewing Company, 111 N Main St,
Gunnison · (970) 642-4500. Family-friendly, brick-oven pizza + salads + beer.

What to Bring

Clothing & Sun Protection

• Swimsuit + quick-dry clothes
• Water shoes or old sneakers (the river bed is rocky and the water is cold snowmelt)
• Towel
• Layers — daytime temps hit the 70s but overnight can drop into the 40s
• Hats + sunglasses
• Sunscreen — strong, and reapply often

Gear & Equipment

• Camp chairs (bring your own to group hangouts)
• Bikes, scooters, or skateboards — the campground is big and tiered, and kids will want to roam
• Fishing gear if you fish (Colorado license required age 16+; the pond is stocked)
• Dry bag for phones and keys at the river
• Kids' PFDs if you have them (the festival provides PFDs for the Tube Race)
• Reusable water bottle — drink more than you think you need at 7,700 ft

Food & Drinks

• A potluck dish for the Saturday June 13th group dinner
• A dish or drinks contribution for the Father's Day brunch (if you're not a dad) — sign-up sheet goes out two weeks before. Categories: sides, pastries/fruit, mimosas... Dads contribute by showing up hungry.

Costumes

• Something for the Hooligan Race — we're entering as a group and best costumes win prizes. Anything goes as long as it floats and isn't a boat.

Remote Work

• Starlink or personal satellite internet. Campground Wi-Fi is limited to the main building and no cell phone carriers have service here.

Altitude Heads-Up (7,700 ft+)
Alcohol hits harder up here. Pace yourself.

Important Notes

Two ticket types:

Site + Event: covers your RV site at Blue Mesa for 9 nights (Fri Jun 12 check-in, Sun Jun 21 checkout) + all event programming + brunch + brewery takeover. We handle the TT booking. Note: It is cheaper to buy a Thousand Trails regional camping pass, which will give you access for a year to the Blue Mesa and other Thousand Trails in the region than to pay retail. Click here for more information on that product sold separately.
Event-only: all event programming, brunch, brewery takeover. No site included — bring your own arrangement (TT membership, alternate campground, hotel). You're responsible for your own commute to campground events; meet at Clubhouse #1 to join group carpools.
Carpools: We will organize group carpools for the Saturday Jun 13 festival day and the Saturday Jun 20 brewery takeover. Drivers are assigned in advance for the brewery run so anyone who wants to enjoy a beer can do so without worrying about the drive back. Sign up at the Friday welcome circle.

Cell service: There is none at the campground. Tell anyone who needs to reach you (work, family) to expect delays. Wi-Fi at the main building only.

Kids in river activities: Tube Race and Hooligan Race are open to all ages but at parent/guardian discretion. Cold snowmelt water + currents — kids should be in PFDs at minimum, and accompanied. Festival organizers provide PFDs for the Tube Race.

Driving into Gunnison: We'll organize carpools for the Whitewater Park and brewery takeover. Parking downtown is limited.