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Calendar & Events
Calendar of events
Calendar & Events, Feature
August 20, 2025
Calendar & Events
Aug. 21-Sept. 4, 2025

Thursday, August 21

42nd Annual San Juan Chamber Music Festival, evening salon concert at a private home, must purchase tickets in advance at ocpag.org.

Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech problems from 4-6 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Walk-ins welcome.

Music bingo, 7 p.m. at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. in Ouray. Free.

Archery for ages 10-18 at the Ridgway Public Library’s summer program. From 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sign up at the library.

Ouray Public Library book club, “The Chelsea Girls,” from 5-6 p.m. at the library, 320 Sixth Ave.

Friday, August 22

“All About Bugs!” program with entomologist Melissa Schreiner, for all ages. From 7-8:30 p.m. at the Ridgway State Park Visitor Center, Dutch Charlie entrance.

Farmers market, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. in Hartwell Park, Ridgway. Visit ridgwayfarmersmarket.com for details.

Free train rides at the Ridgway Railroad Museum, 200 N. Railroad St. 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.

True Grit free walking tour of film sites. Meet at 3 p.m. at the Hartwell Park gazebo in Ridgway.

Black Canyon Astronomical Society star party, from 9–11 p.m. at the Ridgway State Park Visitor Center, weather-permitting.

Highgraders Holiday 2025 mining competition at the Ouray Mining Park, located on the southwest side of Fellin Park. Celebrating 149 years of mining history. Horseshoe tournament and kids’ games starting at 2 p.m., open to public.

 

Saturday, August 23

“Washing up” hands on history, experience washing laundry the old-fashioned way from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Ouray County Ranch History Museum, 321 Sherman St. in Ridgway. For all ages, free, includes museum open house. Visit ocrhm.org for more info.

“Bats” nature program, 9–11 a.m. at the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Camper Services area at Ridgway State Park. Free.

Star Party with the Black Canyon Astronomical Society, 9-11 p.m. at the Ridgway State Park Visitor Center, Dutch Charlie Entrance.

42nd annual San Juan Chamber Music Festival Gala Concert and reception presented by the Ouray County Performing Arts Guild. 7:30 p.m. at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. Ouray. Advance tickets $40 at ocpag.org, $5 for students.

Highgraders Holiday 2025 mining competition at the Ouray Mining Park, located on the southwest side of Fellin Park. Celebrating 149 years of mining history. Events from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., open to public.

Free train rides at the Ridgway Railroad Museum, 200 N. Railroad St. every Saturday, May-October, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.

 

Sunday, August 24

42nd annual San Juan Chamber Music Festival free concert for children and families, 2 p.m. at United Church of the San Juans, 295 N. Lena St. in Ridgway. Details at ocpag.org.

Highgraders Holiday 2025 mining competition at the Ouray Mining Park, located on the southwest side of Fellin Park. Celebrating 149 years of mining history. Events from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., open to public.

Young Life banquet, with Ouray County Young Life, featuring President and CEO of Young Life Newt Crenshaw. Doors open at 5 p.m., banquet starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Ouray County 4-H Event Center, 22739 U.S. Highway 550 in Ridgway. Register by contacting Debbie Dowdy at 970-275-5953 or ddowdy@vsiok.com.

10th annual Log Hill Hustle fun run, 8 a.m. at the Divide Ranch and Club, 151 Divide Ranch Circle. 5k and 10k races with free continental breakfast. Register at fortunatierra.com.

Wednesday, August 27

Bingo at the Ouray Elks Lodge, 421 Main St. in Ouray, open to public. $10 for 10 games. Game starts at 7 p.m.

“Hook” movie, 7 p.m. at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. in Ouray. Tickets $5.

 

Thursday, August 28

Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech problems from 4-6 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Walk-ins welcome.

Heather and Douglas live music, 7 p.m. at The Courtyard at 610, 610 Clinton St. in Ridgway. Entrance through the alley on Cora Street. Tickets $15 in advance at sherbino.org or $20 day of show.

Fifth annual North Cora Block Party, 5:30 p.m. on North Cora Street between Railroad and Roundhouse streets. Free. Live music from Blessing ‘Bled’ Chimanga and Organtic. For more info contact lance@forgework.com.

 

Friday, August 29

True Grit walking tour of film sites. Meet at 3 p.m. at the Hartwell Park gazebo in Ridgway.

Farmers market, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. in Hartwell Park, Ridgway. Visit ridgwayfarmersmarket.com for details.

Locals’ night with karaoke, 6:30 p.m. at The Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. in Ouray. Free.

Free train rides at the Ridgway Railroad Museum, 200 N. Railroad St. 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.

“Mountain Search and Rescue” presentation by Ouray Mountain Rescue Team member Sean Hart. 7–8:30 p.m. at the Ridgway State Park Visitor Center. Free.

 

Saturday, August 30

Free train rides at the Ridgway Railroad Museum, 200 N. Railroad St. every Saturday, May-October, 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.

San Juan Mountains Disc Golf Tournament, hosted by Top of the Pines Basket Cases. Register at discgolfscene.com.

 

Sunday, August 31

Dallas Park Cemetery tour with sexton Coleen McElroy, 10 a.m., 7690 Colorado Highway 62. $20 per person, RSVP to the Ouray County Museum at 970-325-4576.

Music & Makers Fest, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. in Fellin Park in Ouray, presented by Ouray Made and the Ouray County Performing Arts

Guild. Visit ouraymade.net for more info.

Smackdown Chili Cookoff hosted by the Ouray County Woman’s Club, from noon-2 p.m. at Fellin Park. $12 to sample all entries. Winners announced at 3:30 p.m.

 

Monday, September 1

Ouray County Rodeo Labor Day Parade, 10 a.m. on Sherman Street by Hartwell Park in Ridgway.

Ouray County Rodeo, gates open at 11 a.m. and rodeo starts at noon at the Ouray County Fairgrounds. Adults $15, free admission for military personnel with ID and for children ages 5 and under. Visit ouraycountyrodeo.com for more info.

 

Tuesday, September 2

“Between Peaks & Valleys” by artist Kylee Firlit, on display until Sept. 26 at 610 Gallery, 610 Clinton St. in Ridgway.

Intro to pickleball for beginners, 9 – 10:30 a.m. at Ridgway Athletic Park. $10 for public, free for members of Ridgway Pickleball club. Register at ridgwaypickleball.org.

 

Wednesday, September 3

Avid Dance, presented by the Ouray County Performing Arts Guild. 7:30 p.m. at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. Ouray. Advance tickets $25 at ocpag.org, $5 for students.

 

Ongoing Events

BINGO: Every Wednesday at the Ouray Elks Lodge, 421 Main St.

Doors open at 6 p.m., bingo starts at 7 p.m. Public welcome.

SENIOR LUNCH: Every Monday, with Neighbor to Neighbor, noon at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 329 Fifth Ave. in Ouray.

Transportation can be arranged. Call 970-325-4586 for more info.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and every Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. at St. Daniel’s Church, 614 Fifth St., Ouray. Every Thursday and Sunday at 7 p.m. and every Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the United Church of the San Juans, 295 N. Lena St. Ridgway.

AL-ANON: Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the United Church of the San Juans, 295 N. Lena St. Ridgway, 970318-6966.

STORYTIME: Every Monday and Saturday from 11-11:30 a.m., Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St.

KIDS CRAFT TIME: Every Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m., every Friday from 11 a.m. – noon at Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. For ages 3+ with adult helpers.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY: Every Saturday, 6 p.m. at Ridgway Community Church, 685 W. Sherman St., Ridgway. 970-6265692. This is a confidential 12-step program. It is free and open to the public.

SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB: Every Thursday from 3-4 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St.

MAH JONG: Play Mah Jong from 1-4 p.m. every Tuesday at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. All skill levels welcome.

“Dos Maestras de Arte” show from Nancy Donegan and Erin Piotkowski, on display until Sept. 3 at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. in Ouray.

OPINION COLUMN: More remote governance undermines accountability
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Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday directed staff to pursue closing an upper section of Yankee Boy Basin this summer to motorized traffic, in response to a resident’s request to reduce environmenta...
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News
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A newly appointed Ouray city councilor who has attended just half of the city council’s meetings in person so far this year has asked the council to relax an attendance policy and allow him to govern ...
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News
Go-away-finding: Ouray to nix project, remove signs
After spending more than $100K on branding, design and fabrication, council halts wayfinding initiative that could have cost up to $800K
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
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Large maroon wayfinding signs installed on Main Street in Ouray last summer, triggering protests from residents and business owners detesting their appearance and size, will soon be gone like they wer...
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Columns, Opinion...
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Thanks to warming sun, wet snow showers, spells of shirtsleeve weather, earlier sunrises and later sunsets, meteorological spring (March 1) is upon us. It’s been an a-ha moment these last two weeks as...
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Editor Picks
Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
February 25, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago February 24, 1966 In a decision handed down Feb. 10, District Judge Fred Calhoon rule...
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County attorney gets high marks in evaluation
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February 25, 2026
Editor's note: This article has been edited to make clear that Ouray County had four members of the administration team and one employee leave their positions in 2025. County Manager Connie Hunt resig...
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