The Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) is excited to announce its annual Life at Chimney Rock Festival, a two-day event celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Ancient Puebloans.
The festival will take place on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Chimney Rock National Monument.
Once again, thanks to a special announcement from the U.S. Forest Service, the festival will be fee-free, allowing visitors to experience this vibrant event without an entrance fee.
The Life at Chimney Rock Festival offers a unique opportunity for families and history enthusiasts to explore the fascinating skills and traditions of the ancients.
Attendees will enjoy interactive demonstrations led by CRIA volunteers, featuring hands-on activities such as pounding yucca, making coil pottery, creating rock art, weaving, corn grinding and learning how to throw a spear using an atlatl.
In addition, guests will have the chance to learn about astronomy, flint knapping and dendrochronology, and sample traditional foods like Anasazi beans. A highlight of the festival will be the opportunity to observe a peregrine falcon up close.
The cultural celebration continues with Native American dance performances. This year, the festival will feature two dance groups: the Fragua Family from Jemez Pueblo and the Roach Family Dancers from Gallup, N.M.
The Fragua Family will perform at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the amphitheater. The Roach Family Dancers will perform at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the Visitor Plaza. For this location, visitors may provide their own camp chairs for seating.
Thanks to the Forest Service’s generous waiver of the daily activity fee on June 7 and 8, visitors will have free access to the festival as well as all of the regular amenities at Chimney Rock National Monument, including self-guided tours of the cultural sites, the nature trail and the Visitor Plaza. The monument will be open from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. for those wishing to explore the site.
CRIA invites everyone to join us in celebrating the living history of the Ancestral Puebloans at this year’s Life at Chimney Rock Festival. We hope to see you there for a fun and educational weekend for all ages.
For more information about the event, visit www.ChimneyRockCo.org or contact CRIA at (970) 731-7133.
About CRIA
CRIA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting and educating the public about the cultural and natural heritage of Chimney Rock National Monument.
CRIA and the San Juan National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, are working in partnership to preserve and develop educational opportunities about the significant archaeological, cultural, geological and biological resources at Chimney Rock National Monument.
