Telluride’s Annual Fire Festival Returns
The Colorado town takes notes from Nevada’s Burning Man Festival with an immersive 3-day fire and art spectacle
In 2015, the mountainous Telluride, Colorado took a liking to the unique ‘Burning Man’ art and fire event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Originally the only experience of its kind, Telluride decided to bring this ethos back to the Rocky Mountains and constructed their own fire-filled fest. Filled with a series of art, visually-striking performances and interactive workshops, this inferno parade gives Colorado their own slice of what ‘Burning Man’ is all about.
Photo by Scott London
The Telluride Fire Festival is returning for its fourth annual celebration on December 7-9 for a display of fiery sculptures and an inside look of the town’s art culture. This year’s venue is the 100-year-old roofless Transfer Warehouse building that will be filled with bonfire-like art sculptures and fire-spinning entertainment available for viewing over the course of the weekend.
Festival attendees can choose from more than just viewing art with a variety of activities like a workshop on glass blowing, a how-to on stained glass, or even a free novice fire-spinning course December 7, 8 and 9. There are also opportunities to discover the correlation between music and movement at Musicality in Motion or marvel at a cabaret-style show filled with comedy and stunts at the ‘The Bob’, formally known as the Black Box Theater.
Expect to see socially conscious sculptor, Keith D’Angelo, returning to showcase an anti-gun exhibit at the Slate Gray Gallery as well as another festival veteran, Jamie Vaida, whose interactive pieces are carefully crafted from recycled materials.
On Saturday the main event, the Fire Ball Fundraiser, will include glow-in-the-dark aerial performers, libations, and an encouraged dress code for zany costumes.
Photo by Nicko Ferguson
Concluding in true ‘Burning Man’ style, Arizonan duo, Chris Turner and Michael “Oaks” Wright, along with D’Angelo have created wooden art installations to be set ablaze at the Fire Sculpture Garden Saturday evening after the Fire Ball to symbolize the end of the festival.
To purchase tickets or find out more about the Telluride Fire Festival happenings check out: https://telluridefirefestival.org/
