City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (877) 858-4653

Description: This old mining town is unique in many ways, none of which are as hilarious as the Donkey Derby Days. Now in its eighth decade, the event allows anyone to toss their name into a hat for the chance to pay a small fee and run the derby. Only 8 two-person teams get to race, which consists of trying to lead a donkey for a mile, stopping to bob for apples, navigate a slalom course, and kiss a (cardboard) prostitute. Entry fees go to the feeding and care of the small herd of wild donkeys that still roams the town. Really. The weekend event also offers much more than a race. There’s a parade at noon on Saturday, and the streets are lined with more than 60 vendors, selling everything from art to kettle corn. Typically, there’s also homemade ice cream and barbecued beef, among other goodies. There are frivolous competitions, from tobacco-spitting to ­bubble-gum blowing. There is a beard competition where bearded men are rounded up off the streets and asked to compete; women from the audience are judges. There’s also a watermelon-eating and seed-spitting contest and sack races for all ages. One especially popular event is the Mountain Mama competition; would-be Mountain Mamas dress up in a fireman’s costume while holding a baby (doll). They have to do all kinds of things while they’re in the gear, like diapering a baby and making a cream pie. Any Mountain Mama who drops the baby gets penalized. Seems fair! There are games for little kids and a treasure hunt for older kids. No pre-registration is required for any event. It’s a free-for-all, in every sense of the word. Winners get trophies, ribbons, or cash prizes. Any profits go to the aforementioned wild donkeys.