Fwd: Nick thoughts to the Board and Administration on the proposed 10/31 Craft Spirits Festival

[Town Clerk]

Hello Mayor and Trustees,

Please see the below comments which were requested to be distributed to the Trustees. As this comment relates to a Town event, the Events Division has been included on this message so they are aware.

Thank you,

Town Clerk's Office

170 MacGregor Avenue

PO Box 1200

Estes Park, CO 80517

970-577-4777 (p)

970-577-4770 (f)

town...@estes.org

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Lumpy Ridge <lumpyrid...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Subject: Nick thoughts to the Board and Administration on the proposed 10/31 Craft Spirits Festival
To: Town Clerk <town...@estes.org>

Dear Board of Trustees and Administration.

I would like to provide my feedback and thoughts regarding the proposed Craft Spirits and Brooos Festival slated for 10/31/26

As you know, I am a proponent of Craft Beverage events and we sorely miss the 'Fall Back Beer Festival' that used to occur on the date we turn our clocks back. I would say many of my peers in the Craft Beer Industry around the region still ask when something like this is coming back to Estes Park. They loved coming and participating and found value in featuring their products in our community.

I love that this is coming back. My trepidation is the date and time. 

Our Halloween Event is one of the coolest and funnest nights of the year for locals and regional visitors. It has all the macabre of Halloween with a very special family touch. .

My hesitation to have the Craft beverage festival are the following:

-Folks are getting their kids and themselves ready prior to the big Halloween celebration. I believe this would either divert their time or simply take away from the Craft Beverage Festival's potential success(and I do believe it could be a success)

-Diminishing the Halloween Event-I know there's some bar hopping going on and we always have a party at the Publick House. But then unleashing 500 more Craft Beverage Festival Goers who have had some drinks into the mix, to me would introduce further potential for alcohol related incidents. Not to mention the roadways where people who make bad decisions that end in terrible results.

-Emergency Services-From the Cops to Fire and EMT. They'll be stretched pretty thin.

Consider Moving it to the next weekend or after?

-1st week of November is a business cliff-Perhaps move it up a Saturday as we're not beholden to the 'Fall Back' brand anyway. This would give us the potential for 2 weekends of more folks in our community spending money. 

-A focused event that has no other local competition. This would allow for attendees (that are typically 35-55) to make arrangements and certainly not muddy the waters of our amazing Halloween experience.

-More potential for the Craft Beverage Event success

Those are my thoughts. Coming from a Craft Brewer, a Father and Community member. I'm always down for a good Craft Beverage centric event and I'm grateful this one is the hopper. I simply feel that it is considerable to make it stand alone.

Respectfully

Nick Smith, Lumpy Ridge Brewing Company

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Best

Nick Smith

Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co.

812.201.3836

[Rob Hinkle]

This event has already been moved to November 7th.  

Thanks

Rob

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Rob Hinkle

Events & Visitor Services Director

Events & Visitor Services Department

Town of Estes Park

970-577-3901

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[Frank Lancaster]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your comments.  I totally agree with you.  I too really miss the Fall Back brewfest.  I also miss the Gnarly Barley fest at the County Fair. It was one of my favorites.  Both were unique and seemed to be well attended and died for reasons other than the success with the attendees.

Looks like Rob is already on top of this and it's been moved.

Frank

[Lumpy Ridge]

Thank you! 

Best

Nick Smith

Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co.

812.201.3836

[Kirby Hazelton]

Thanks, Rob, for the update, and Nick, thanks for reaching out with the good feedback! Appreciate the input and outreach.

Best,

Kirby

On Fri, Mar 27, 2026 at 9:53 AM Rob Hinkle <rhi...@estes.org> wrote:

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Kirby Nelson-Hazelton

Town of Estes Park Trustee

khaz...@estes.org