The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Vinotok is a chance to come together, to feast and dance and costume and celebrate each other. To tell stories and to sing songs.
Vinotok has morphed over the years. Today it presents the mumming and street theatre with an official Vinotok Theatre Troupe. The Crested Butte fall festival winds up this weekend with a fire at the Four-way and everyone is welcome to take part in the events leading up to the climax. Here is a schedule of what’s to come…
Thursday, September 21
The Botsie Spritzer Memorial Liar’s Contest: 8 p.m. at The Eldo. $10 admission
The Eldo is transformed and community members gather to tell and hear tall tales, whoppers and adventure stories from the community with prizes for the best liar. The Green Man is announced. A naughty, raucous evening.
Friday, September 22
Community Feast: 5:30 p.m. on the 100 block of Elk. $25 in advance; $30 at the door; $10 children 12 and under
A locally and regionally harvested, organic community feast provided by Mountain Oven. Handfasting, live music, cash bar, wreath making, poetry readings and music around the fire. Rain or shine, protected space provided if needed. Wear your warm Vinotok best! Bring your own utensils, none are provided. No outside alcohol. Food does sell out. Advance tickets sold at the Crested Butte Farmers Market information booth, the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, Rumors Coffee and Tea House and The Guild.
Saturday, September 23
Mumming by cast and crew: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Elk Avenue and adjoining restaurants and pubs
Cast and crew of Vinotok produce a mini-theatre inside Elk Avenue restaurants to invite people to the performance of the trial.
Trial of the Grump: 7:30 p.m (ish). Elk Avenue in front of the Eldo
The community puts the Grump on trial with Harvest Maiden dances, and a play of the Harvest Mother, Dragon, Knight and Green Man. The performance is amplified and lit so the community can hear and see the tale on the temporary stage.
Procession to the Four-way and Bonfire: 8:30 p.m. (ish) Elk Avenue to the Four-way Stop
The cast and crew lead the community down Elk Avenue to the Four-way Stop, Grump in tow, to meet his demise. The bonfire and burning of the Grump begin at approximately 8:30 p.m. and put out by 10:30.
Safety Note: Let it be known that those who are obnoxious, unruly, uncouth, destructive, disruptive, immature and generally mindless to maintaining themselves in public will not be tolerated. There will be no toxic items, hazardous materials or idiots running through the fire. There will be no one allowed mumming inside the restaurants who is not an official member of the Vinotok Theatre Troupe. Let our community festival live.
