GET OUTTA HERE! Beer in Fort Collins

Mine some history

This year marks 150th anniversary of mining in Colorado, and the Town of Silver Cliff is planning a booming celebration during its annual Mining and Heritage Days, June 13-14.

Mining is the reason Silver Cliff was established, having once been a booming silver-mining town with a population of 6,000-7,000. Today, its 589 souls hope to give folks a glimpse of its past, the daily life of the mining era, and pride and admiration for their predecessors.

The celebration begins with a proclamation by Mayor Butler. Events include Jack Leg Drill demonstrations, mine and museum tours, and mining booths. At 6 p.m. on Saturday, a line dancing demonstration and food booths will be available for a dinner dance to the music of Sugarfoot, 7-10 p.m.

On Sunday, Cowboy Church begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Bluegrass ATV Pull and Rodeo event.

Festivities both days begin at 11 a.m. in Silver Cliff Town Park on Fourth and French streets. Get all the details by calling the Silver Cliff Town Hall at 1-719-783-2615.

You'll find Silver Cliff in the Wet Mountain Valley in south-central Colorado in Custer County along Colorado Highway 96 at an elevation of 7,982 feet. Learn more by visiting silvercliffco.com.

Drink up

Beer lovers, unite! Fort Collins' 20th Annual Brewers' Festival, held in historical Old Town Square on June 27 and 28, promises food, fun, music - and, of course, beer.

As the largest beer-producing town in Colorado, Fort Collins is a natural choice to hold the annual event. The five local host breweries include New Belgium Brewing Co., famous for its Fat Tire Amber Ale; Fort Collins Brewery, with its Great American Beer Festival (GABF)award-winning Rauchator Doppelbock; Anheuser-Busch; Odell Brewing Co., proud to claim its Five Barrel Pale Ale as the 2006 GABF Gold Medal winner; and Coopersmith Pub & Brewing.

Beer connoisseurs, casual beer drinkers, home brewers, and those who love a good celebration all converge to sample the nation's best when it comes to ales. You can sample more than 50 Colorado ales from more than 400 kegs, complemented by phenomenal local food and music each day, featuring evening headliners Roe and The Caleb Riley Funk Orchestra.

The festival also offers the perfect excuse to ease into additional explorations around Fort Collins, including the new Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and the Poudre River Canyon.

Admission for the festival is a bargain at $10 for a two-day Saturday/Sunday pass, and a mere $6 for Sunday-only pass. All beer tokens are $2. For information about events, tickets or value lodging, visit visitftcollins.com, or call 1-800-274-3678, and let the Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau help plan your trip.