PHOTOS: Green Mountain Falls celebrates 86th Bronc Day

(GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS, Colo.) — Bronc Day, a beloved tradition in Green Mountain Falls for over 80 years, took place on Saturday, July 27, bringing hundreds of people together for a day full of fun and activities.

“This is the 86th year, and it was started as a welcome home for the summer residents by the residents who lived here full time,” said Lisa Bonwell, the Chair of the Bronc Day Committee. “And there was also a team of people in 1939 that came here to run the Vertical Mile up Pikes Peak, and they came here to train. And so, they were like ‘Hey, there’s nothing going on, we want to have a party,’ and so they started Bronc day… We’re trying to keep that whole Western heritage alive.”

Bronc Day started in 1939 and for years featured a variety of horse shows, including saddle relay races, trick riding, and Gymkhana riding contests. Other attractions included ceremonial dances, gun battle shows, jitterbug, and square dances. As the town and times have changed, and the once-prominent stables have disappeared, the event has evolved to include parades, pie contests, family games, and pancake breakfasts.

This year, FOX21 News Evening Anchor Scott Kilbury lent his keen taste for sweets as a judge for the pie contest. The winning pie, “May the Pie Be With You,” was a strawberry jalapeño cheesecake pie.

People and their pets dressed up for the occasion, and some local celebrities made an appearance, such as Dennis the Emu, who wandered amongst the crowd, and Ella the Pig, who created snout paintings for guests.

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