![America’s ‘Oldest & Boldest’ Whitewater Fest Coming to CO](http://thexfrontrange.com/files/2018/03/GettyImages-1086643.jpg?w=980&q=75)
America’s ‘Oldest & Boldest’ Whitewater Fest Coming to CO
Salida, Colorado is becoming another one of those popular destinations that was a well-kept secret until several years ago; and no surprise, as it has everything you could want in a mountain town: Nearby skiing, hunting, fishing, swimming, rafting, and a vibe akin to that of Old Town Fort Collins, with a population of 5-7000 people.
The Fibark Whitewater Festival, America's oldest, is June 14th-17th there, right in the heart of the Arkansas River Valley, and the rafting is only a part of it. Here's what else:
- A golf tournament
- A parade
- Mountain bike races
- Running races
So how many things can possibly happen in the water? This many:
- The Downriver Race - 26 miles of paddling in rough river territory - perhaps the most difficult race in North America.
- The Hooligan Race, where anything that floats goes.
- The Freestyle Kayak - we're looking for the best tricks on this one.
- The Raft Rodeo - which is kind of what whitewater rafting is in the first place, isn't it?
- The Stand Up Paddleboard
- The Crazy River Dog, where your buddy retrieves things from the river (like, perhaps the beer that fell out of my boat during the Hooligan Race?)
- Plus more.
Live music plays throughout, and there's tons of camping, too.
Whether it's something like this, or just a casual visit, Salida is one of my very favorite places to visit. A real escape.
More From 94.3 The X
![This Weekend: Jay & Silent Bob, Lights Festival, Farmers Market](http://townsquare.media/site/52/files/2019/11/jay-bob-use.png?w=980&q=75)
![Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival This Weekend](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2017/09/AA-Feature3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Fritzler Farms to Host Breckenfritz Festival This Weekend](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2016/09/DSC_0818.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![13 Colorado Summer Music Festivals Well Worth the Drive](http://townsquare.media/site/51/files/2018/06/GettyImages-466954214.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What Was Your Favorite Thing You Ate at Taste of Fort Collins? [Poll]](http://townsquare.media/site/50/files/2018/06/edit-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![NewWestFest Headliners Have Been Announced](http://townsquare.media/site/51/files/2015/08/IMG_5744.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Remember the Denver Pop Festival of 1969?](http://townsquare.media/site/51/files/2011/08/Woodstock.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Magical Winter Knights Comes to the Budweiser Events Center December 29-30](http://townsquare.media/site/51/files/2017/11/knight.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What Are the Five Oldest Restaurants in Fort Collins?](http://townsquare.media/site/48/files/2017/11/SilverGrill2.jpg?w=980&q=75)