Spring to fall, festivals are a big deal in Crested Butte. In between the spring and fall equinoxes are: Crested Butte Bike Week (www.cbbikeweek.com) in late June, the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival (www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com) in July, the Crested Butte Wine and Food Festival (www.crestedbuttewine.com) in late July, and the Crested Butte Arts Festival (www.crestedbutteartsfestival.com) in early August. Only the bookends to festival season need explanation. In spring, Flauschink toasts the end of ski season with polka, a parade, and other events. Vinotok is the annual goodbye to summer, involving a street party and the trial of the Grump, a beastly looking effigy who ends up in the middle of a bonfire before it is all said and done—highly recommended. Contact the Gunnison/Crested Butte Tourism Association ([tel] 877/448-1410) for more information.

Definitely stop in at Montanya Distillers, 212 Elk Ave. ([tel] 970/799-3206), serving handcrafted rum cocktails and small plates. Of the watering holes, I like the rough-and-tumble second-story bar and brewery, the Eldo, 215 Elk Ave. ([tel] 970/349-6125) and Dogwood Cocktail Cabin, a slick place specializing in creative martinis and mixed drinks, 309 Third St. ([tel] 970/349-6338).

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