The Donkey Derby Days in Cripple Creek is a 92-year-old tradition, but this year the festival faces an unstable financial future as the city recovers from Covid-19 restrictions.
In the past, the city has provided funding for the festival and for the care of the donkeys. Due to shrinking revenues from casinos in the area, they’ve had to step back. Organizers of the festival, the Two Mile High Club, says they have lost their base of $30,000.
The group is working on fundraising through reaching out to businesses and individuals for donations, along with selling t-shirts with some Cripple Creek humor.
If you are interested in helping the Donkey Derby Days, you can purchase a t-shirt through their website.
Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.
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