Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center, in cooperation with The Stanley Hotel, Transition Colorado and Sustainable Mountain Living is gearing up for the Third Annual Estes Earth Fest recognizing and honoring Native roots and Mother Earth.

This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, Jan. 15^th and 16^th at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO. The festival, which started in 2008, was created to help build community and offer a venue to discuss our relationship with the earth.

“The Estes Earth Fest focuses on respecting nature, building relationships, living sustainably, re-localizing our economy, and working together to build community across and through our diversity,” Earth Fest coordinator John Guffey said.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the new location. Following last year’s festival, Stanley Hotel general manager Jerry Broz, offered to host the Earth Fest III at the Historic Stanley. “This was an encouraging development upholding the fundamental idea that Earth Fest is a community-wide event not attached to one institution, but reaching out to all corners of Estes Park and all walks of life therein,” Guffey said.

This year Earth Fest will feature some things that only the Stanley Hotel can provide. “On Friday night there will be a free showing of highlights of the Ken Burns series on our National Parks. There will also be ghost stories and stories of transition by the Manor House fireplace. That first evening will also find people joining in Dances of Universal Peace and sitting down to a keynote lecture by Michael Brownlee, the co-founder of Transition Colorado,” Guffey explained.

As the festival moves into Saturday, a full schedule of events begins at 9:00 a.m. including keynote speakers, workshops, booths, games, slow-food dinner, and variety show.

“We’ll hear insights and challenges from near and far, we’ll explore pathways to transition and greater resilience. The opening session on Saturday will begin with a keynote by Emily Evans, Natural Capitalism Solutions. Panelists Michael Tavel, of Michael Tavel Architects; Trathen Heckman, of Daily Acts; Carolyn Baker, of Speaking Truth to Power, Ian Sanderson of the Denver Indian Center, Lynette-Marie Hanthorn, of Transition Colorado; and Sandy Cruz, of High Altitude Permaculture, will then share insights and take questions, followed by concurrent workshops led by the panelists on topics relevant to their area of expertise,” Guffey said.

Participants will also have the opportunity to play the premier edition of “Transition,” a life-sized board game in which players pursue their dreams in a world where the values of cooperation and individualism are constantly on trial.

Earth Fest activities will continue well into Saturday evening. A slow-food buffet dinner served by several outstanding area restaurants, will once again be the center-piece of the festival, served in the Stanley Hotel’s Pinon Room with seating in the Music and Billiards Rooms. Following the dinner, Earth Fest III will draw to a fitting conclusion with a closing keynote provided by Trathen Heckman, followed by a two-hour variety show.

Guffey is convinced that this year’s Earth Fest is going to appeal to a variety of community members. “We’re sure people won’t want to miss this year’s Estes Earth Fest! It’s priced right, and better than ever. Make this one standing room only at the Stanley Hotel. Come one, come all – civic minded, leaders, entrepreneurs, students, retirees, visitors, progressives, conservatives, young, and old – diversity is in at this year’s Festival of the Earth.”

For more information, visit estesearthfest.wordpress.com.