The 14th Annual Emma Crawford Coffin Race and Festival October 24, 2008

Emma Crawford Coffin Races in Manitou Springs, Colo.
Costumed impersonators of Emma — a 19th-century lady who was buried atop Red Mountain— ride on coffins pulled by teams of four mourners in this kooky, pre-Halloween race along Manitou Avenue. Emma supposedly haunts the mountain even though her coffin washed away years after her burial. Oct. 25, 2008; free.

The 14th Annual Emma Crawford Coffin Race and Festival
Beginning on Manitou Avenue in the town's National Historic District, Emma judging will begin at 12 o'clock, noon, followed by the Parade of Hearses and Coffins and then Coffin Races up the town's main street in the shadow of Pikes Peak.

Emma Crawford lived in Manitou Springs at the turn of the century, arriving with the hopes that the famous drinking Mineral Springs would help with a cure for her tuberculosis. Sadly, in the summer of 1890 Emma died quite young, just before she was to marry Mr. Hildebrand, an engineer on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Her wishes were to be laid to rest on top of Red Mountain. Her heartbroken fiancee and eleven other men began the arduous task her carrying Emma's coffin up to the top of Red Mountain. It took them all day, working two shifts to scale the 7200 foot Summit. In 1929, after years of stormy weather on the granite mountain the granite gave way and Emma's remains were washed down the side of Red Mountain. Emma was later buried in the Manitou Springs Cemetery in an unmarked grave. An official grave site was granted to her in 2004 to honor her life. Now every year in late October, Manitou Springs remembers this beautiful young woman who loved her town and her Red Mountain with this unique festival.

For coffin race entry forms or more information about the Emma Crawford Festival call the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, (719) 685-5089 or (800) 642-2567.
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Official Website: http://www.manitousprings.org/coffin_races.htm