Gentlemen, start your coffins for the Annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races.
The 2022 Emma Crawford Coffin Races promise to be one of the eeriest – and comical – events you will ever witness. Held annually since 1995, the event has grown from just six teams to about70 coffin race teams and 12,000 spectators.
The premise for the event is simple: Each racing team, consisting of four runners to propel the homemade coffins and a driver, compete on the 585-foot long course. Pushers must hold onto the coffin until it has crossed the finish line and must stay in their own lane. Two coffin teams compete in one heat, and the coffin with the fastest time is the winner of that heat.
But it’s the costumes, atmosphere, and history behind the event that makes it so interesting. And if it weren’t for Emma Crawford, this race would never have been established.
Who is Emma Crawford and Why Coffin Races?
According to an article at www.emmacrawfordfestival.com, Crawford was born on March 24, 1863, in South Royalston, Massachusetts. She suffered illness since the age of 7, and moved with her mother to Manitou around 1889, in hopes that the mountain air might be a cure for what ailed her. A lover of music and playing instruments, nature was her second love. According to the article, she could often be seen wearing a red dress and climbing Red Mountain, which she nicknamed Red Chief in honor of American Indians.
The article states that she died on Dec. 4, 1891. Her obituary read, “The few who knew her here remarked her calm, unruffled mood and though her life was such that intimidates were few, she was known by all as a musician of rare power and skill.”
A result of relentless determination, Crawford was able to be buried on the summit of Red Mountain. The story states that her grave was eventually moved to the west side of Red Mountain and placed in loose gravel and covered with a concrete slab.
On Aug. 4, 1929, two boys found a human skull on Red Mountain and were questioned by police. The investigation, the story states, uncovered a wrapped bundle of human bones. After years of harsh winters and spring rains, Crawford and her coffin had come racing down the mountainside. The boys who found her remains also found the casket handles and a nameplate. This was the inspiration for the Emma Crawford Coffin Races.
The First Race
Jenna Gallas is the Special Events Coordinator for the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau & Office of Economic Development. Her role includes planning special events, and the coffin race is the largest one they do.
“This event was the brainchild of a group that was involved with the chamber years ago,” she explained. “The purpose of the event was to increase tourism in the area. It has grown since the first race in 1995, and in 2019 we had race teams from four different countries. We claim the popularity of the first coffin race.”
In fact, the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce started the first coffin races in the nation. In the years that have followed, others have copied the event but failed to equal the Manitous Springs tradition.
The day, Gallas said, has grown to include a variety of activities to go along with the race. These include live music, an awards party, and an after-party. The group has also been engaging downtown businesses more in the event. It has always taken place in the 900 block of Manitou Avenue.
This year’s race will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29. Given the ghostly nature of the event, it’s held every year around Halloween. The coffin parade and final judging from the stage will take place at noon. The race takes place at 12:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. at the Bud Ford Pavilion at Soda Springs Park. Admittance is free for spectators and individuals typically line up early in the morning to stake out a spot and set up their chairs. Reserved VIP seating is available at an extra charge.
For complete information, visit www.emmacrawfordfestival.com.
This article was originally published in October of 2022. This year’s race will take place on October 26th, 2024.
