By Shannon Lukens.
The SBT GRVL® ride will be happening June 26-28 next summer, with the race and ride on one day this year, instead of two. The permit was approved by the Routt County Board of County Commissioners Tuesday. Here’s SBT GRVL owner Amy Charity.
“I’m ecstatic. The team has worked so hard, especially the past couple of years, to really listen to our county, the rural residents, and work closely with the commissioners. And we’ve come up with something where it really is the best of what we’ve done for the past six years. It will be safe, it will be fun. We’re bringing it all back to downtown Steamboat Springs, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
In their presentation to the county, Charity said after 2023, it was brought to their attention that they were having a negative impact on rural residents so they worked on changing the race.
In past commissioner meetings, rural residents were highly outspoken against the race. At Tuesday’s meeting, 12 people spoke at public comment and all were in favor.
The expo on Yampa Street will be that weekend with the ride and race all on the same day, on that Sunday, June 28. Everything will be south of Highway 40. There will be no 2-way cycling traffic on any roads. There will be no shakeout rides on Routt County’s gravel roads the week before the event.
Charity said the SBT GRVL® ride is the largest local economic contributor on the summer calendar in Routt County, since 2019. They are still calculating, but they said the event brought in about $4 million this year.
Commissioners also agreed to increase the rider cap to 2,750.
More on the Story — SBT GRVL® is approved for 2026
Look up in the sky starting Friday morning, as the 15th Annual Moffat County Balloon Festival returns to Loudy Simpson Park in Craig. Launching starts at 6:30 a.m. Friday morning and each day through the weekend, weather permitting. Saturday has more activities all day, including a burrito breakfast, the Memorial Regional Health 5K Color Run, and the Colorado Cruisers car show. The Cardboard Boat Regatta is at 1:30 p.m. and free bingo is at 4 p.m. Both have cash prizes. Live music starts in the afternoon, and runs until the headliner at 7:30 p.m. which is “Still the Same,” a Bob Seger tribute band. The Balloon Glow is right afterwards.
This year’s festival is dedicated to Tony St. John, who passed away last year and was a driving force behind the annual Moffat County Balloon Festival.
- More Information is at MCBalloonFestival.com
- Moffat County Balloon Festival Schedule
- More on the Story — Moffat County Balloon Festival returns Aug. 1-3
The Craig Chamber of Commerce is hiring an Administrative & Membership Coordinator. Reach out to the chamber if you’re interested.
Both Moffat and Routt County Fairs are coming up. From Routt County, Roger and Nancy Muhme of Hayden have been named the Fair Parade Grand Marshals. They were both born and raised in Routt County and have been helping run the Small Animal Barn for more than ten years.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.