2026 Grand Mesa Friluftsliv Festival
Get ready for an unforgettable day of Nordic skiing at our annual Friluftsliv Festival! With support from Rocky Mountain Orthopedics!
Date: Saturday February 28, 2026
Time: 10am to 2pm.
Place: County Line Trailhead
Registration: On site starting at 9:45am
Friluftsliv is a Norwegian word that translates to “free-air life.” It’s a way of living that emphasizes moving your body in the outdoors, and connecting with nature and with the environment. It’s also the spirit that we celebrate with the Grand Mesa Friluftsliv Festival. This event has something for everyone!
We will have food (from noon to 2pm), hot chocolate and other goodies at the event headquarters at County Line Trailhead.
The Nature Connection will be at the event, offering ski lending to kids and adults (free for kids, $10 suggested donation for adults).
Activities include:
–A skiathon. Challenge yourself to ski as many (or few) kilometers as you can between 10am and 2pm. We will have several courses laid out for you to enjoy, or you can make your own route. This is a personal challenge, not a race, but we will have a 10am start for people who want to start as a group and try to go big and ski long. We will have prizes for the female and male who ski the most KM. Last year, Kevin Koch skied 64km, can you top that? The first year, Dave Knutson skied 1km, who will win this year’s shortest ski?
–Vintage ski and costume contests! This is a festive event, and we encourage you to dress for fun. We’ll have prizes for best costumes, best vintage skis, and best vintage ski outfit. Judging will take place at 12:30pm at the County Line Trailhead.
–Scavenger hunt for kids.
This event is an opportunity for you to come and connect with the Grand Mesa by skiing and pushing yourself to experience as much of our trails as you wish.
Participation is free, but registration is required for the chance to win a prize. Registration also helps us plan how many participants to expect. We want to have enough food!
Preregistration encouraged (participation is free, but preregistration helps us plan for refreshments). Preregistration now CLOSED. Please register onsite.