Gabriela Mejia invites the spirit of the fair. Photo by Tommy Sands

And Mountain Fair contest results

Camp Bonedale was back in full force for the 55th Annual Mountain Fair,
July 24-26, harkening back to a tradition started in the early ‘80s, when friends would gather each year in the same place to enjoy the fair together. The weather was hot, but didn’t stop Bonedalians and visitors from filling Sopris Park and Main Street throughout the weekend. For more photos, check out the Works in Progress page on 17, which includes contest results, and Parting Shots on 19. 

Keep scrolling for Mountain Fair contest results and parting shots …

Mother of the Fair Laurie Loeb conducts the annual Rhythm of the Heart Drum Circle. Photo by Bob Rugile
A camper dances like it’s 1969. Photo by Jane Bachrach
Former Sopris Sun Editor-in-Chief Raleigh Burleigh getting down. Photo by Jane Bachrach
Deborah and Joe Burleigh are anointed as the 2026 Mountain Fair Queen and King. Photo by Jane Bachrach
Mugsy Fay Seldeen gives thanks to the spirit of the fair.
Photo by Jane Bachrach
Members of the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra Sidewalk Strings group perform at the Oasis tent on Main Street during the 55th Annual Carbondale Mountain Fair on Sunday. The larger troupe was also seen marching on the streets and in Sopris Park throughout the three-day festival. Photo by John Stroud
Bubbles! Photo by Tommy Sands
Going …
going …
gone.
Photos by Tommy Sands
A youngster runs to fill his cup. Photo by Bob Rugile
Caroline Ives gets her shop on. Photo by Bob Rugile
Hannah Barrett (left) who was visiting El Dorado Bar Manager Jess Clutter for Mountain Fair weekend, sported a vintage 1960s Girl Scouts dress, complete with her own collection of merit badges in keeping with the Fair’s Camp Bonedale theme. Photo by John Stroud
Kay Clarke (left) and Alice Steindler help The Sun sling drinks at the Cantina on Bloody Mary Sunday. Photo by Tommy Sands
The Bonedale Flashmob steps out in their scouts’ gear. Photo by John Alderson
Sisters Celeste Scoville and Stacia Desalvo cheers to Mountain Fair 55. Photo by Bob Rugile

Doing our damnedest at the fair


Every year, folks put themselves out there in their Mountain-Fair best and compete in a slew of classic and new-age events during Carbondale’s favorite weekend of the year. Here are the results for Mountain Fair 2026, Camp Bonedale. 

Mountain Fair 2026 contest results

Pies 

Exotic

1. Jeff Liddington – Coconut, mango
with Macadamia crust

2. Georgia Chamberlain – Ginger Cookie Crust
with tart lemon filling

3. Rachel Richards – Acorn squash honeyed pecan pie

Fruit

1. Peter Davidoff – Traditional Apple

Chrissy Leonard wields a cake with some wise words, “Let chocolate fill your space camp.” Photo by Jane Bachrach

2. Jasmine Liddington – Apple Cinnabon

3. Elizabeth Proctor – Sunrise Surprise Blackberry Peach

Cream

1. Jenna Koval – Banana Foster Cream Pie

2. Jeff Liddington – Macadamia with coconut,
mango cream

3. Peter Davidoff – Rum raisin apple
with vanilla pastry cream

Best of Show

Jenna Koval

Cake

Overall
1. HH and Luke Wander

2. Jessica Davidoff Meyer

3. Peter Davidoff

Exotic

1. Anna Sophia Brown

2. Marija

3. Sydney Harris

Alternative

1. Mike and Sim Rand

2. Rosio Lewis

3. Huck and Duke Taylor

Best Of Show

HH and Luke Wander

Men’s Woodsplitting

A contestant rounds the bend during the men’s wood-splitting contest. Photo by Will Sardinsky

1.  Danny Brown – 17.1

2.  Aaron Maiscot – 26.6

3.  Travis Twoey – 28.5

Wood splitting contest emcee Diesel Dan (left) recognizes one of the contest’s founders, Drew Handy, during the womens’ competition on Saturday at Mountain Fair. Handy arranges with the Ackerman family for the logs that are used for the contest each year. Photo by John Stroud

Best Flair – Zach Scheisser

Women’s Woodsplitting

1. Holly Parkin – 34.5

2.  Georgia Ackerman – 41. 2

3.  Jennifer Cleary – 43. 5

Best Flair – Georgia Ackerman

Limbo

1. Courtney Conn

2. Jean O’Bryant

3. Anne Britt Hakansson

Limbo contest champion Courtney Conn gets low. Photo by Tommy Sands

PORCUPINE GROUP Bike Race

Men’s

1. Beck Hamilton 45:01 2.

2. Hadley Henschel 45:03

Women’s

1. Annie Gonzalez 1:16:08

2. Judith Richard’s 1:21:10

3. Kerri Stokely 1:42:35

Russ Criswell cast himself into first place of the men’s fly-casting contest. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Fly Casting

Men’s

1. Russ Criswell

Women’s

1. Maureen Taufer

Double Horseshoes

1. Marty Wickham and Baggs

2. Burley and Jostin Britnall

3. Brandon Reynolds and Robert Sullivan

Single Horseshoes

1. Adam Quisenberry

2. Justin Britnall 

3. Stan Callies

Clay Center Throwdown

OVERALL WINNERS – Team Fired Up (Tessa Schreiner, Hannah Bare, Jared Carlson and Olivia Pedersen)

TALLEST COLLECTIVE CYLINDER – Slab Sluts (Kendra Sparks, Teresa Womack, Kelly Baker and Jonathan King)

Singer-songwriter

Hannah Carrese

Mountain Fair Four Miler

Mens

1. Paul Davis (24:52)

2. Kevin Warner (25:24)

3. Josh Hejtmanek (25 :49)

Women’s

1. Michelle Smith (27:02)

2. Caroline Bess (28:17)

3. Nicole Burkemper (29:21)

Morgan Williams of Beep Bop Boop takes in the crowd.
Photo by Will Sardinsky
Just as Moontricks concluded weekend festivities at sunset, a double rainbow right on cue lit up the western sky. A small group of friends posed for a portrait which was immediately photobombed by many more friends of the fair. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh
Photo by Tommy Sands