Holiday Headframe Lighting

The giant headframes that are the remains of 1890’s gold mining days will again light up the night sky around Victor and Cripple Creek again this holiday season. These unique mining structures are one-of-a-kind remnants of the gold rush era. This marks the 23rd anniversary of the event.

Holiday ornaments, some as large as 20 feet tall, will be lit against the starry night skies of the Victor and Cripple Creek starting Saturday, Nov. 26. Everything from a Christmas wreath to a snowman and a toy soldier will be on display this year.

A self-guided driving tour map will be available at the Cripple Creek District Museum, Cripple Creek Heritage Center, Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, and online at STCFG.com. The lights will be best viewed after dark and will be in place Friday through Sunday nights through New Year’s Day, weather/safety and volunteers permitting. Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s, weather allowing, the lights will be on nightly.

This holiday lighting tradition is sponsored by Newmont Cripple Creek & Victor gold mine, on whose property most of the headframes are located; Southern Teller County Focus Group who coordinates generator crews; and the El Pomar Foundation who provided grant funding for the event this year. Volunteers from the communities staff the generators and line power connections each weekend. Other sponsors include the City of Victor, Cripple Creek Parks & Recreation, and the Cripple Creek District Museum. Support also comes from Black Hills Energy crews who help refurbish the lamps on the ornaments.