Festival celebrates the trail that brought Trinidad to life

(TRINIDAD, Colo.) — A second-year festival in Trinidad celebrates the deep history of commerce and community that traveled down the Santa Fe Trail when Colorado itself was young.

The Santa Fe Trail Days Festival in Trinidad is relatively new, but it brought people of all ages together to celebrate the not-so-young town of Trinidad over the weekend, June 13-14. Only in its second year, the festival offered plenty of vendors, entertainment, music, and beverages to celebrate the 150th year of Trinidad.

“This is the 2025 Santa Fe Trail Days festival, celebrating Trinidad’s historic place on the Santa Fe Trail… which is about the initial commerce of this part of the United States,” said Tara Marshall, Trinidad City Manager. “It’s why the Santa Fe Trail is important. We celebrate commerce, we celebrate our history… This year, Trinidad is 150 years old! So we are older than the state by a few months!”

The festival offered plenty of things to do for visitors of any age, from a bubble pit and zip line for the kids, rides, dancing, and the best margaritas in Trinidad.

“This is only the second year the city has done this, so it’s still a work in progress,” said Trinidad Mayor Karen Griego. “Over here we have kids’ rides, we have the adult beverages, and the music… and then right in front of City Hall, all the way down Animas Street, we have vendors, we have non-profits. Anything you want to buy, anything you want to eat.”

City employees came out to volunteer their time, and neighbors gathered to celebrate each other and the town they call home.

“I think my favorite thing is the representation of the community that comes together to put the festival on and comes together to celebrate with each other,” said Marshall.