Second-annual Ullr

It’s January and the winter snows are flying in the high country around here. Most of us get a little bit annoyed by having to drive in it but if you are a skier, then to you snow is white gold. It’s as revered as the Lost Treasure of the Incas.

This year winter sports enthusiasts have been blessed with an abundance of snow in the mountains to play in, but if you have been navigating the slopes for a while, you know there are some seasons that are a little leaner than others. In those years, tradition has it that you start looking for a little heavenly help from the north of Europe to bring forth some snow.

When you need snow, “who ya gonna call”? Ullr, that’s who!

Ok, what the heck is Ullr? Well, in Norse mythology, Ullr is a son of Sif and a stepson of Thor. While extant sources are scant he appears to have been a major god in prehistoric times. In old Scandinavian myth he is the god of justice and dueling, as well as the patron god of agriculture. He also excels in archery and …You guessed it … skiing! So, through the years, he has become known as the go-to deity for snow and winter activities.

In January the Norse God of winter is coming back here to Golden. The second annual UllrGrass music and beer festival will be happening on the weekend of Jan. 29-31. It’s billed as a magical weekend when he comes to our little western town to raise his drinking horn to craft beer, great music and a crowd that knows how to have fun in winter.

The event is held at multiple indoor and outdoor stages in downtown Golden, from Parfet Park to the Buffalo Rose. It includes something for nearly everyone, kicking off with the UllrGrass Parade, followed by a festival complete with premier musical acts from Colorado to Nashville, a kids activity area, food vendors, artisan vendors, musician workshops and more.

Returning act Head for the Hills will headline the festival on Friday night with Luke Bulla and Rapidgrass Quintet. Saturday Night features the Kyle Hollingsworth Band with Coral Creek and the Railsplitters. Sunday the festival finishes with a bang with Vince Herman & the UllrGrass All-Stars closing out the festival in Parfet Park. Also rocking the various stages at Parfet Park and The Buffalo Rose will be performances by the Luke Bulla Band, The Railsplitters, Caribou Mountain Collective, Gipsy Moon, Chain Station, Uptown Toodeloo String Band, Delta Moon, Thunder and Rain and more.

There are several ticket options from single day music festival passes to complete weekend packages. Prices range from $ 15 to VIP complete weekend passes that run $ 250 with plenty in between. There are too many options to list here so for full information go check out www.ullrgrass.com. Please note that beer festival tickets are sold separately from concert tickets.

Longtime Golden residents and musicians Chris and Susannah Thompson founded the festival in 2015 as a passion project to bring a unique live music experience to their beloved hometown. Thanks to the support of the City of Golden, local businesses, and more than 100 Golden volunteers, the event was a success last year and promises to be even better this time around.

Parfet Park is located at the corner of 10th Street and Washington Ave. and the Buffalo Rose is at 1119 Washington Ave. right here in Golden.

So, break out your Ullr horns and come let the snow fly and the Winter fun begin!

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