Trinidad celebrates 150th anniversary all year long
In This Section
CML Newsletter
April 14, 2026
By the City of Trinidad
The City of Trinidad is proudly celebrating its 150th anniversary this year—a remarkable milestone that honors a rich history, vibrant culture, and the enduring spirit of its community. For a century and a half, Trinidad has stood as a gateway to southern Colorado, blending its historic roots with a forward-looking vision that continues to bring residents and visitors together.
To commemorate this sesquicentennial celebration, the city engaged a local artist who created our logo for our 150th, and we have purchased commemorative coins and pins. The coins are very representative of both the city and the state’s 150 years and the United States’ 250 years. We have also planned a series of special events throughout the year. These gatherings are designed to reflect Trinidad’s unique heritage, showcase local talent, and create opportunities for the community to connect, celebrate, and make new memories.
From family-friendly festivities and cultural showcases to historical commemorations and live entertainment, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Each event highlights a different aspect of Trinidad’s story — past, present, and future — making this anniversary not just a celebration, but a shared experience for all who call this place home.
Below is a list of scheduled events that mark this important occasion:
Feb. 1, 2026: The city hosted a community luncheon in the heart of downtown, featuring a presentation by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission that illustrated images of Trinidad’s past as compared to its current state. We were also honored to have four past mayors, and the current mayor attend this event as well as approximately 200 community members.
March 29-April 26, 2026: The City of Trinidad sponsored a first-ever Bocce Ball Tournament with cash prizes, and the championship match to happen on April 26, 2026.
May 2-3, 2026: Trinidad is sponsoring a 20-boat, two-day team bass tournament on our beautiful Trinidad Lake, with cash prizes being awarded. All tournaments are catch and release.
May 31, 2026: The city is once again sponsoring a 15-boat youth team bass tournament at Trinidad Lake for cash prizes. All tournaments are catch and release.
June, 2026: There will be a city-sponsored youth shore fishing tournament at Central Park This lake is only for the kiddos. We will gather prizes to give out (event date is tentative).
June 25-28, 2026: The City of Trinidad will host the Santa Fe Trail Days Festival for the third consecutive year in downtown Trinidad. This one is sure to be special, with the State of Colorado choosing Trinidad as one of the cities to have a America 250/Colorado 150 Drone Show in celebration of these milestones. We will have a carnival, vendors, live music, a comedy hypnotist, Native American dancers, an outdoor live theater performance, and color run. Entry is free and all of the live entertainment is free thanks to our business sponsors.
July 4, 2026: Our annual 4th of July fireworks show following our local professional baseball team in the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs.
July 11-12, 2026: Trinidad is once again taking it to Trinidad Lake for a two-day, 25 kayak limit bass kayak tournament. Anglers will compete for cash prizes. All tournaments are catch and release.
July 18-19, 2026: We are planning to host a pickleball tournament on our newly constructed pickleball courts. This will take place in Los Ninos Park, where a new walking path and outdoor exercise equipment installation will be completed this year. These dates are tentative due to construction.
Aug. 1, 2026: Trinidad’s Historic Preservation Commission will hold an Echoes Event. This event is for history buffs that want to take a step into the past to get a peek at what Trinidad had to offer back in the day.
Aug. 1, 2026: We are planning a skateboard/BMX skate park event at our amazing 15,000 square-foot concrete skatepark facility.
Sept. 4, 2026: The city will put forth an event to welcome students back to class and welcome those attending Trinidad State College. Details are pending.
Sept. 5, 2026: Street Dance anyone? This dance will be during the Labor Day Weekend so that we may celebrate those who help build this community with their labor.
Sept. 7, 2026: The city intends to host a bar-b-que following the annual Labor Day Parade. The bar-b-que has been an annual tradition for decades, and we will ensure that experience continues!
September 2026: We are planning on hosting a glow-ball golf tournament at our beautiful nine-hole course (date and details are pending.)
October 2026: We plan to hold a fall fest with a hay maze and we will begin our Christmas Cash campaign to keep business local for the holidays!
Nov. 7, 2026: A Taste of Trinidad will be planned (date and details pending).
Nov. 28, 2026: The annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights, in conjunction with Hometown Holidays, will take place to welcome in the holiday season.
November 2026: The City will sponsor, for prizes, a home Christmas lighting contest and a business Christmas lighting contest. We also will have trolley tours to show off the locations that have signed up.
Dec. 31, 2026: In celebration of the close of 2026 and to welcome 2027, we will hold a casino night!
Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to take part in these celebrations and experience the pride, history, and community spirit that define Trinidad. Here’s to 150 years — and many more to come. The events listed above are all city-sponsored events. We are looking forward to many, many more spectacular events being put on by our amazing community!
To commemorate this sesquicentennial celebration, the city engaged a local artist who created our logo for our 150th, and we have purchased commemorative coins and pins. The coins are very representative of both the city and the state’s 150 years and the United States’ 250 years. We have also planned a series of special events throughout the year. These gatherings are designed to reflect Trinidad’s unique heritage, showcase local talent, and create opportunities for the community to connect, celebrate, and make new memories. From family-friendly festivities and cultural showcases to historical commemorations and live entertainment, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Each event highlights a different aspect of Trinidad’s story — past, present, and future — making this anniversary not just a celebration, but a shared experience for all who call this place home.
Below is a list of scheduled events that mark this important occasion:
Feb. 1, 2026: The city hosted a community luncheon in the heart of downtown, featuring a presentation by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission that illustrated images of Trinidad’s past as compared to its current state. We were also honored to have four past mayors, and the current mayor attend this event as well as approximately 200 community members.
March 29-April 26, 2026: The City of Trinidad sponsored a first-ever Bocce Ball Tournament with cash prizes, and the championship match to happen on April 26, 2026.
May 2-3, 2026: Trinidad is sponsoring a 20-boat, two-day team bass tournament on our beautiful Trinidad Lake, with cash prizes being awarded. All tournaments are catch and release.
May 31, 2026: The city is once again sponsoring a 15-boat youth team bass tournament at Trinidad Lake for cash prizes. All tournaments are catch and release.
June, 2026: There will be a city-sponsored youth shore fishing tournament at Central Park This lake is only for the kiddos. We will gather prizes to give out (event date is tentative).
June 25-28, 2026: The City of Trinidad will host the Santa Fe Trail Days Festival for the third consecutive year in downtown Trinidad. This one is sure to be special, with the State of Colorado choosing Trinidad as one of the cities to have a America 250/Colorado 150 Drone Show in celebration of these milestones. We will have a carnival, vendors, live music, a comedy hypnotist, Native American dancers, an outdoor live theater performance, and color run. Entry is free and all of the live entertainment is free thanks to our business sponsors.
July 4, 2026: Our annual 4th of July fireworks show following our local professional baseball team in the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs.July 11-12, 2026: Trinidad is once again taking it to Trinidad Lake for a two-day, 25 kayak limit bass kayak tournament. Anglers will compete for cash prizes. All tournaments are catch and release.
July 18-19, 2026: We are planning to host a pickleball tournament on our newly constructed pickleball courts. This will take place in Los Ninos Park, where a new walking path and outdoor exercise equipment installation will be completed this year. These dates are tentative due to construction.
Aug. 1, 2026: Trinidad’s Historic Preservation Commission will hold an Echoes Event. This event is for history buffs that want to take a step into the past to get a peek at what Trinidad had to offer back in the day.
Aug. 1, 2026: We are planning a skateboard/BMX skate park event at our amazing 15,000 square-foot concrete skatepark facility.Sept. 4, 2026: The city will put forth an event to welcome students back to class and welcome those attending Trinidad State College. Details are pending.
Sept. 5, 2026: Street Dance anyone? This dance will be during the Labor Day Weekend so that we may celebrate those who help build this community with their labor.
Sept. 7, 2026: The city intends to host a bar-b-que following the annual Labor Day Parade. The bar-b-que has been an annual tradition for decades, and we will ensure that experience continues!
September 2026: We are planning on hosting a glow-ball golf tournament at our beautiful nine-hole course (date and details are pending.)
October 2026: We plan to hold a fall fest with a hay maze and we will begin our Christmas Cash campaign to keep business local for the holidays!
Nov. 7, 2026: A Taste of Trinidad will be planned (date and details pending).
Nov. 28, 2026: The annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights, in conjunction with Hometown Holidays, will take place to welcome in the holiday season.
November 2026: The City will sponsor, for prizes, a home Christmas lighting contest and a business Christmas lighting contest. We also will have trolley tours to show off the locations that have signed up.
Dec. 31, 2026: In celebration of the close of 2026 and to welcome 2027, we will hold a casino night!
Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to take part in these celebrations and experience the pride, history, and community spirit that define Trinidad. Here’s to 150 years — and many more to come. The events listed above are all city-sponsored events. We are looking forward to many, many more spectacular events being put on by our amazing community!