Fruitcake Toss
Watch hated holiday treats fly at this quirky local event.
The fruitcakes will fly once again in downtown Manitou Springs! Join in for some old-fashioned tossing of those maybe not so beloved holiday desserts.
Experience one of Manitou Springs' yearly events with the Fruitcake Toss. Featuring a series of engaging and thrilling challenges, this special winter occasion is just one of the creative and fun ways to explore annual traditions in the Pikes Peak region. For more event information and participation details, click here.
Event Date, Time, Location & Admission
Date:
January 27, 2024
Time:
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location:
Manitou Springs Memorial Park; 502 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado
Cost:
General admission for the Fruitcake Toss is $1 per event ticket. One non-perishable food item is suggested for attendance. All food items will be donated to a Manitou Springs food bank.
Featured Activities & Programs
Fruitcake Tosses
These fruitcake tossing competitions offer family-friendly fun for all ages:
- Distance - Measure the length from the origin of the toss to the landing location.
- Accuracy - Hurl the cake through three hoops.
- Balance - Run through a race course and hold the cake on a spatula.
- Basketcase - Aim to throw the cake in various baskets.
The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off
Although participants will be tossing the traditional cakes, there will also be a fruitcake bake-off. Local bakers will compete for the title of Fruitcake King or Queen as determined by the community. Winners will be based off who makes the best organic, non-GMO, natural fruitcakes. For more information, email Fruitcaketoss@gmail.com.
Fun Facts About the Fruitcake Toss
History of the Manitou Springs Fruitcake Toss
This one-of-a-kind event, where enthusiasts traveled from all over to compete for trophies and bragging rights, has been a community highlight for more than 22 years. The great fruitcake toss is the event of the winter season as the hapless dessert is launched into space with a variety of mechanical and pneumatic devices.
Competitions have included the Hand Toss, Kid's Toss, Launch, Pneumatic Gun or Canon, Team Catch or Accuracy division.
Where do all of the fruitcakes go?
Fortunately, the fruitcakes aren't wasted after the event. These baked goods travel to SunMountain, where friendly creatures including Jezebel, a pig, munch on the leftovers.
Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs, Colorado, is a quaint mountain town just six miles west of downtown Colorado Springs.
