Colorado School of Mines students will take a break from their studies this weekend to celebrate what it means to be an engineer.
E-Days – short for Engineering Days – is one of the most anticipated events of the academic year at Mines, with students taking part in traditions including the Ore Cart Pull and Cardboard Boat Races.
The 92nd edition of E-Days will begin Thursday, April 16 and continue through Saturday, April 18.
Ore Cart Pull
On Friday morning, Mines students will pull an ore cart down West Colfax Avenue, all the way from Lakewood to Sculpture Park in Denver, where they’ll be met by the Mines Marching Band and an official proclamation.
- When: 7:30 a.m. to noon Friday, April 17 (buses begin departing campus at 8 a.m.)
- Where: West Colfax Avenue (route starts at Robb Street in Lakewood, ends at Sculpture Park in Denver)
Cardboard Boat Races
On Saturday morning, spectators will line the banks of Clear Creek in downtown Golden to catch the engineering skills of Mines students in action: Boats made entirely of cardboard. Duct tape is allowed, but only as an adhesive, not as a waterproofing material.
- When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 18
- Where: Clear Creek (near Lions Park) in Golden
New this year: Mines will be livestreaming the boat races on YouTube so friends, family members and alumni around the world can join in the fun. Unlike the races themselves, however, the livestream is weather dependent – if it’s raining or snowing, we’ll have to cancel the livestream, so the equipment doesn’t get as waterlogged as some of the boats. Tune in live on the Mines YouTube channel.
E-Days Fireworks
Capping the weekend’s festivities are the E-Days Fireworks on Saturday night. Designed in part by Mines alumni, the fireworks show has been said to be one of the most “epic” displays of its kind.
The all-aerial fireworks display will be visible from locations around Golden. The public is also invited to watch the show from the Mines campus. Members of the public can enter the North IM Field on Elm Street starting at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, April 18 (community entrance is on the northeast side of the parking lot). The fireworks are set to start around 9:05 p.m. weather permitting.
Full E-Days Schedule
For the full schedule of events, go to Mines Activities Council website.
NOTE: Most E-Days events, including the Friday and Saturday night concerts, are only open to Mines community members. The following events are open to the public:
- Cardboard Boat Races: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday at Clear Creek (near Lions Park). Community members are welcome as spectators.
- E-Days Carnival: 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday in the D Lot (Elm Street). Kids under 12 can attend for $5, all other community members are $10/person, which includes access to food trucks. Beer wristbands for 21+ are an additional $5.
- E-Days Fireworks: 9:05 p.m. Saturday (weather dependent). See details above.
Parking on and near campus on Saturday, April 18 will be limited. The top level of the McNeil parking garage will be closed all day for the E-Days Fireworks fallout zone. D Lot and Q Lot are also closed.
For those driving to campus, Elm Street will be closed between West Campus Road and 17th Street, and West Campus Road will also be entry/exit only on the south side.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
