Colorado School of Mines to celebrate 91st Engineering Days

What do cardboard boats, ore carts and fireworks have in common? They’re all highlights of this weekend’s E-Days festivities at Colorado School of Mines.

E-Days – short for Engineering Days – is one of the most anticipated events of the academic year at Mines, with students taking a break from their studies to celebrate what it means to be an engineer. 

The 91st edition of E-Days will begin Thursday, April 10 and continue through Saturday, April 12. 

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 is read.   

• When: 7:30 a.m. to noon Friday, April 11 
• 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 12
• Where: Clear Creek (near Lions Park) in Golden  

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 12 (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 free, all other community members are $5/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.