Artist Call: Mt. Crested Butte Chili and Beer Festival Poster Artwork

The Mt. Crested Butte Chili and Beer Festival is looking for original artwork for the 28th Annual Festival, taking place September 12, 2026, in the Town of Mt. Crested Butte at the base of Mount Crested Butte.

Each year, as late summer shifts towards fall and the first leaves begin to change, our mountain town gathers for one of the most beloved celebrations of the season — a day filled with chili, Colorado craft beer, live music, costumes, and community.

Golden aspens start to flicker across the mountainsides, the air grows a little crisper, and the long summer days begin to soften into that unmistakable early fall glow.

And in Mt. Crested Butte, that moment calls for a party.

At 9,000 feet in a true Colorado mountain town, bikes still outnumber cars, dogs roam like locals, and live music drifts through the thin alpine air.

We’re calling on artists to submit original artwork inspired by this moment in the mountains — that magical stretch between late summer sunshine and the first hints of fall, when the community gathers at the base of Mount Crested Butte for the Mt. Crested Butte Chili and Beer Festival.

This is retro mountain weird — early fall edition.

Think:

Sun-faded posters, bold colors, hand-drawn type
Bikes, boots, dogs, wildflowers, and dusty trails
Chili cook-offs, Colorado craft beer, and music echoing off the peaks
Golden aspens, cool mountain air, and the feeling of fall just around the corner
Locals who show up in costume just because

A community that welcomes everyone, fiercely protects the land, and knows how to throw a damn good party.

Our town believes the mountains are for all. We show up big — for each other, for the place we love, and for celebration done right.

The 28th Annual Mt. Crested Butte Chili and Beer Festival features some of Colorado’s best craft brews, live music, and a whole lot of mountain-town magic packed into one unforgettable day.

We’re looking for artwork that feels funky, nostalgic, playful, slightly unhinged, and full of late-summer mountain soul.
If it looks like it belongs on a vintage festival poster pulled from a dusty wall — and still smells faintly of chili and beer — you’re doing it right.

Selected artwork will be featured on official festival posters, merchandise, and promotional materials.

Artist Prize

The selected artist will receive a $500 cash prize and two (2) VIP festival tickets.

REQUIRED TEXT ELEMENTS ON ARTWORK  All items listed below must be part of the design of the poster.  Clear and visible.

* 28th Annual
* Mt. Crested Butte Chili and Beer Festival
* September 12, 2026
* Presented by Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce and Town of Mt. Crested Butte

All submissions must be 100% original, unpublished artwork, and not infringe on existing copyrights or trademarks. 

The file should be submitted as a high-quality digital image in no more than 6 colors. 

Submit a high-resolution digital file (minimum 300 DPI)

Recommended dimensions: 11” x 17” (portrait or landscape)

Costumes encouraged.
Everyone welcome.
Party guaranteed.