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 31, 2026
Time:
12pm - 3pm
Location:
Manitou Springs Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado
Cost:
General admission for the Fruitcake Toss is $1 per event ticket. Bring canned goods to donate to the Manitou Springs Food Pantry and for each canned good, you will receive 1 ticket, up to 10 tickets per family.
Bring your own fruitcake for tossing, or for $5, you can "rent" one of the festival's homemade fruitcakes and receive 4 tickets.
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.
- Basketcake - Aim to throw the cake in various baskets.
Stay until the end for all of the fun prizes! We have winners in every age group.
The "Too Good To Toss" 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. For more information, email FruitCakeToss@gmail.com.
Requirements:
- Cake must have flour, nuts & fruit.
- Drop off cake for judging at Memorial Park between 12pm - 12:30pm.
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 31 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 and 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.
Don’t worry, all of the fruitcakes don’t include the preservatives that standard fruitcake does. These fruitcakes are nutritionally safe for Jezebel and all of her friends.
Manitou Springs, Colorado
This quirky mountain town is where natural mineral springs, historic architecture and artistic energy thrive.
