Creepy and bizarre sights are commonplace on Halloween weekend, but the town of Manitou Springs, Colorado—which boasts an elevation (6,412 feet) greater than its population (around 5,000)—adds elements of sport and celebration to the macabre mix. Combine trick-or-treating, a funeral procession, and a Soap Box Derby, and you have Saturday’s annual Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Parade.
That’s right. A coffin race—which looks all sorts of awesome.
Legend has it that Emma Crawford, a young woman from Massachusetts, came to Manitou Springs, which sits aside the towering Pike’s Peak just outside Colorado Springs, hoping the healing nature of the springs would ease her tuberculosis symptoms. But Crawford died in 1891 at age 28, and as per her wishes, was buried atop nearby Red Mountain. But her coffin was moved to the southwest slope of the mountain in 1912 due to construction of a railroad track incline.
In 1929, the coffin, dislodged by heavy rains and erosion, slid down the mountain and into the canyon where it was found by a couple of young boys. Crawford eventually was reburied in a cemetery in town.
Today, teams of five honor that journey every year around Halloween. Each team consists of one “Emma”—riding in a custom-built coffin—and four costumed runners racing the coffin down the Manitou Avenue course.
The decorated coffins must be at least 2 feet wide by 5 feet long and no larger than 3 feet, 10 inches wide by 8 feet long (with no height restriction, a team could theoretically race a very narrow 11-story coffin down a street in central Colorado). The runners (or pushers) guide the coffin using four handles or push-pull bars on the front and rear of the coffin as they race the 585-foot course in sets of two-team heats
Approximately 10,000 people will gather to watch 70 teams participate in Saturday’s festivities, which have grown dramatically since the event’s first running in 1995.
“They started with eight coffins,” Brittany Tafoya of the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau told The Gazette. “It’s really just a local thing they didn’t expect to go boom.”
And while the event is part of an overall celebration, complete with a hearse parade, costumes, prizes, and the like, it’s still a competition. And thus, there are rules—some of which are included here (along with our own comments):
•At least three of the four runners must remain in contact with the coffin at all times until the coffin has come to a complete stop after crossing the finish line. Nobody wants a runaway coffin.
•Functional steering mechanisms are prohibited, giving a distinct advantage to Google’s self-driving coffin.
•No team substitutions are allowed between heats, though race officials have the authority to allow a sub in the case of injury. Being struck by a fast-moving coffin does seem reasonable grounds for legal substitution.
•Each team must provide its own “Emma.” Each Emma must wear a helmet while in her coffin. After all, coffin mortality rates typically are high.
•Teams are responsible for transporting their coffins to and from the race. Teams must also participate in the parade of coffins portion of the celebration. It's unclear whether they must keep their hazard lights on.
•Protests must be made within 10 minutes of the end of the heat. Ties may or may not be described as “dead heats.”
•Participants must conduct themselves to the highest standards of behavior and sportsmanship. This is a coffin race, after all.
•Coffin race officials may disqualify any coffin they believe is dangerous. Further, all participants must sign waivers before the event. This is coffin racing, after all!
Race winners earn trophies, and awards are also given for Best Emma, Best Entourage, and Best Coffin. The festivities kick off at noon MT on Saturday.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.