If you know where Karval, Colorado is and you know what a plover is, you're likely ahead of most of the general population.

For starters, let's find the town of Karval. If you don't know where you are going, it's going to be like finding a needle in a haystack. Karval, with a population of 174 people is located in east central Colorado about 90 minutes east of Colorado Springs and about an hour south of Limon.

It may not sound like the world's greatest place for a festival, but don't tell that to the Karvalites who, every year, celebrate the arrival of the Mountain Plover to the Colorado eastern plains.

Which takes us to the next question, what the heck is a mountain plover? You probably guessed it is a bird and you would be right. There's actually an entire family of plovers. This is essentially a festival for bird watchers and bird lovers. This year, there are more than 70 birds on the official festival bird list.

Black-bellied Plover
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The Mountain Plover Festival runs April 26-28 and features bird watching, wildlife viewing tours, history, entertainment, arts and crafts, antiques, and home-style food. There are small group tours on private land, and meals are provided including a chuckwagon dinner on Saturday night.

Unlike most festivals you might attend, the Plover Festival is not free. Packages range from $50 to $250. The price does not include lodging which could be a motel in nearby Limon or a homestay with local residents. There are some RV and primitive camping opportunities available.

If you are a person who enjoys meeting new people, interacting with strangers, and watching or photographing birds, the Mountain Plover Festival is right up your alley.

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