The annual Great Fruitcake Toss is scheduled to return to Memorial Park in the heart of Manitou Springs on Jan. 25.
A beloved and quirky tradition, the annual toss is celebrating three decades of “flinging fruitcakes.” According to the Event Manager for Visit Manitou Springs Jenna Gallas, who has led efforts behind the fruitcake toss since 2018, the event has not evolved far past its origins.
“There are multiple suggested stories about the genesis of the Great Fruitcake Toss. One generally accepted version is a group of locals who went to the park and did just that – started throwing around fruitcakes,” Gallas said.
Today, the fruitcake celebration is separated into four categories. Competitions are based on toss accuracy; distance; balance; and taste, which is decided during the “Too Good to Toss” fruitcake bake-off that will occur during the event.
Along with the series of fruitcake-based competitions, the organization Cool Science will be in attendance, leading children in mini-marshmallow catapult making. Pikes Peak Library District will also be there leading families in rock painting.
A true representation of the surrounding community, volunteers at the Community Congregational Church bake the “rental cakes” used during the series of competitive events. The used fruitcakes are then donated to Smokebrush Farms to be enjoyed by their family of chickens, goats and pigs at the biodynamic farm.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring non-perishable goods to participate rather than the cash fee in support of the St. Andrews Food Pantry.
“It really doesn’t get more ‘local community representation’ than that!” Gallas said.
Standing the test of time, Gallas said the event has survived all these years and through a global pandemic due to the community behind it, and the love and support the event has garnered since the mid-1990s.
“Much like fruitcake itself, this event has withstood three decades of enjoyment in Manitou Springs. I have to believe that we dedicated locals who support and volunteer our time in the name of tossing cake do so because it’s just…what we do in Manitou. We’re always keepin’ it a little weird,” Gallas said.
A character who has developed quite the reputation surrounding the annual event is Mr. Fruitcake himself, otherwise known as Aaron Schultz.
“It’s all about the fun of the event, for Mr. Fruitcake. He doesn’t often get to participate in the events, but that’s okay. He likes to see the experts at work, the professional fruitcake tossers, do what they do best,” Schultz said.
Schultz, who has rocked the handmade canvas fruitcake costume during the event since 2019, said it is an honor he holds close to his heart to get to participate in the fruitcake toss in such a notable way.
We’re always keepin’ it a little weird. Jenna Gallas
According to Schultz, the costume was originally created by the owner of the local Blue Skies Inn, who would have her employees wear the suit to advertise the business during the Fruitcake Toss.
After spending several years in storage, the Mr. Fruitcake costume was recovered and donated to the Manitou Springs Visitor’s Center in 2019.
Although he has earned the title of Mr. Fruitcake over his six years of involvement, he said he wasn’t originally intended to fulfill the role.
“I was working at the Visitor Center as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and I don’t think I was the person who was originally intended to wear the suit. It is an honor, and it was bestowed upon someone who, for some reason or another, couldn’t make the fruitcake toss that year and so, working with the visitor center, they asked me last-minute if I would wear it, and again, all serendipity, I’ve been wearing it ever since,” Schultz said.
While Schultz said he loves being Mr. Fruitcake every year, the persona is bigger than just himself, and rather a representation of the spirit of the event and Manitou Springs as a whole.
“Mr. Fruitcake is much bigger than me. He came around before me and will last longer than I do. And I think that’s the important piece, that it’s not who wears the fruitcake suit – Mr. Fruitcake is so much bigger than any one person and is just one of the many things that makes Manitou Springs so special,” Schultz said.
The Great Fruitcake Toss is scheduled to begin at noon and last until 3 p.m. The cost to participate is $1. For more information, visit ManitouSprings.org/events/fruitcake-toss.
