Mid-April is always an exciting time in Golden, especially for Colorado School of Mines students, staff, alumni and other supporters.
There’s a rugby game where players wear prom dresses; people line Clear Creek for hours to see whether boats made of cardboard and duct tape will sink or float; and a fireworks show over campus is visible all over the area.
Mines celebrated its annual E-Days festival April 9-13, with this year’s theme being “HowdE-Days.”
The festivities kicked off April 9 with the women’s intramural rugby teams’ annual Prom Dress Rugby game, which featured current players and alumni wearing thrifted formal dresses during the game. This year’s game ended in a 15-15 tie between the Bloody Mary’s and the Bruise Berries.
Organizers said the tradition started around 2008, and has been hosted at different times of the year. However, they said it’s become a staple of E-Days in recent years, and university officials hope to make an even bigger festival kick-off in the future.
Prom Dress Rugby draws players from both the women’s seven- and 15-player intramural rugby teams. On April 9, the Bloody Mary’s and Bruise Berries fielded 10 players at a time, which they said made things a bit chaotic. And the dresses didn’t help either, they added.
“It’s a different experience: It’s a lot messier, but it’s lots of fun,” junior Aliya Lynn said of playing Prom Dress Rugby versus a normal game. “It puts smiles on people’s faces.”
The festivities continued April 10 with a comedian performance, a ball and casino night. April 11 featured the annual ore cart pull, where students pulled an ore cart along Colfax Avenue from Lakewood to downtown Denver.
April 12 was a community favorite with the cardboard boat races, where students test their engineering skills by building boats strictly out of cardboard and duct tape, and then paddle them down Clear Creek. The event draws hundreds of locals every year.
The community was also invited to attend the carnival on campus that afternoon, after students hosted their Mining Games that morning.
The 2025 E-Days wrapped up April 13 with the Pancake Pheast, a car show and fireworks that had been rescheduled from the night before due to dry and windy conditions.
Click through photos from the 2025 E-Days festival:
On April 9, a member of the Bloody Mary’s, center, attempts to power through a tackle during the Colorado School of Mines women’s rugby teams’ annual Prom Dress Rugby game. The game helped kick off the university’s annual E-Days festival. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Colorado School of Mines rugby players vie for possession during the annual Prom Dress Rugby game on April 9. The game helped kick off the university’s annual E-Days festival. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On April 9, members of the Bloody Mary’s, left, attempt to stop a member of the Bruise Berries, right, during the Colorado School of Mines women’s rugby teams’ annual Prom Dress Rugby game. The game helped kick off the university’s annual E-Days festival. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On April 9, a member of the Bloody Mary’s attempts, left, attempts to tackle a member of the Bruise Berries during the Colorado School of Mines women’s rugby teams’ annual Prom Dress Rugby game. The game helped kick off the university’s annual E-Days festival. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On April 9, a member of the Bloody Mary’s holds the ball while waiting for play to start during the Colorado School of Mines women’s rugby teams’ annual Prom Dress Rugby game. The game helped kick off the university’s annual E-Days festival. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On April 9, a member of the Bloody Mary’s attempts, left, attempts to tackle a member of the Bruise Berries during the Colorado School of Mines women’s rugby teams’ annual Prom Dress Rugby game. The game helped kick off the university’s annual E-Days festival. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On April 9, a member of the Bruise Berries styles a teammate’s hair during the Colorado School of Mines women’s rugby teams’ annual Prom Dress Rugby game. The game helped kick off the university’s annual E-Days festival. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
On April 11, Colorado School of Mines students approach the intersection with Quail Street as they pull an ore cart along Colfax Avenue toward downtown Denver. The annual ore cart pull was part of the 2025 E-Days, which ran April 9-13. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
During the ore cart pull on April 11, Colorado School of Mines students display a flag for this year’s E-Days festival. This year’s theme was “HowdE-Days.” Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
As they approach downtown Denver on April 11, Colorado School of Mines students sport shirts for the annual ore cart pull for the 2025 E-Days. The ore cart pull started along Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, and students pulled the cart all the way to downtown Denver. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 11, Colorado School of Mines students reach downtown Denver during the annual ore cart pull. The event was part of the 2025 E-Days festival. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the Mining Games as part of the 2025 E-Days. This year’s theme was “HowdE-Days.” Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the Mining Games as part of the 2025 E-Days. This year’s theme was “HowdE-Days.” Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the annual cardboard boat races as part of the 2025 E-Days. Every year, Orediggers build boats out of cardboard and duct tape, and test them at the Clear Creek Whitewater Park. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, a drone captures a photo of Colorado School of Mines students participating in the annual cardboard boat races as part of the 2025 E-Days. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the annual cardboard boat races as part of the 2025 E-Days. Every year, Orediggers build boats out of cardboard and duct tape, and test them at the Clear Creek Whitewater Park. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the annual cardboard boat races as part of the 2025 E-Days. Every year, Orediggers build boats out of cardboard and duct tape, and test them at the Clear Creek Whitewater Park. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the annual cardboard boat races as part of the 2025 E-Days. Every year, Orediggers build boats out of cardboard and duct tape, and test them at the Clear Creek Whitewater Park. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the annual cardboard boat races as part of the 2025 E-Days. Every year, Orediggers build boats out of cardboard and duct tape, and test them at the Clear Creek Whitewater Park. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines 
On April 12, Colorado School of Mines students participate in the annual cardboard boat races as part of the 2025 E-Days. Every year, Orediggers build boats out of cardboard and duct tape, and test them at the Clear Creek Whitewater Park. Credit: Courtesy of Colorado School of Mines