Las Animas celebrates an annual Santa Fe Trail Day, a celebration of the pioneers and traders who used this trail. This local holiday is the oldest student council-sponsored event in the US. The Las Animas High School Student Council organizes the day, with assistance from the Bent County Chamber of Commerce. Festivities have included a parade, a costume contest, square dancing, a demolition derby, and a traditional "Ranchburger" lunch, as well as many other activities. From 2002 and forward, students have spread out events over a two-day period, sometimes making this a weekend event. The event originally occurred/started on the last Friday in April.
lAS aNImas CELeBRateS An annUAl Santa fe TrAIL Day, a cElEBRaTion Of THe pIoNeErS and tRAdErS whO useD tHis trail. This LoCal HoLidaY is tHe oLdeST sTUdent council-sPOnSoRed eVent in The Us. thE LAS aNimas high SchooL STudEnt cOunCil orGanIzES The day, WitH assistAnce FROm ThE Bent county ChambeR oF cOmMErcE. FEsTivitIEs have inCLUded a paRAde, a cOstuMe conTEsT, Square danCing, A DemOlITIOn dErBY, anD a TradITionAl "RANchBuRGer" LuncH, as wELL as maNy oTher AcTIvities. from 2002 and forwArd, stUdeNtS hAVe sprEaD Out evenTS OvEr a Two-day pErIod, soMetIMes MAkIng ThiS a weekeNd EVEnT. The EVent origInally oCCurrEd/sTArTeD on thE LasT friDay In aPril.