About the CRFF

The Colorado River Fall Festival (CRFF) is a York Rite Festival that confers all the Degrees and Orders of the York Rite except for Super Excellent Master.

The Festival is held over three consecutive days in October by the Companions and Sir Knights from Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and currently meets at the Riverside Hotel in Laughlin, Nevada — about an hour south of Las Vegas.

It is supported, but not financed or specifically operated, by any of the Grand York Rite Bodies. It is guided by a committee of individual Companions and Sir Knights from each of the five jurisdictions who meet once each year at the CRFF to finalize details for the current year and devise plans for ensuing years. The CRFF Committee also confers by telephone and email during the year. The Committee from each jurisdiction is responsible for the ritualistic work assigned to them, coordinating with their Grand Bodies as well as the general publicity surrounding the event.

See the History, Jurisdiction, Year by Year, and Sojourners tabs for more detail.

The first CRFF was held in 1991 in Bullhead City, Arizona, and was strictly an Arizona festival. A number of Companions from California and Nevada were present and, after conferring the Degrees and Orders on 42 Candidates, expressed a desire to participate the following year.

In 1992 it was again held in Bullhead City with about 40 Candidates and ritualistic participation from Arizona, California, and Nevada. It was no longer an Arizona event.

As it had quickly outgrown the facilities available, it was moved across the Colorado River to Laughlin, Nevada and has been there ever since. In later years New Mexico and Utah joined in with the CRFF.

The Colorado River Fall Festival has met every year since 1991 with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions. It has received excellent cooperation from not only the individual Grand Bodies but also the General Grand Bodies and Grand Encampment.

CRFF has conferred the Degrees and Orders on over 1,300 Candidates from 10 jurisdictions. There are normally between 35 and 50 Candidates per class with between 100 and 150 Companions, Sir Knights, and Ladies attending. In addition to the conferrals there is a Banquet and a Ladies' program.

In the past there has been a "Survivor's Party" on our last day. If there are any Ladies present who are eligible for the Royal Arch Widow's Degree, King Solomon makes an appearance.

Meeting in Nevada, the CRFF is governed by their rules. Fortunately, the CRFF has a very good working relationship with the Grand York Rite of Nevada and the waters are seldom troubled.

Constituent Bodies in Las Vegas, Henderson, and/or Boulder City move their Charters to Laughlin for the Festival. All Candidates must be "courtesied" by the Constituent Bodies who have elected them.

The Colorado River Fall Festival is not a constituent body, has no membership, and cannot elect nor confer Degrees and Orders. The conferrals are done by the Nevada Bodies who invite Bodies from Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Utah to do additional ritualistic work.

The Mohave York Rite Bodies, based in Kingman, Arizona, handles all the administrative and financial aspects of the CRFF.

Count of new Companions and Sir Knights by year from the four participating jurisdictions, plus sojourning Masons from elsewhere.

The Other column is broken out jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction in the Sojourners tab.

Counts cover 1991 through 2016. 2006 saw no class. Counts since 2017 are tracked in the registration system; see the admin dashboard for current totals.

Starting in our fourth year, Candidates began requesting courtesy work and participating in our Festival from other Masonic jurisdictions. To date, several jurisdictions have participated from North and South America and even Europe — over 70 Candidates total have received the Degrees and Orders here.

Sojourning candidates must arrange courtesy work through their home Secretary or Recorder. See the Sec/Rec Courtesy Form page.

Historical totals as of 2016. Newer sojourning candidates are tracked in the current registration system.