A guide to 13 statewide festivals that make summer in Colorado the best it's ever been!
It wouldn’t be summer in Colorado without plenty of festivals across the state. On just about any weekend throughout the summer one can find a festival happening somewhere in the Centennial State. Permanent Colorado resident or vacation visitor, here is a quick break down of 13 summer festivals coming up that you will want to save the date for.
Denver Pop Culture Con (Formerly Denver Comic Con)
May 31-June 2
Calling all nerds and geeks alike! Denver Pop Culture Con is the perfect way to kick off the summer! Held at the Colorado Convention Center, this three-day pop culture extravaganza will host fans, celebrities, authors, and artists. Expect cosplays, workshops, demos, and much more. Fan favorites such as George Takei, Christopher Lloyd, Zachary Levi, Tom Welling, and Dave Bautista, among other stars, will be appearing throughout the weekend. Learn more about Denver Pop Culture Con here. Also, check out the other geek conventions happening in Colorado this year!
Courtesy of Denver Chalk Art Festival (Facebook)
17th Annual Denver Chalk Art Festival
June 1-2
This free two-day event at Denver’s Larimer Square brings over 200 artists, both professional and amateur, together to transform the area into a pop-up museum of street art. With the pavement and asphalt as a blank canvas, these artists use bright chalk colors to bring the art to life, almost a live art performance. Music, kids’ activities, food vendors, and much more make this interactive art festival an unforgettable experience.
The Denver BBQ Festival
June 14-16
The perfect event for Father’s Day weekend with award-winning barbeque, live music, and cold beverages, this is a great way to enjoy barbeque from all over the country. Also, we've got a great list of 12 wine festivals happening this summer!
Denver Pride Fest
June 15-16
One of the top 10 pride events in the country, Denver’s annual celebration brings more than 250,000 participants out and about for the weekend. Community, family, culture, and heritage are celebrated in this weekend of art, togetherness, entertainment, food, parades, and more.
Colorado Renaissance Festival
June 15-Aug. 4
For 43 years and counting, the good lords, ladies, and villagers of Colorado have loved the magic of the Colorado Renaissance Festival. Hundreds of performers transform the grounds into a 16th Century wonderland. The summer-long event lasts eight weekends, rain or shine. Themed weekends, contests, giant turkey legs, fresh baked goods, and plenty of ale make everyone feel like royalty. Put on that royal garb and enjoy grand fun for the whole family!
Denver Cherry Blossom Festival
June 22-23
The Cherry Blossom Festival returns for its 47th year, and will celebrate Japanese culture and heritage all weekend long. Guests can walk through the marketplace, which will be full of exhibits and demonstrations, as well as art, entertainment, hands-on crafts, and more. Plus, it's free!
Greeley Stampede
June 22-July 7
Greeley’s 98th annual summer western extravaganza is no backwoods rodeo! This two-week event is packed with rodeo events (duh!), a demolition derby, and truckloads of other entertainment, including a carnival, ttwofireworks displays, multiple music stages, a kids' event area, parades, and much, much more. REO Speedwagon, Brett Eldridge, Kip Moore featuring the Tyler Walker Band, Cody Johnson, and the Brothers Osborne are the headlining musical acts this year's event. Giddy up and get out to the Greeley Stampede for some honky-tonk fun!
Blues From the Top
June 29-30
A musical mix of Blues, American Rock, Roots, Jam, Blues Gospel, and Soul, the two-day festival features headliners Lucinda Williams, The Allman Betts Band, Robert Randolph & The Family Ban, Samantha Fish, and Danielle Nicole Band, among others. More major talent will be announced in June. Learn more about other summer music festivals in Colorado here!
Hot Air Balloon Rodeo
July 13-14
Riders of the wind showcase vibrantly colored hot air balloons against the Colorado sky in a photographic and colorful show. Balloon Glows, rodeo competitions, an art show, and local vendors have made this event a statewide favorite for 38 years.
Underground Music Showcase
July 26-28
Possibly Denver’s biggest music weekend, the Underground Music Showcase is a three-day celebration of indie music that takes over South Broadway. Outdoor stages, as well as indoor venues, immersive stages, vendors, and a massive lineup of bands (more than 200!) spotlight the music scene in the Mile High City. Learn more about other summer music festivals in Colorado here!
Courtesy of Mountain Art Festivals (Facebook)
Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival
Aug. 1-3
This nationally acclaimed art event is back its 18 year, with more than 100 local and national artists demonstrating and showcasing their talents in the mountain air. Enjoy art, live music, food, and vendors throughout the festival.
Colorado State Fair
Aug. 23-Sept. 2
The Colorado State Fair has a little bit of anything and everything, including the rodeo, a carnival, livestock shows, petting zoos, monster truck rallies, and practically every type of carinval food you can imagine.
Taste of Colorado
Aug. 31-Sept. 2
Labor Day weekend at Denver’s Civic Center Park is a three-day extravaganza of food, free concerts, art, kids activities, a local marketplace, and plenty of Colorado breweries. Taste samples from more than 50 restaurants, enjoy live music at six stages, and so much more at one of the state’s largest summer events for over three decades. Also, we've got a great list of 12 wine festivals happening this summer!
What is your favorite part of summer festivals in Colorado? Are there any other festivals that we missed on our list? Share your favorite festival to go to in the comments below!
