Upcoming Spring Festivals in Colorado

Come spring, Coloradans can’t wait to take on the approaching warm weather days. And this is evidenced in the fun festivities showcasing Colorado’s springtime beauty. Spring runs from Monday, March 20th to Tuesday, June 20th, 2023.

Taste of Vail is a fun way to kick off the season in the high country. Enjoy fine wine and cuisine, then hit the slopes. There are a number of exciting Denver festivals, including two art fests and a Cinco De Mayo celebration. Towards the end of spring, the 8-week Colorado Renaissance Festival begins.

Festivals in March

Bud Light Rocks the Boat

• Date: Saturdays, March 11 – TBD, 2023
• Address: Gondola Square, Steamboat Springs
• About: Free concert series now in its 24th season, held at the base of the mountain. Several live performances are held over the course of the ski season. The series features a mix of music genres with many big-name acts having performed.

Phamaly Theatre Company: Spring Awakening

• Date: Thur-Sat, March 23 – April 8, 2023
• Address: The Parsons Theatre, Northglenn
• About: Now in its 34th season, the Phamaly Theatre Company presents Spring Awakening with its disability-affirmative performance ensemble in Northglenn.

Denver Home Show

• Date: Fri-Sun, March 24-26, 2023
• Address: Denver
• About: Every March in Colorado, HGTV fans flock to the Denver Home Show for renovation inspiration. With informative presentations from experts in the home industry, sweepstakes, and home-related goods for sale, visitors can gather all the information needed for their next project.

Collaboration Fest Denver

• Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023
• Address: Denver
• About: Taking place annually, Collaboration Fest Denver is an event where local brewers work together to create truly one-of-a-kind beers. An event for adults 21+, beer aficionados can learn more about the craft, upcoming brewery trends, and try some unprecedented flavors

Festivals in April

Bud Light Rocks the Boat

• Date: Saturdays, March 11 – TBD, 2023
• Address: Gondola Square, Steamboat Springs
• About: Free concert series now in its 24th season, held at the base of the mountain. Several live performances are held over the course of the ski season. The series features a mix of music genres with many big-name acts having performed.

Mile High Beer Festival

• Date: Saturday, April 1, 2023
• Address: Denver
• About: Annual beer festival highlighting both well-known and up-and-coming breweries in addition to a few distilleries and cideries. Visitors have 2.5 hours to taste unlimited samples while enjoying live music, and food vendors.

Taste Of Vail

• Date: Wed-Fri, April 5-8, 2023
• Address: Vail Village
• About: 31st annual Taste of Vail is the largest food and wine festival in Eagle County. Enjoy wine and food vendors against a beautiful backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

Cardboard Classic

• Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023
• Address: Gondola Square, Steamboat Springs
• About: 41st annual event features homemade sleds constructed only using cardboard, glue, string, water-based paint, duct tape, and masking tape. It’s a race down Headwall in this hysterical end to the season.​

Colorado Tartan Day Festival 

• Date: Sat-Sun, April 8-9, 2023
• Address: Boulder County Fairgrounds, Longmont
• About: An annual event celebrating all things Scottish, the Colorado Tartan Day Festival is free to attend and great for the entire family. Activities at the festival include a parade, face painting, combat demonstrations, and live music.

Pond Skim Closing Day Celebration

• Date: Sunday, April 9, 2023
• ​Address: Gondola Square, Steamboat Springs
• About: Annual event features skiers and riders attempting to cross a pond at the base of the mountain. Judged on distance, outfit creativity, and crowd response. A free Bud Light concert follows.

Aspen Film Shortsfest

• Date: Mon-Sun, April 10-16, 2023
• Address: Aspen
• About: One of the nation’s best annual short film festivals and Oscar-qualifying showcases. International short films are defined as 40 minutes or less.

5Point Film Festival

• Date: Thur-Sun, April 19-23, 2023
• Address: Carbondale
• About: Four-day Carbondale film festival with traveling events throughout the year.

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown

• Date: Fri-Sun, April 21-23, 2023
• Address: Durango
• About: Three days of concerts showcasing bluegrass bands from around the country. Special events include a Durango-style barn dance, Saturday night ‘Celtdown’, and music in local restaurants and bars. The headquarters are in the historic Strater Hotel.

Durango Wine Experience

• Date: Fri-Sat, April 28-29, 2023
• Address: Durango
• About: 3-day annual wine festival showcasing hundreds of craft wines, spirits, and beers. The Walk-About Durango is a wine tasting held Friday and the Grand Tasting starts Saturday afternoon.

Mountain Plover Festival

• Date: Fri-Sat, April 28-29, 2023
• Address: Karval
• About: Held annually in late April or early May, Karval plays host to the annual Mountain Plover Festival. The only event of its kind in the US, and you’re likely to spot not only plovers but also prairie dogs, big-horned owls, and other migratory birds.

HESTIVAL

• Date: Fri-Sun, April 28-30, 2023
• Address: Hotchkiss
• About: A 3-day camping event that offers a myriad of activities including excursions, live music, hiking, and mountain biking. Great for the family, dogs included, guests will enjoy camping under the stars, sipping cider, listening to live music, and spending time in nature.

Festivals in May

Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival

• Date: Wed-Sun, May 3-7, 2023
• Address: Cañon City
• About: Long-running music festival featuring a parade, rodeo, and carnival. High school, middle school, and junior high school bands from across the country compete in Concert Band, Jazz Band, Parade, and Orchestra.

Royal Gorge Rodeo

• Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
• Address: Cañon City
• About: Founded in 1872, this is Colorado’s longest continuously running rodeo, held as part of the aforementioned Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival.

Estes Park Duck Race Festival

• Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
• Address: Estes Park
• About: “Adopt” a little rubber duck and race it down the Fall River in support of over 60 Estes Valley charities. Bond Park comes alive with family games and live music. In addition to the duck race, vendors in downtown Estes Park will be having a sidewalk sale Saturday and Sunday.

Cinco de Mayo Festival

• Date: Sat-Sun, May 6-7, 2023
• Address: Civic Center Park, Denver
• About: 34th Cinco de Mayo celebration with music, dancing, food, and festivities.

Fruita Fat Tire Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, May 12-14, 2023
• Where: Fruita
• About: Four-day celebration of mountain biking featuring seminars, competitions and a giant expo, now in its 25th year.

Chalk Vines & Lines

• Date: Sat-Sun, May 13-14, 2023
• Address: Aurora
• About: Chalk Lines & Vines is an annual 21+ event that takes place in Aurora’s Arapahoe County Fairgrounds where guests can sample over a dozen wineries, live entertainment, and chalk art.

Civic Center EATS

• Date: Thursdays, May – September 2023
• Address: Denver
• About: Civic Center EATS is a one-stop shop for some of the best food on wheels you can find in the Mile High City. Located in Denver’s Civic Center Park, there will be about 10 to 15 food trucks selling a myriad of delicious meals.

Mountainfilm In Telluride

• Date: Thur-Mon, May 25-29, 2023
• Address: Telluride
• About: Film festival held since 1979 in downtown Telluride, making it one of the longest-running in America.

Grand Old West Days

• Date: Fri-Mon, May 26-29, 2023
• Address: Craig
• About: Old West cultural festival that takes place over the Memorial Day Weekend at several locations: Fairgrounds, Downtown, and Cedar Mountain. Activities include a horse show, parade, carnival, live music, food, and games.

Denver Arts Festival

• Date: Sat-Sun, May 27-28, 2023
• Address: Denver
• About: 23rd annual arts fest showcasing fine art from Colorado and national artists.

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

• Date: Sat-Mon, May 27-28, 2023
• Address: Durango-Silverton
• About: Historic bike race against the Durango and Silverton train, now in its 50th year.

TheBigWonderful

• Date: TBD 2023
• Address: Denver
• About: Celebrating the Kentucky Derby and Cinco De Mayo, TheBigWonderful features over 100 local makers, live music on two stages, a VIP program, and a lot of Colorado craft food and beverage.

Rifle Rendevous Festival

• Date: TBD 2023
• Address: Rifle
• About: 26th year of western fun, complete with a carnival, car show, live music, and vendors.

Mile High International Pastel Exhibition

• Date: TBD 2023
• Address: Washington Hall Gallery, Central City
• About: Taking place at Central City’s Washington Hall Gallery and showcasing nearly 100 pastel paintings, the Mile High International Pastel Exhibition is for those who love art.

Festivals in June

Mike the Headless Chicken Festival

• Date: Fri-Sat, June 2-3, 2023
• Address: Fruita
• About: Two days of honoring the late headless chicken named Mike. Events include a 5k race, poultry show, disc golf tourney, and car show.

Greeley Blues Jam

• Date: Fri-Sat, June 2-3, 2023
• Address: Greeley
• About: Blues music festival with a variety of events for the whole family. Camping is available at the festival location in Island Grove Park.

Animas River Days

• Date: Fri-Sun, June 2-4 2023
• Address: Santa Rita Park, Durango
• About: 3-day celebration on the Animas River thru the whitewater park. Festivities include kayak, raft, and SUP races, all capped off by a wild river parade with a viewing party from the park.

Telluride Balloon Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, June 2-4, 2023
• Address: Telluride
• About: 40th year, festivities include two sunrise balloon ascensions from Town Park, a sunset glow on Main Street, and a balloon workshop.

Colorado College Summer Music Festival

• Date: Sun-Fri, June 4-23, 2023
• Address: Colorado Springs
• About: An annual 3-week classical orchestral and chamber music festival showcasing classically trained musicians from around the globe as well as Colorado College students and faculty members.

GoPro Mountain Games

• Date: Thur-Sun, June 8-11, 2023
• Address: Vail
• About: Summer GoPro Mountain Games are the biggest festival of adventure sports, art, and music, held annually in Vail. There are competitions in biking, climbing, fishing, kayaking, slacklining, standup paddling, rafting, running, disc golf, and even events for dogs.

Colorado Medieval Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, June 9-11, 2023
• Address: Loveland
• About: It’s an outdoor medieval-themed festival with live entertainment including knights, swordsmanship, and music. There’ll be plenty of food, beer, craft vendors, and a kid zone. No pets are allowed.

Aspen Fringe Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, June 9-11, 2023
• Address: Aspen
• About: A 2-day performance art festival highlighting the work of a featured playwright.

Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass

• Date: Fri-Sun, June 9-11, 2023
• Address: Pagosa Springs
• About: 16th annual music festival showcasing bluegrass and folk tunes.

Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival

• Date: Fri-Sun, June 9-11, 2023
• Address: Palisade
• About: Annual bluegrass fest in Riverbend Park, featuring guitars, fiddles, and amazing artistry.

Meekerpalooza

• Date: Fridays, June 9 & 23 and July 14 & 21, 2023
• Address: Meeker
• About: Held in June and July, the annual Meekerpalooza celebrates art, music, and culture while hosting a large farmer’s market downtown.

Colorado Shakespeare Festival

• Date: Mixed days, June 11 – August 13, 2023
• Where: Boulder
• About: With over 60 successful seasons under its belt, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival showcases multiple performances of some of Shakespeare’s best plays. It’s held on varying days on the CU campus.

FIBArk Salida

• Date: Thur-Sun, June 15 – 18, 2023
• Address: Downtown Salida
• About: America’s oldest whitewater festival, dating back to 1949. There are a number of exciting events including the Slalom Race, Crazy River Dog, and the Hooligan Race. Camping is available in the town of Salida and nearby on Highway 50.

Strawberry Days

• Date: Fri-Sun, June 16-18, 2023
• Address: Glenwood Springs
• About: 126th annual festival is held the third weekend in June every year. It features live music, stage entertainment, a FamilyFest for kids, arts & crafts, a food court, a carnival, and a parade down Grand Avenue. Of course, there are free strawberries and ice cream after the parade.

Juneteenth Music Festival

• Date: Fri-Mon, June 16-19, 2023
• Address: Denver
• About: Denver’s Juneteenth Music Festival is one of the country’s largest celebrations. Attracting 50,000 attendees, the festival boasts live music, vendors, food stalls, art murals, activities for kids, and a parade.

Colorado Renaissance Festival

• Date: Saturday & Sunday, June 17 – August 6, 2023
• Address: 650 W Perry Park Ave, Larkspur (between Denver & CO Springs on I-25)
• About: The Renaissance Festival is held over 8 weekends in June, July, and August with medieval events for all ages. It’s held from 10 am until 6:30 pm each day, rain or shine. Parking is free and no pets are allowed.

That’s a roundup of Colorado’s annual spring events. Need help deciding? Here are eight favorite spring festivals.