Colorado Events & Festivals

Throughout the year, Colorado boasts an impressive number of exciting and diverse festivals. It’s easy to find a fun event to celebrate during any given month. Whether you’re looking for music, art, film, beer, wine, food, history, heritage, or sports, you’ll find it here.

Annual Events in Colorado

Colorado is home to some of the biggest and best festivals in the world! Denver hosts probably the largest beer festival in the country each fall with the Great American Beer Festival, and Aspen hosts the Winter X Games each January.

Featured Festivals

Guide to Upcoming Annual Events in Colorado

Fall Events

When fall hits it’s time for Oktoberfests and other celebrations of beer, wine, and spirits. Great American Beer Festival, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival, and Wine in the Pines are a few examples. Spook yourself at a Haunted House then laugh at the costume-wearing coffin racers at Manitou’s Emma Crawford Festival.

Winter Events

Kick off the year at New Year’s Celebrate then continue to rock winter. See the world’s extreme winter athletes compete at the Winter X Games and Ouray Ice Festival. Get weird at Frozen Dead Guy Days to wind out your winter fun.

Spring Events

Spring hits and so does the focus on warm-weather fun. Party one last time at your favorite ski area’s closing day. They usually have live music, contests, food, drinks and if you’re lucky, pond skimming and bikini-inducing weather. Kick off your May with Denver’s Cinco De Mayor in Civic Center Park, then start planning your upcoming getaways and festivals.

Summer Events

Make your Memorial Day memorable at Craig’s Grand Olde West Days or MountainFilm in Telluride. June, July, August, and September are perhaps the hardest-hitting when it comes to the sheer number of events. Every single weekend you’ll have a handful of fun festivals to choose from. Splash around at FIBArk in June or the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo over Labor Day, one of many Colorado fairs held over the summer.

Trending Top Events

There are so many special events in Colorado that it can be tough to find the perfect festival for you and your friends. We’ve curated several articles on the best festivals, from ice sculptures to holiday light shows.

Top Events by Town

Art Festivals in Colorado

Art is huge here and can be enjoyed at festivals like the Denver Chalk Art and the Cherry Creek Arts. The Crested Butte Arts Festival has been around since 1962 and is still going strong!

• Jan-Dec – First Friday Santa Fe Art Walk in Denver
• Apr – Gathering of the Guilds in Golden
• Apr – East Boulder County Artists Studio Tour in Longmont and Lafayette
• Apr/May – Mile High International Pastel Exhibition in Central City
• May – Denver Arts Festival
• May-Aug – Monte Vista 3rd Friday Art Walk
• Jun – Aspen Fringe Festival
• Jun – Denver Chalk Art Festival
• Jun – High Peaks Art Festival in Nederland
• Jul – Art in the Park in La Veta
• Jul – Breckenridge July Art Festival
• Jul – Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver
• Jul – Evergreen Summerfest
• Jul – Cheesman Park Art Fest in Denver
• Jul – Silverthorne Fine Art Festival
• Aug – Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival
• Aug – Boulder International Fringe Festival
• Aug/Sep – Phamaly Theatre Company Performance in Denver
• Aug – Sculpture in the Park in Loveland
• Aug – Crested Butte Arts Festival
• Aug – Affordable Arts Fest in Littleton
• Aug-Oct – Handmade In Colorado Expo – in Estes Park, Denver, Boulder
• Sep – Colorado Artfest at Castle Rock
• Sep – Durango Autumn Arts Festival
• Sep – Denver Mineral, Fossil, Gem & Jewelry Show
• Sep – Breckenridge Gathering at the Great Divide Art Festival
• Nov – Evergreen Winterfest
• Nov – Denver Arts Week
• Dec – Telluride Fire Festival

Beer, Wine & Spirits Festivals in Colorado

The Mile High City boasts the Great American Beer Festival, one of the country’s largest gatherings of brewers and beer tastings. It’s held over three days in late September / early October. Palisade is Colorado’s wine capital, so it’s only fitting that one attend the Colorado Mountain Winefest there in September.

Distillers have grown so rapidly that there are now festivals dedicated to liquor, including the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival in October.

• Jan – Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival in Breckenridge
• Jan – Estes Park Winter Festival
• Jan – Denver Winter Brew Fest
• Feb – Steamboat WinterWonderGrass
• Mar – Mile High Beer Festival
• Apr – Collaboration Fest Denver
• Apr – Taste of Vail
• May – Durango Wine Experience
• May – Chalk Vines and Lines in Aurora
• Jun – Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
• Jun – Hops Drops in Evergreen
• Jun – Reds, Whites & Brews in the Boat
• Jun – Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival
• Jun – Stills in the Hills in Central City
• Jun – Vail Valley Brew Fest at Avon
• Jun-Jul – Telluride Wine Festival
• Jul – Breckenridge Summer Beer Fest
• Jul – Denver Summer Brew Fest
• Jul – Colorado Brewers Rendezvous in Salida
• Jul – Castle Rock WineFest
• Jul – Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival
• Jul – Springs Beer Fest in Colorado Springs
• Jul – JUL-IPA in Boulder
• Aug – Steers & Beers Whiskey and Beer Festival in Colorado Springs
• Aug – San Juan Brewfest in Durango
• Aug – Boulder Craft Beer Festival
• Aug – Keystone Oktoberfest
• Aug-Oct – Oktoberfests in Colorado
• Sep – Parker Oktoberfest
• Sep – Lafayette Brew Fest
• Sep – Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
• Sep – Denver Food and Wine Festival
• Sep – Bloody Mary Festival in Denver
• Sep – Palmer Lake Wine Festival
• Sep – Lafayette Brew Fest
• Sep – Pawtoberfest in Colorado Springs
• Sep – ThirtyFest in Aurora
• Sep – Steamboat OktoberWest in Steamboat Springs
• Sep – Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade
• Sep – All Colorado Beer Festival in Colorado Springs
• Sep – Lake City Uncorked Wine & Music Festival
• Sep – Great American Beer Festival in Denver
• Oct – Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival
• Nov – Wine In The Pines in Keystone
• Read about the top beer festivals in Colorado.
• Read about the top wine festivals in Colorado.

Film Festivals in Colorado

Although it’s tucked away in Colorado’s southwest corner, Telluride parties so much it’s known as the festival capital of the West.

One of its most well-known is the Telluride Film Festival, which attracts celebrities and visitors from around the world. It also claims one of the country’s longest-running film fests, the Mountainfilm Festival, held in late May. Carbondale showcases the 5Point Film Festival in late April, catering to adventure.

• Mar – Boulder International Film Festival
• Apr – Aspen Shortsfest
• Apr – 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale
• May – Mountain Film In Telluride
• May-Aug – Film on the Rocks in Morrison
• Sep – Telluride Film Festival
• Sep – Breck Film Fest
• Sep – Aspen Filmfest
• Sep – Vail Film Festival
• Oct – Mile High Horror Film Festival
• Oct – Telluride Horror Show
• Oct-Dec – Warren Miller Film Tour
• Nov – Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
• Nov – Denver Film Festival

Food Festivals in Colorado

Since Colorado plays hard, residents and visitors are always hungry. Most festivals offer local food, but some are dedicated to it. A Taste of Colorado is Denver’s summer farewell and one of the tastiest ways to cap off summer. And if you can’t wait until then, head to Civic Center Park Tuesday through Thursday from May to October for a mass gathering of food trucks.

• Jan – Estes Park Winter Festival
• Feb – Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off in Manitou Springs
• Mar – Denver Restaurant Week
• Apr – Taste of Vail
• May – TheBigWonderful in Denver
• May-Sep – Civic Center EATS in Denver
• Jun – Strawberry Days in Glenwood Springs
• Jun – Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
• Jun – Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival
• Jun-Jul – Paonia Cherry Days
• Jun-Sep – Highlands Farmers Market in Denver
• Aug – Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
• Aug – Telluride Mushroom Festival
• Aug – Palisade Peach Festival
• Aug – Farm to Fiddle Summer Festival in Hotchkiss
• Aug – Lafayette Peach Festival
• Aug – Mushroom & Wine Festival in Durango
• Sept – Gourmet on Gore in Vail
• Sep – A Taste Of Colorado in Denver
• Sep – Denver Food and Wine Festival
• Sep – San Luis Valley Potato Festival in Monte Vista
• Sep – Chile & Frijoles Festival in Pueblo
• Oct – Knock Your Boots Off Chili Cook-Off & Beer Tasting in Golden
• Oct – Cedaredge Applefest

Heritage Festivals in Colorado

Whether fact or fiction, real or mythical, these events celebrate historic traditions. The West is Colorado’s culture and there’s no better place to soak that up than the Colorado State Fair. It’s an eleven-day extravaganza with rodeos, concerts, crafts, carnivals, and livestock. Denver’s National Western Stock Show embodies the spirit of the west over sixteen days.

• Jan – National Western Stock Show in Denver
• Jan – Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships
• Jan / Feb – Snowdown in Durango
• Jan / Feb – CSCCI Chinese New Year Festival in Colorado Springs
• Feb – Steamboat Winter Carnival
• Feb – Cripple Creek Ice Fest
• Feb – Colorado Motorcycle Expo in Denver
• Mar – 303 Day in Denver
• Mar – Denver Home Show in Denver
• Mar – Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland
• Apr – Colorado Tartan Day Festival in Longmont
• Apr – Rocky Mountain Train Show in Denver
• Apr/May – Mountain Plover Festival in Karval
• Apr/May – HESTIVAL in Hotchkiss
• May – Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival
• May – Royal Gorge Rodeo in Cañon City
• May – Estes Park Duck Race Festival
• May – Grand Old West Days in Craig
• May – Rifle Rendezvous Festival
• May – Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown in Denver
• May – Mike the Headless Chicken Festival in Fruita
• Jun – TEDxBoulder
• Jun – Unknown Motorcycle Show in Montrose
• Jun – Colorado Medieval Festival in Loveland
• Jun – Juneteenth Music Festival in Denver
• Jun – Evergreen Rodeo
• Jun – Telluride Balloon Festival
• Jun – Colorado Tiny House Festival
• Jun – Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
• Jun – Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival
• Jun-Jul – Cowboy’s Roundup Days in Steamboat Springs
• Jun-Jul – Greeley Stampede
• Jun/Jul – Meekerpalooza
• Jun-Aug – Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder
• Jun-Aug – Colorado Renaissance Festival in Larkspur
• Jun-Aug – Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series
• Jul – FAN EXPO Denver
• Jul – Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs
• Jul – Range Call in Meeker
• Jul – Cattlemen’s Days in Gunnison
• Jul – Bronc Day in Green Mountain Falls
• Jul – Colorado Irish Festival in Littleton
• Jul – Durango Fiesta Days
• Jul – Gold Rush Days in Victor
• Jul – Plateau Valley Heritage Days in Collbran
• Jul- Manassa Pioneer Days
• Jul – Battlemoor in Buena Vista
• Jul – Hot Air Balloon Rodeo in Steamboat Springs
• Jul – Kit Carson County Fair and Pro Rodeo in Burlington
• Jul / Aug – High Country Stampede Rodeo in Fraser
• Aug – Delta County Fair in Hotchkiss
• Aug – Archuleta County Fair in Pagosa Springs
• Aug – Middle Park Fair & Rodeo in Kremmling
• Aug – Colorado Scottish Festival in Edgewater
• Aug – Colorado Springs Comic Con
• Aug – Leadville Boom Days
• Aug – Western Welcome Week in Littleton
• Aug – Rocky Mountain Irish Gathering in Fort Collins
• Aug – Antiques at the Spanish Peaks Vintage Trailer Rally in La Veta
• Aug – Colorado State Fair & Rodeo in Pueblo
• Aug – Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Durango
• Aug – Saguache Community Pow Wow
• Sep – Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival in Estes Park
• Sep – Friends of Raymer Car Show in New Raymer
• Sep – Ouray County Fair & Rodeo in Ridgway
• Sep – Colorfest Balloon Rally in Pagosa Springs
• Sep – Loveland Stone Age Fair
• Sep – Rocky Mountain Rambler Fun-Fest in Victor
• Sep – Southern Ute Tribal Fair & Powwow in Ignacio
• Sep – Rist Canyon Mountain Festival in Bellvue
• Sep – Denver Auto Show
• Sep- Pikes Peak Regional Air Show in Colorado Springs
• Sep – Telluride Autumn Classic
• Sep – Off-Grid Expo in Golden
• Oct – Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering
• Oct – Dia de los Muertos in Longmont
• Nov – Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival
• Dec – Ullr Fest in Breckenridge
• Dec-Mar – Dillon Ice Castles

Holiday Festivals in Colorado

From Christmas to Halloween, Coloradoans know how to celebrate their holidays. Festivals cater to the holiday season with Haunted Houses and Hay Rides, as well as Polar Express trains and New Year’s Eve fireworks.

• Feb – Denver Mardi Gras
• Feb – Loveland Sweetheart Festival
• Mar – Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade
• Mar – Colorado Springs St. Patrick’s Day Parade
• May – Cinco de Mayo Festival in Denver
• June – Denver Pride 5k
• July – 4th of July Symphony on your Porch in Colorado Springs
• Sep – Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs
• Sep/Oct – Corn Maze at Anderson Farms
• Sep/Oct – 13th Floor Haunted House in Denver
• Oct – Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Parade in Manitou Springs
• Oct – Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms in Littleton
• Oct – Haunted Houses in Denver
• Oct – Halloween Stores in Denver
• Oct – Treat Street in Aurora
• Oct – Denver Zombie Crawl
• Nov – Colorado Country Christmas Gift Show in Denver and Colorado Springs
• Nov-Dec – Denver Christkindlmarket
• Nov-Dec – Polar Express Train Ride in Durango
• Nov-Jan – Denver Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light
• Dec – Festival of Lights Parade in Colorado Springs
• Dec/Jan – Living Lights at Wesminter’s Butterfly Pavilion
• Dec – Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas
• Dec – Gold Camp Christmas Weekend in Cripple Creek
• Dec – 12 Days of Aspen
• Dec – Georgetown Christmas Market
• Dec – Parade of Lights in Denver
• Dec – Berthoud Snowfest
• Dec – Christmas at Schmid Ranch in Telluride
• Dec – Holiday Arts Bazaar in Telluride
• Dec – Noel Night in Durango
• Dec – Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade in Telluride
• Dec – New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Downtown Denver
• Read about the top Christmas events in Colorado.

Music Festivals in Colorado

In addition to beer and art, Colorado loves a jammin’ music festival. Jazz, blues, rock, punk, rap, country, bluegrass, the list goes on and on. There’s not a genre of music you can’t find here on a regular basis. Toast the summer solstice at SonicBoom in Rye, Colorado’s largest electronic festival. Then in August head up funky Nederland for NedFest.

• Jan – MusicFest at Steamboat
• Feb – Steamboat WinterWonderGrass
• Mar – Bud Light Rocks the Boat
• Apr – Durango Bluegrass Meltdown
• Jun-Aug – Bravo! Vail Music Festival
• Jun/Aug – Durango Blues Train
• Jun – Country Jam in Grand Junction
• Jun – Colorado College Summer Music Festival in Colorado Springs
• Jun – Sonic Bloom Festival in Rye
• Jun – Yampa River Roots Rock Reggae Festival in Craig
• Jun – Pagosa Folk ‘n Bluegrass in Pagosa Springs
• Jun – Greeley Blue Jams
• Jun – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
• Jun-Aug – Colorado Music Festival in Boulder
• Jun-Sep – Hudson Gardens Summer Concert Series in Littleton
• Jul-Aug – Aspen Music Festival
• Jul – Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival
• Jul – Cañon City Music & Bloom Festival
• Jul – High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival in Westcliffe
• Jul – Evergreen Jazz Festival
• Jul – RIDE Festival in Telluride
• Jul – RockyGrass Festival in Lyons
• Jul – Underground Music Showcase in Denver
• Jul-Aug – Central City Opera Festival
• Aug – Idaho Springs Town Party
• Aug – Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival
• Aug – Telluride Jazz Festival
• Aug – Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest in Fort Collins
• Aug – Pickin’ On The Divide Bluegrass Festival in Monument
• Aug – Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons
• Aug – Mountain Town Music Festival in Keystone
• Aug – Nedfest in Nederland
• Aug – Wüffstock Music Festival in Grand Junction
• Aug – Four Corners Folk Festival in Pagosa Springs
• Aug – Opera in the Park in Boulder
• Sep – Sundown Colorado in Denver
• Sep – High Peaks Music Festival in Westcliffe
• Nov – Colorado Springs Record Show
• Dec – Vail Snow Days
• Dec-Mar/Jun-Sep – Mind Blown Telluride

Sports Festivals in Colorado

With professional teams in all the major national leagues, Coloradoans have options for sporting events. All of Colorado’s pro sports, including hockey, basketball, football, baseball, soccer, and lacrosse call Denver home. Catch a game any time of year in the Mile High City.

Celebrate the world’s best winter athletes each January in Aspen at one of Colorado’s top outdoor sporting events. From big air in the superpipe to blazing racers at downhill slalom, catch all of the events live, most are free to watch.

• Jan – Lafayette Oatmeal Festival
• Jan – Cowboy Downhill in Steamboat Springs
• Jan – Ouray Ice Festival
• Jan – Winter X Games in Aspen
• Jan – Rio Frio Ice Fest in Alamosa
• Feb – Lake City Ice Climbing Festival
• Feb – Silverton Skijoring
• Feb – Aspen Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race
• Feb – Pabst Pond Hockey Tournament in Silverthorne
• Mar – Leadville Ski Joring
• Apr – Steamboat Cardboard Classic
• Apr – Steamboat Pond Skim Closing Day Celebration
• May – Fruita Fat Tire Festival
• May – Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Durango
• Jun – Kids Adventure Games in Fruita, Vail
• Jun – Animas River Days in Durango
• Jun – GoPro Mountain Games in Vail
• Jun – FIBArk in Salida
• Jun – Buena Vista Bike Fest
• Jun – Telluride Yoga Festival
• Jun – Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Cascade
• Jun-Jul – Vail Lacrosse Shootout
• Jul – Rocky Mountain State Games in Colorado Springs
• Jul – Tour de Steamboat
• Aug – Tough Mudder Colorado in Littleton
• Aug – The Broadmoor Cycle to the Summit in Cascade
• Aug – Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race
• Aug – Colorado Classic in Steamboat Springs, Avon, Golden, Denver
• Sep – Labor Day Ski Sales in Colorado
• Sep – Arapahoe County 5k Trail Run in Centennial
• Sep – Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in Denver
• Oct – bRUNch Run 5K + 10K in Denver
• Oct – Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame 

Wildlife Festivals in Colorado

Wildlife is sacred to Colorado and represents its past, present, and future. Some festivals in Colorado are dedicated to an animal, such as Elk Fest in Estes Park and the Monte Vista Crane Festival.

• Feb – High Plains Snow Goose Festival in Lamar
• Mar – Monte Vista Crane Festival
• Jul – Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
• Sep – Elk Fest in Estes Park
• Sep – Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials
• Sep – Luvin Arms Gala
• Oct – National Fossil Day at Dinosaur Ridge

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