Ready for some fun in the sun? Mark your calendars for these can’t miss summer festivals in Colorado.
Summertime in Colorado means warm weather, outdoor adventures, and tons of fun festivals. The Centennial State’s best summer festivals celebrate everything from beer and wine to art and music.
Whether you want to put your athletic skills to the test, dress up like a knight from medieval times, or catch a buzz sipping craft beer, there is a Colorado summer festival for you. Keep reading to discover 19 of the best fests to hit up this summer.
1. GoPro Mountain Games
Date: Jun. 4-7
Location: Multiple locations throughout Vail
Vail’s GoPro Mountain Games attract thousands of professional and amateur athletes looking to compete in adventure sports like rafting, mountain cycling, bouldering, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) for cash prizes and bragging rights. The games are open to competitors of all abilities, or you cheer others on as a spectator.
Even those who aren’t super sporty will find something to enjoy at the festival, such as live music (free and ticketed performances) and more than 100 art activations.
2. Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival
Date: Jun. 6
Location: Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs
Want to discover new wines or meet fellow wine lovers? Head to Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival, where attendees can sample wine from more than 30 wineries from throughout the state.
There will also be live music and local food trucks serving charcuterie, authentic Bavarian dishes, barbecue, and other tasty treats to complement your wine samples.
General admission tickets start at $75 and include unlimited wine tastings, a commemorative wine glass, and a wine tote.
3. Colorado Renaissance Festival
Date: Jun. 13 through Aug. 2 (weekends only)
Location: 650 Perry Park Ave., Larkspur
As you explore the village streets at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a 16th-century medieval amusement park. Festivalgoers are encouraged to come dressed in costume, adding to the festival atmosphere.
The lineup of entertainers is diverse, with acts ranging from fire manipulation and juggling to magic and jousting. There is plenty of fun festival food to indulge in too, such as turkey legs, steak on a stake, funnel cakes, and fried ice cream.
Adult, single-day admission starts at $29.
4. Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Date: Jun. 18-21
Location: Telluride
If a weekend of music in the mountains sounds like your idea of a good time, secure your tickets to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The festival, set in the San Juan Mountains, is a four-day celebration of music (bluegrass, as well as other genres) featuring about 30 main stage performers.
Single day ticket prices start at $130.
5. FIBArk
Date: Jun. 18-21
Location: Salida
FIBArk (short for First in Boating in the Arkansas River) is the country’s oldest whitewater festival. Now in its 78th year, the festival features multiple river events, including a kayak freestyle, SUP boxing, and a raft rodeo, as well as a mountain bike trail race, several running races, a parade, and live music.
6. Greeley Stampede
Date: Jun. 24 through Jul. 5
Location: 600 N. 14th Ave., Greeley
Greeley Stampede is a 12-day western heritage festival that attracts about 250,000 attendees every summer. The festivities include rodeos, country music concerts, a demolition derby, a carnival, and a parade.
There is also a food court and dedicated area for kids with face painting and a petting zoo.
7. Aspen Ideas Festival
Date: Jun. 25 through Jul. 1
Location: Multiple venues on the Aspen Institute campus in Aspen
Aspen Ideas Festival brings together leaders from across the globe for a week-long marathon of inspiring panel discussions, interviews, lectures, and interactive sessions. Topics range from AI to art to the economy.
8. Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival
Date: Jun. 27-28
Location: River Run Village at Keystone Resort in Keystone
If you like your bourbon with a side of bacon, this festival is for you. The Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival is a weekend-long celebration of both indulgences with plenty of samples to satisfy all your cravings.
In addition to bottomless bacon and bourbon samples, the festival will also feature other bacon-centric foods, bacon-themed merchandise, a bacon-eating contest, live music, and activities for kids at “Camp Bacon.”
9. Telluride Plein Air
Date: Jun. 29 through Jul. 5
Location: Various outdoor locations throughout Telluride
Telluride Plein Air Festival, hosted by the Sheridan Arts Foundation, brings together more than 20 plein air (or open air) artists from across the country for a creative celebration that coincides with Independence Day.
The outdoor art festival, now in its 23rd year, invites Telluride locals and visitors to observe the artists at work. The event culminates with a multi-day sale of the artists’ work.
10. Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
Date: Jul. 10-19
Location: Various locations throughout Crested Butte
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival is a 10-day floral celebration with more than 150 workshops where you can learn to arrange wildflower bouquets, make wildflower cocktails, photograph landscapes, or identify flowers with a mobile app.
There are also multiple hikes, garden tours, and adventure jeep tours you can take.
You must register and pay for events individually. You can view all the events and register for the ones you want to participate in here.
11. Colorado Brewers Rendezvous
Date: Jul. 11
Location: Riverside Park, 170 E. Sackett Ave., Salida
There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a cold beer, and at the Colorado Brewers Rendezvous, you can cool off with some of the best brews in the state.
This annual beer festival—now entering its 30th year—brings together about 65 Colorado breweries for attendees to discover.
Tickets weren’t on sale at the time of writing, but you can check the festival website for updates closer to the event date.
12. Winter Park Jazz Festival
Date: Jul. 18-19
Location: Rendezvous Event Center, 78821 US Hwy 40, Winter Park
Jazz lovers won’t want to miss the 43rd annual Winter Park Jazz Festival. This two-day event includes live performances by 10 artists, including Grammy-winner Patti LaBelle, violinist Damien Escobar, and jazz guitarist Gregory Goodloe.
Single-day, general admission tickets start at $100.45.
13. Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival
Date: Jul. 18-19
Location: River Run Village at Keystone Resort in Keystone
If you can’t make it to Winter Park’s jazz festival (or you prefer your jazz with a glass of wine), check out the Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival. This three-day event pairs smooth jazz performed by Colorado musicians with hundreds of wines to sample.
There will also be plenty of food, a kids’ zone, wine- and jazz-themed merchandise, and other activities sprinkled throughout the weekend, such as seminars and a cooking competition.
14. Underground Music Showcase
Date: Jul. 24-26
Location: Multiple locations throughout theRiNo Art District in Denver
Discover new artists at Denver’s Underground Music Showcase, which will feature performances by more than 200 emerging local talents and national headlining acts.
By hosting performances throughout the city’s RiNo Art District—at traditional music halls and unexpected settings—the event also encourages attendees to explore the area, discover new venues, and experience Denver in new ways.
Weekend passes start at $75 (presale).
15. Rockygrass Festival
Date: Jul. 24-26
Location: Lyons
Catch more than 20 musical performances across three days at the 54th annual Rockygrass Festival. The festival is held in Lyons, with the main stage, camping areas, and many attractions situated along the North St. Vrain Creek.
Single-day festival passes can be purchased for $105. The price increases to $275 for a three-day pass.
16. Vail Dance Festival
Date: Jul. 31 through Aug. 10
Location: Multiple venues throughout Vail
Watch performances by some of the country’s most talented dancers at the Vail Dance Festival. Dancers from the Colorado Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Philadelphia Ballet, and many others will take the stage throughout the festival.
Many of the performances will take place at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, a large outdoor venue with covered seating and additional space on a grassy hillside with Rocky Mountain views.
17. Moffat County Hot Air Balloon Festival
Date: Jul. 31 through Aug. 2
Location: Loudy-Simpson Park, Craig
Moffat County Hot Air Balloon Festival kicks off on Friday with a balloon launch followed by a concert. On Saturday, there is another launch followed by a full day of activities, including a 5K, car show, cardboard boat regatta, kite making, and more live music.
Craft and food vendors will also be set up in the park. The event will close with one final balloon launch on Sunday morning.
18. Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival
Date: Aug. 1-2
Location: River Run Village at Keystone Resort in Keystone
For a weekend of music and brews in the mountains, head to River Run Village for the Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival. Listen to the sounds of string bands while you sip craft beer at one of Colorado’s longest-running beer festivals.
Multiple national bluegrass acts will perform on three different stages throughout the event, which will also feature a kids’ zone and other activities like “best brew” and “best dish” competitions.
19. Colorado State Fair
Date: Aug. 28 through Sept. 7
Location: Colorado State Fairgrounds, 1001 Beulah Ave, Pueblo
If you’ve never been to the Colorado State Fair, consider this your sign to make it a priority this summer. Like with most state fairs, there will be plenty to do: concerts, rodeos, livestock competitions, and activities for kids are all on this year’s schedule.
The fair will also feature plenty of food, art exhibits, carnival rides, and other attractions that will be announced closer to the event date.
