🗓️ 2025 Colorado Events Calendar – Month by Month
January
- ❄️ National Western Stock Show (Jan 11–26, Denver) – Rodeos, livestock shows, and over 300 vendors.
- 🎶 The MusicFest at Steamboat (Jan 6–11, Steamboat Springs) – 50+ bands and ski-town vibes.
- 🧊 Ouray Ice Festival (Jan 23–26, Ouray) – Ice climbing competitions and gear expos.
- 🎿 X Games Aspen (Jan 23–25, Aspen) – Elite winter sports competitions and concerts.
- 🎨 Colorado Indian Market & Southwest Art Fest (Jan 25–26, Denver) – Native arts and culture.
- ✊ MLK Jr. Marade (Jan 20, Denver) – One of the largest MLK Day marches in the U.S.
- ❄️ Snowdown Durango (Jan 24 – Feb 2, Durango) – 200+ quirky winter events and parades.
February
- 🧊 Cripple Creek Ice Festival (Feb 15–23, Cripple Creek) – Ice sculptures and family fun.
- 🎿 Steamboat Winter Carnival (Feb 6–8, Steamboat Springs) – Ski parades and fireworks.
- 🎻 Midwinter Bluegrass Festival (Feb 14–16, Northglenn) – Live bluegrass and workshops.
- 🍷 Wine Festival of Colorado Springs (Feb 26 – Mar 1, Colorado Springs) – Tastings and gourmet pairings.
- 🎭 Arvada Winterfest (Feb 22, Arvada) – Multicultural food, music, and dance.
- 🎥 Banff Mountain Film Festival (Feb 27 – Mar 2, Denver) – Films focused on adventure and nature.
- 🎈 Animas Valley Balloon Rally (Feb 1, Durango) – Winter hot air balloon ascension.
March
- 🍀 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Mar 15, Denver) – Floats, bagpipers, and Irish dancers.
- 🧊 Frozen Dead Guy Days (Mar 14–16, Estes Park) – Coffin races and costumed contests.
- 🎥 Boulder International Film Festival (Mar 13–16, Boulder) – 68 films from 18 countries.
- 🪶 Denver March Powwow (Mar 21–23, Denver Coliseum) – Over 1,500 dancers from 100 tribes.
- 🍺 Mile High Beer Festival (Mar 1, Denver) – Dozens of craft breweries in one space.
- 🍺 Bristol Brewing Firkin Fest (Mar 8, Colorado Springs) – Unique cask-conditioned beers.
- 🦢 Monte Vista Crane Festival (Mar 7–9, Monte Vista) – Sandhill crane migration celebration.
April
- 🎬 Aspen Shortsfest (Apr 1–6, Aspen & Carbondale) – International short films and awards.
- 🍷 Taste of Vail (Apr 2–5, Vail) – Wine tastings and culinary events in the mountains.
- 🎶 Denver Jazz Festival (Apr 3–6, Denver) – Citywide celebration of jazz music.
- 🚂 Rocky Mountain Train Show (Apr 5–6, Denver) – Model trains, demos, and vendors.
- 🎻 Durango Bluegrass Meltdown (Apr 11–13, Durango) – Live bluegrass in historic venues.
- 🛷 Cardboard Classic (Apr 12, Steamboat Springs) – Sled races with homemade cardboard crafts.
- 🎶 Bluebird Music Festival (Apr 18–20, Boulder) – Folk & Americana performances.
- 👟 Sneaker Con Denver (Apr 25–26, Denver) – Sneaker marketplace and trade show.
- 🎉 Future Fest (Apr 26, Denver) – Youth-focused celebration with activities and live acts.
- 🎨 Spring Vibe Market (Apr 26–27, Denver) – 130+ vendors, food trucks, and music.
May
- 🎊 Cinco de Mayo Festival (May 3–4, Denver) – Music, food, and Mexican heritage.
- 🌸 Cañon City Music & Blossom Festival (Apr 30 – May 4, Cañon City) – Parade, carnival, and music.
- 🚴 Fruita Fat Tire Festival (May 2–4, Fruita) – Biking demos and mountain trails.
- 🎶 HESTIVAL (May 2–4, Hotchkiss) – Camping, music, and mountain adventures.
- 🐥 Estes Park Duck Race Festival (May 3, Estes Park) – Fundraiser with rubber duck races.
- 🎨 TheBigWonderful (May 3, Denver) – Vendors, live music, and Kentucky Derby flair.
- 🐎 Royal Gorge Rodeo (May 3–4, Cañon City) – Colorado's longest-running rodeo.
- 🍷 Chalk Lines & Vines (May 3–4, Aurora) – Wine, art, and live entertainment.
- 🎨 Denver Arts Festival (May 24–25, Denver) – Outdoor fine art show.
- 🏞️ Territory Days (May 24–26, Colorado Springs) – Historic reenactments and music.
- 🎶 MeadowGrass Music Festival (May 23–25, Black Forest) – Diverse artists and camping.
- 🎶 SpringFree Bluegrass Festival (May 23–25, Vail) – Free bluegrass in mountain setting.
- 🎭 Vail Comedy Festival (May 23–25, Vail) – National comedians and street performances.
- 🎶 Outside Festival (May 31 – Jun 1, Denver) – Music, films, and outdoor gear.
June
- 🎨 Denver Chalk Art Festival (Jun 7–8, Denver) – 200+ street artists decorate pavement.
- 🎶 Taste of Fort Collins (Jun 7–8, Fort Collins) – Music, food, and vendors.
- 🎭 Denver Fringe Festival (Jun 4–8, Denver) – Experimental theater and performance art.
- 🍷 Taste of the West (Jun 5, Denver) – Food and beverage showcase.
- 🎶 Mountains of Music (Jun 5–8, Vail) – Music in the mountains.
- 🎨 Highlands Art Festival (Jun 6–7, Denver) – Regional visual artists exhibit.
- 🎶 Greeley Blues Jam (Jun 6–7, Greeley) – Blues legends and local acts.
- 🎨 Denver Greek Festival (Jun 6–8, Denver) – Food, dance, and Greek culture.
- 🎶 Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival (Jun 6–8, Cedaredge) – Songwriter showcases.
- 🎉 SummerFest on the Rio (Jun 6–8, Alamosa) – Music, food, and riverfront fun.
- 🎨 Indian Market & Powwow (Jun 7–8, Morrison) – Native American art and heritage.
- 🎶 Juneteenth Music Festival (Jun 14–15, Denver) – Parade and performances in Five Points.
- 🌸 Denver Cherry Blossom Festival (Jun 21–22, Denver) – Japanese culture and cuisine.
- 🎶 Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Jun 19–22, Telluride) – Legendary artists in scenic setting.
- 🍷 Aspen Food & Wine Classic (Jun 20–22, Aspen) – Celebrity chefs and wine tastings.
- 🎶 Country Jam Colorado (Jun 26–28, Grand Junction) – One of the largest country music fests.
- 🎶 Blues From the Top (Jun 27–29, Winter Park) – Top-tier blues performances.
July
- 🎨 Cherry Creek Arts Festival (Jul 4–6, Denver) – 230+ artists, live music, and food.
- 🎆 Monument 4th of July Parade (Jul 4, Monument) – Patriotic parade and community celebration.
- 🎪 Greeley Stampede (Jun 26 – Jul 6, Greeley) – Rodeos, concerts, and a carnival.
- 🌸 Crested Butte Wildflower Festival (Jul 11–20, Crested Butte) – Hikes, art, and wildflower tours.
- 🎶 RockyGrass Festival (Jul 25–27, Lyons) – Bluegrass legends by the river.
- 🎭 Colorado Renaissance Festival (Weekends through Aug 3, Larkspur) – Jousting, artisans, and medieval fun.
- 🎶 Telluride Americana Music Festival (Jul 17–20, Telluride) – Singer-songwriters in a scenic setting.
- 🍒 Paonia Cherry Days Festival (Jul 4–6, Paonia) – Parades, pies, and live music.
- 🎥 Film on the Rocks: 'Legally Blonde' (Jul 7, Morrison) – Outdoor movie and live show.
- 🏞️ Tube to Work Day (Jul 11, Boulder) – Float the creek in costume to your office.
August
- 🍻 Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival (Aug 2–3, Keystone) – Bluegrass and 100+ Colorado craft beers.
- 🎶 Music in the Mountains (Early July – Early August, Durango) – Classical performances all summer.
- 🎭 Colorado Renaissance Festival (Weekends through Aug 3, Larkspur) – Continued from July.
- 🎬 Film on the Rocks: 'Shrek 2' (Aug 18, Morrison) – Iconic animated movie under the stars.
- 🏞️ Leadville Trail 100 Run (Aug 17, Leadville) – Elite 100-mile mountain ultramarathon.
- 🏁 Wild West Relay (Aug 1–2, Fort Collins to Steamboat) – 200-mile team race.
- 🎨 Affordable Arts Festival (Aug 24, Littleton) – 140+ artists, everything priced under $100.
- 🍳 Denver BrunchFest (Aug 23, Denver) – Mimosas, brunch bites, and music.
- 🚗 Overland Expo Mountain West (Aug 22–24, Loveland) – Outdoor gear and overlanding culture.
- 🎉 FUNC Fest (Fun on the Uncompahgre) (Aug 8–9, Montrose) – River play and music.
September
- 🎡 Colorado State Fair & Rodeo (Aug 22 – Sep 1, Pueblo) – Rodeos, concerts, and a massive midway.
- 🎬 Telluride Film Festival (Aug 29 – Sep 1, Telluride) – Elite global film premieres.
- 🎨 Breckenridge Great Divide Art Festival (Aug 30 – Sep 1, Breckenridge) – Fine arts showcase.
- 🎉 Windsor Harvest Festival (Aug 30 – Sep 1, Windsor) – Parade, balloons, and food vendors.
- 🍷 Denver Food + Wine Festival (Sep 3–6, Denver) – Tastings, pairings, and sommeliers.
- 🐉 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival (Sep 6–7, Denver) – Asian culture celebration on Sloan’s Lake.
- 🍷 Palmer Lake Wine Festival (Sep 13, Palmer Lake) – Colorado wines, live music, and vendors.
- 🎭 Colorado Festival of Horror (Sep 12–14, Lone Tree) – Films, cosplay, and celebrity panels.
- 🎶 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival (Sep 12–14, Telluride) – Live blues and craft beer.
- 🐾 Pawtoberfest (Sep TBA, Colorado Springs) – Dog-friendly 5K and festival.
- 🌶️ Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival (Sep TBA, Pueblo) – Green chiles, food, and fun.
- 🎥 Crested Butte Film Festival (Late Sep, Crested Butte) – Indie films and fall colors.
- 🎉 Festival Latino (Sep 15, Adams County) – Music, food, and family fun.
- 🍫 Loveland Chocolate & Cheese Festival (Sep TBA, Loveland) – Tasty samples and entertainment.
October
- 🍺 Great American Beer Festival (Oct 9–11, Denver) – 500+ breweries and 2,000+ beers.
- 🎬 Telluride Horror Show (Mid-Oct, Telluride) – Horror, fantasy, and thriller films.
- 🎭 MileHiCon (Oct TBA, Denver) – Sci-fi/fantasy convention with panels and contests.
- 🎃 Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms (Oct 10–12, Littleton) – Pumpkin patch and fall games.
- 🍏 Cedaredge Applefest (Oct 3–5, Cedaredge) – Local food, crafts, and harvest celebration.
- 🐎 Durango Cowboy Gathering (Oct 1–5, Durango) – Cowboy poetry, storytelling, and music.
- 🎨 Handmade In Colorado Expo (Oct 3–4, Vail Village) – Statewide artisan showcase.
- 🧛 13th Floor Haunted House (Mid-Sep to Nov, Denver) – One of the top haunted houses in the U.S.
- 🎡 Lakewood Cider Days (Oct 4–5, Lakewood) – Historic demos and cider tastings.
- 🎃 Pumpkin Harvest Festival (Oct 11–12, Denver) – Historic fall celebration at Four Mile Park.
November
- 🎨 Denver Arts Week (Nov 7–16, Denver) – Art walks, museum nights, and creative showcases.
- 🎥 Denver Film Festival (Nov TBA, Denver) – Global films, premieres, and filmmaker Q&As.
- 🎥 Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival (Early Nov, Colorado Springs) – Films by and about women.
- 🎥 Festivus Film Festival (Nov TBA, Denver) – Indie films and emerging filmmakers.
- 🎄 Denver Christkindlmarket (Nov 21 – Dec 23, Denver) – German holiday village and gifts.
- 🎄 Denver Christmas Show (Nov 21–23, Denver) – Holiday shopping extravaganza.
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride (Nov 21 – Jan 3, Durango) – Holiday train adventure with Santa.
- 🎄 ICE! at Gaylord Rockies (Nov TBA, Aurora) – Sculpted ice displays and slides.
- 🌟 Castle Rock Starlighting (Nov 22, Castle Rock) – Lighting ceremony, fireworks, and vendors.
- 🍸 Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival (Nov TBA, Estes Park) – Tasting and craft distillers.
December
- 🎅 Denver Parade of Lights (Dec 5–6, Denver) – Floats, lights, music, and Santa.
- 🚂 The Polar Express Train Ride (Nov 21 – Jan 3, Durango) – Continued holiday magic on rails.
- 🎄 Georgetown Christmas Market (Dec 6–7 & 13–14, Georgetown) – European-style open-air market.
- 🔥 Ullr Fest (Dec 11–13, Breckenridge) – Parade, bonfire, and snow god celebration.
- 🎉 Colorado Springs Festival of Lights Parade (Dec 6, Colorado Springs) – Holiday night parade.
- 🍷 Holiday Food & Gift Festival (Dec 5–7, Colorado Springs) – Artisans, foods, and festive shopping.
- 🎿 Vail Snow Daze (Dec TBA, Vail) – Free concerts and ski season kickoff.
- 🎄 Winter Park Holiday Drone Show (Dec 7 & 21, Winter Park) – Drone holiday light show.
- 🧝 Santa & Mrs. Claus at Granby Ranch (Dec 22–23, Granby) – Meet-and-greet with Santa and holiday cheer.
- 🏃 Ugly Sweater 5K (Dec 21, Denver) – Fun run in ridiculous holiday attire.
Jump to Colorado’s Top 15 Festivals For 2025
National Western Stock Show – Denver’s Premier Rodeo & Livestock Celebration
📍 Location: Denver, Colorado
📅 Dates: January 11–26, 2025
🌐 Official Website: nationalwestern.com
The National Western Stock Show is one of the largest and longest-running Western events in the world. Every January, over 700,000 visitors gather in Denver for 16 days of high-stakes rodeos, horse shows, livestock auctions, and one of the most exciting Western trade expos in the U.S.
Founded in 1906, the Stock Show celebrates the legacy of ranching, agriculture, and Colorado’s Western roots. It features PRCA rodeos, the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, mutton bustin’ for the kids, and professional horse jumping and dressage. Visitors can stroll through hundreds of vendors offering cowboy hats, saddles, art, food, and ranch gear.
Don’t miss the Kick-Off Parade through Downtown Denver, where longhorn cattle march down 17th Street, kicking off a spectacle of Western pride. The Stock Show is more than a rodeo — it’s a winter tradition for families, ranchers, and anyone who loves a slice of the Wild West.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Colorado Springs: ~1 hr 15 min (72 mi)
- From Fort Collins: ~1 hr 10 min (65 mi)
- From Boulder: ~45 min (28 mi)
Snowdown Durango – Colorado’s Wackiest Winter Festival
📍 Location: Durango, Colorado
📅 Dates: January 29 – February 2, 2025
🌐 Official Website: snowdown.org
Every winter, the mountain town of Durango transforms into a hilarious, high-altitude circus during Snowdown — Colorado’s most unapologetically weird winter festival. What began in 1979 as a way to fight off the midwinter blues has grown into a community-wide explosion of costumes, comedy, and controlled chaos.
Each year features a new theme (past themes include “Magical & Mystical” and “Jungle Fever”) that inspires costume contests, bed races, pajama parties, wing-eating contests, nerf battles, and even a light parade through downtown. Local bars, schools, and businesses all get in on the madness.
Snowdown is not your average festival — it’s a full send into silliness, where everyone is invited to dress up, party down, and laugh through the snow. It’s community pride with a comedic twist, making it a must-see experience in the heart of the San Juans.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Grand Junction: ~3 hrs 45 min (175 mi)
- From Colorado Springs: ~5 hrs 50 min (315 mi)
- From Denver: ~6 hrs 30 min (337 mi)
Colorado State Fair – The Centennial State’s Biggest Summer Bash
📍 Location: Pueblo, Colorado
📅 Dates: August 22 – September 1, 2025
🌐 Official Website: coloradostatefair.com
The Colorado State Fair is the largest annual event in the state and a cultural cornerstone that brings together agriculture, industry, arts, and fun. Since 1869, this 11-day festival has been a showcase of Colorado’s rural roots and creative energy — and it continues to grow each year.
Held at the expansive Pueblo Fairgrounds, the fair features PRCA rodeos, carnival rides, livestock competitions, concerts, homegrown produce, beer fests, food trucks, and one of the largest fine art exhibits in the state. There’s also a kids’ zone, daily parades, and tons of hands-on activities for families and future farmers.
Whether you come for the funnel cake or the Ferris wheel, the State Fair is a can’t-miss experience that blends classic fair nostalgia with modern Colorado flair.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Colorado Springs: ~50 min (45 mi)
- From Denver: ~2 hrs (115 mi)
- From Alamosa: ~2 hrs 30 min (115 mi)
Steamboat Winter Carnival – Colorado’s Oldest Winter Festival
📍 Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
📅 Dates: February 5–9, 2025
🌐 Official Website: steamboatchamber.com
The Steamboat Winter Carnival is a snow-filled, ski-crazed celebration that’s been lighting up the Yampa Valley since 1914. As Colorado’s oldest winter festival, it’s a five-day spectacle of quirky traditions, ski-jumping kids, fireworks, and true mountain-town energy. The streets of downtown Steamboat are transformed into a snow-covered playground for skiers being pulled behind horses, shovel races, and even a Lighted Man skiing with fireworks on his back.
Signature events include the Night Extravaganza at Howelsen Hill, featuring torchlight parades, ski tricks, and a jaw-dropping pyrotechnic display. The Winter Carnival blends history, local pride, and winter fun, bringing the whole town — and plenty of visitors — into celebration mode. Don’t forget your Winter Carnival button — required for entry and collectible year after year.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Denver: ~3 hrs 45 min (157 mi)
- From Colorado Springs: ~4 hrs 30 min (215 mi)
- From Grand Junction: ~3 hrs (154 mi)
Cedaredge Applefest – Western Colorado’s Harvest Celebration
📍 Location: Cedaredge, Colorado
📅 Dates: October 4–6, 2025
🌐 Official Website: cedaredgeapplefest.com
Since 1977, the charming mountain town of Cedaredge has hosted one of the most beloved harvest events on the Western Slope — Applefest. Set against the backdrop of the Grand Mesa, this fall festival celebrates the region’s famous orchards with a weekend full of music, food, crafts, and good old-fashioned autumn cheer.
The festival features over 200 booths, showcasing local artisans, produce, wineries, and cider makers. There’s a classic car show, multiple stages of live entertainment, orchard tours, and family activities throughout the town. It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up fresh Colorado apples, baked goods, handcrafted gifts, and a bottle or two of local hard cider.
Applefest is more than just apples — it’s a community celebration that brings together locals, travelers, and families from all over the state. Come for the fruit, stay for the fun!
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Grand Junction: ~1 hr (61 mi)
- From Denver: ~5 hrs (280 mi)
- From Montrose: ~50 min (40 mi)
Frozen Dead Guy Days – Colorado’s Strangest Celebration of the Icy Afterlife
📍 Location: Estes Park, Colorado
📅 Dates: March 14–16, 2025
🌐 Official Website: frozendeadguydays.com
Only in Colorado would a cryogenically frozen corpse become the heart of a full-blown mountain festival. Frozen Dead Guy Days is one of the most bizarre and beloved traditions in the state — a spirited three-day event inspired by “Grandpa Bredo,” a Norwegian man kept on ice in a Tuff Shed since the 1990s.
Relocated to Estes Park, the festival offers a curious mix of live music, craft beer, coffin races, hearse parades, and look-alike contests. Thousands of visitors bundle up in costumes and hit the streets to celebrate the cold, the quirky, and the dearly departed in true Rocky Mountain fashion.
It’s a rare combo of dark humor, community pride, and mountain weirdness — a must-visit for anyone who loves offbeat events that don’t take themselves too seriously. If you want to say you’ve danced next to a frozen man, this is your chance.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Denver: ~1 hr 30 min (65 mi)
- From Colorado Springs: ~2 hrs 30 min (122 mi)
- From Fort Collins: ~1 hr 15 min (45 mi)
Monument 4th of July Parade – A True Small-Town American Celebration
📍 Location: Monument, Colorado
📅 Date: July 4, 2025
🌐 Official Website: trilakeschamber.com
The Monument 4th of July Parade is a classic Colorado tradition that captures the heart of Americana like few events can. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors flock to the small town of Monument to line the streets for a morning full of red, white, and blue spirit.
The event features a lively and family-friendly parade through historic downtown Monument, complete with marching bands, vintage cars, military honor guards, first responders, equestrian groups, and local organizations tossing candy to the crowd. It’s followed by a vibrant street fair, craft vendors, live music, and food trucks in Limbach Park.
With a backdrop of the Front Range and a strong sense of community, the Monument Parade is the kind of event where kids wave flags, neighbors reconnect, and the energy feels authentically Colorado. It’s the perfect kickoff to your Independence Day celebration.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Colorado Springs: ~25 min (20 mi)
- From Denver: ~55 min (51 mi)
- From Castle Rock: ~30 min (26 mi)
Denver March Pow Wow – One of North America’s Largest Native Gatherings
📍 Location: Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado
📅 Dates: March 21–23, 2025
🌐 Official Website: denvermarchpowwow.org
The Denver March Pow Wow is a powerful cultural experience and one of the largest celebrations of Native American traditions in the United States. With over 1,500 dancers from 100+ tribes across North America, it transforms the Denver Coliseum into a swirling display of color, rhythm, and heritage.
For three days, audiences are welcomed into a world of ceremonial regalia, traditional drumming, and competitive dancing. The arena pulses with the sound of singing and footsteps as elders and youth alike take the floor. Visitors can also browse one of the largest Native American arts and crafts markets in the country.
Whether you’re new to pow wows or a long-time attendee, the Denver March Pow Wow is a moving experience that honors tradition, resilience, and the rich diversity of Native peoples in Colorado and beyond.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Colorado Springs: ~1 hr 15 min (70 mi)
- From Fort Collins: ~1 hr 10 min (66 mi)
- From Boulder: ~45 min (29 mi)
Larkspur Renaissance Festival – Colorado’s Immersive Medieval Adventure
📍 Location: Larkspur, Colorado
📅 Dates: Weekends, June 14 – August 3, 2025
🌐 Official Website: coloradorenaissance.com
Step through the gates of 16th-century England at the Larkspur Renaissance Festival, one of the longest-running and most beloved seasonal festivals in Colorado. Held on weekends throughout the summer, this living history celebration is a fantastical escape featuring jousting knights, wandering minstrels, fire breathers, fairy forest performers, and more.
Set on a beautifully wooded 60-acre village in the foothills, the festival is home to hundreds of costumed cast members and artisan vendors selling handcrafted wares, leather goods, jewelry, and medieval-style food (yes, there are giant turkey legs). From belly dancers and live falconry to axe-throwing and mud wrestling, there’s something unexpected around every turn.
It’s family-friendly, fantasy-packed, and fully immersive — a perfect summer escape into the Middle Ages that brings thousands of loyal “rennies” back year after year.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Denver: ~45 min (40 mi)
- From Colorado Springs: ~30 min (27 mi)
- From Castle Rock: ~20 min (14 mi)
Telluride Bluegrass Festival – Music Under the Mountains
📍 Location: Telluride, Colorado
📅 Dates: June 19–22, 2025
🌐 Official Website: bluegrass.com/telluride
Held each June during the summer solstice, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival is a legendary celebration of music, mountains, and community. Nestled in a box canyon at nearly 9,000 feet, this world-famous event blends traditional bluegrass with folk, Americana, rock, and progressive acoustic genres.
Hosted by Planet Bluegrass since 1974, the festival features both GRAMMY-winning legends and emerging artists. Past headliners include Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, Brandi Carlile, Greensky Bluegrass, and Punch Brothers. Beyond the music, guests enjoy stunning views of 13,000-foot peaks, yoga sessions, workshops, local food vendors, and late-night campground jams.
With a loyal following known as “festivarians,” this four-day festival is not just a concert — it’s a pilgrimage for thousands who return year after year. If you’re looking for the ultimate high-elevation music escape, this is it.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Grand Junction: ~2 hrs 45 min (125 mi)
- From Denver: ~6 hrs 30 min (330 mi)
- From Durango: ~2 hrs 15 min (127 mi)
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival – Colorado’s Official Wildflower Capital in Full Bloom
📍 Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
📅 Dates: July 11–20, 2025
🌐 Official Website: crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org
The Crested Butte Wildflower Festival is a breathtaking celebration of nature, color, and alpine beauty in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Recognized as the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado,” Crested Butte transforms into a living canvas each July as thousands of lupines, Indian paintbrush, columbines, and sunflowers burst into bloom.
The week-long festival features more than 200 guided activities including hiking tours, wildflower photography workshops, botanical art classes, 4×4 Jeep excursions, and even pollinator garden tours. Whether you’re an amateur photographer, botany enthusiast, or just a mountain lover, this is your chance to experience nature’s finest at peak bloom.
With bluebird skies, cool mountain breezes, and endless trails through meadows and aspen groves, the Wildflower Festival is a perfect mix of educational adventure and summer serenity.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Gunnison: ~45 min (28 mi)
- From Denver: ~4 hrs 45 min (230 mi)
- From Colorado Springs: ~5 hrs (225 mi)
Greeley Stampede – Colorado’s All-American Rodeo & Summer Celebration
📍 Location: Greeley, Colorado
📅 Dates: June 26 – July 6, 2025
🌐 Official Website: greeleystampede.org
For over 100 years, the Greeley Stampede has been a defining summer tradition in Northern Colorado — combining the thrills of pro rodeo, concerts, and Fourth of July festivities into one epic 11-day experience. It attracts over 250,000 visitors each year, making it one of the largest summer festivals in the Rockies.
The Stampede features PRCA Pro Rodeo events, Xtreme Bulls, carnival rides, a fireworks spectacular, classic car show, and a concert series with major national acts across country, rock, and pop genres. There’s also a massive parade, demolition derby, and kids’ rodeo events that make it great for families too.
Rooted in Greeley’s agricultural heritage, the Stampede brings together cowboy culture, patriotic pride, and modern entertainment for an unforgettable Independence Day celebration.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Denver: ~1 hr (60 mi)
- From Fort Collins: ~30 min (22 mi)
- From Colorado Springs: ~2 hrs (130 mi)
Palisade Peach Festival – A Sweet Slice of Colorado’s Fruit Heritage
📍 Location: Palisade, Colorado
📅 Dates: August 14–16, 2025
🌐 Official Website: palisadepeachfest.com
Few things say “Colorado summer” like a fresh Palisade peach — and there’s no better place to celebrate this sweet, fuzzy treasure than at the Palisade Peach Festival, held each August in the heart of Grand Valley farm country. With a history stretching back over 125 years, this festival is a full-blown celebration of local agriculture, culinary talent, and community pride.
Enjoy orchard tours, cooking demos, live music, a kids’ fun zone, craft booths, and more peachy treats than you can imagine — from peach pie and cobbler to peach margaritas and peach-infused BBQ. The highlight is the Saturday parade, followed by a day of festival fun at Riverbend Park.
Whether you’re here to shop the farmer’s market, savor local wines, or just sink your teeth into the season’s freshest harvest, this event is a Western Slope must-do.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Grand Junction: ~20 min (12 mi)
- From Denver: ~4 hrs (240 mi)
- From Glenwood Springs: ~1 hr 20 min (80 mi)
Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival – A Fiery Celebration of Flavor and Culture
📍 Location: Pueblo, Colorado
📅 Dates: September 19–21, 2025
🌐 Official Website: pueblochamber.org
The Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival is one of Colorado’s most flavorful events, drawing more than 100,000 visitors each September to downtown Pueblo. This sizzling three-day celebration honors the region’s prized crop — the Pueblo Green Chile — with roasting booths, street vendors, culinary competitions, and an atmosphere as spicy as the food itself.
The air downtown fills with the mouthwatering aroma of fire-roasted chiles as festivalgoers sample everything from green chile burgers and tacos to Pueblo-style beans and tamales. You’ll also find cooking demos, local brews, art vendors, live music, and the famous jalapeño-eating contest.
This festival is more than just food — it’s a celebration of Pueblo pride, agricultural heritage, and community spirit. It’s also a great opportunity to stock up on fresh-roasted chiles for your freezer and support local farms and makers.
🚗 Drive Times:
- From Colorado Springs: ~50 min (45 mi)
- From Denver: ~2 hrs (115 mi)
- From Alamosa: ~2 hrs 30 min (115 mi)
Ready to Hit the Road?
You’ve just explored 15 of Colorado’s most unforgettable events and festivals — from wild rodeos and high-altitude concerts to farm-fresh fruit celebrations, snowy street parades, and historic small-town traditions. Whether you’re planning your next weekend getaway or mapping out a year-long road trip, Colorado delivers something for every season and every traveler.
Want to come back to this list later? Bookmark it, share it with your crew, or download a printable version and start building your ultimate Colorado adventure.
Created by Open Road Colorado — proudly sharing the best events, places, and stories across the Centennial State. 🇺🇸🏔️
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