Hey readers, the City Cast Denver team is back with the second installment of our CCD Summer Entertainment Guide. (Missed the first one? Check it out here.)
For this episode, I rounded up 12 of the best, off-the-beaten-path, super epic, local summertime events — together with the rest of the City Cast Denver team, we narrowed it down to one ultimate event recommendation for your summer!
Below are all the events we talked about on the show. But you’ll have to listen to the episode to find out which one you just might see us at 😉
ARTS:
- 🤣 “Colorado Native”: A Native American Comedy Showcase
Thursday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m. | The Holiday Theater (Highlands) | $20 - 📷 REVEALED: John Fielder’s Favorite Place
Saturday, July 22 | History Colorado (Cap Hill) | GA $15; Members free - 🌵 Grand Opening: “Desert Rider: Dreaming in Motion”
Sunday, July 9, 11am-4pm | Denver Art Museum (Civic Center) | Free
FOOD:
- 🍓 Strawberry Days Festival
June 16-18 | Glenwood Springs (3 hours from Denver) | Free - 🌽 Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
Aug. 4-5 | Olathe, Colorado (5 hours from Denver) | Free; $30 for the concert - 🍗 Blues and BBQ for Better Housing
Saturday, July 15, 10am-6pm | Edgewater | GA $10; VIP $100
MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE:
- 🌊 FIBArk Whitewater Festival
June 15-18 | Salida, Colorado (2.5 hours from Denver) | Free to be a spectator - 🌻 Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
July 7-16 | Crested Butte (4.5 hours from Denver) | Varies by event ($50-$125) - 🍄 Mushroom Identification Course
July 18-30 | Classes at St. Joseph’s Hospital (City Park West); Field trips TBD | $25.87 to become a member; an additional $50 for the course
GRAB-BAG SURPRISE:
- 🐝 Pollinator Palooza
Sunday, June 25, 10am-3pm | Butterfly Pavilion (Westminster) | Free; admission required for indoor exhibits (adults $15; kids $10) - 🚂 Georgetown Loop Old West Days
Aug. 19-20, 26-27 | Georgetown (1 hour from Denver) | Free; Train rides $35 for adults, $29 for kids - ⛰️ Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
June 23-25 | Estes Park (1.5 hours from Denver) | Free
But wait! There’s more! As mentioned in the show, I sifted through nearly 50(!) events to find our top 12 contenders. Check out the full list of events below, and may your summer be epic.
- 🍖 Colorado BBQ Challenge | June 15-17 | Copper
- 🪕 Telluride Bluegrass Festival | June 15-18 | Telluride
- 🥕 Veggie Viernes at Westwood de Noche | June 16 | Westwood
- 🍺 Vail Craft Beer Classic | June 16-17 | Vail
- 🇮🇪 Pikes Peak Celtic Fest | June 16-18 | Colorado Springs
- 🤠 Evergreen Rodeo | June 17-18 | Evergreen
- 🐂 Greeley Stampede | June 22-July 4 | Greeley
- 🇺🇸 Red White and Brews | June 24 | Steamboat Springs
- 🍺 TheBigWonderful | June 24 | Winter Park
- 🥓 Bacon and Bourbon Festival | June 24-25 | Keystone
- 🍺 Colorado Brewers Rendezvous | July 8 | Salida
- 🌮 Top Taco Festival | July 13 | Westminster
- 🇫🇷 Bastille Day French Fest | July 14-15 | Cherry Creek
- 🌾 Lavender Festival | July 15-16 | Littleton
- 🏁 Last race at Bandimere | July 15-17 | Morrison
- 🍽️ The Big Eat | July 20 | Downtown
- 🕺 Vail Dance Festival | July 28-Aug. 7 | Vail
- 🔥 Heritage Fire | July 29 | Snowmass
- ☀️ Evergreen Summerfest | July 29-30 | Evergreen
- 🍔 Burger Battle | Aug. 3 | Auraria
- 🎈 Hot Air Balloon Festival | Aug. 4-6 | Craig
- 🤠 Leadville Boom Day | Aug. 4-6 | Leadville
- 🏳️🌈 Cinema Q queer Film Festival | Aug. 10-13 | Congress Park
- 🍑 Palisade Peach Festival | Aug. 17-19 | Palisade
- 🐄 Colorado State Fair | Aug. 24-Sept.4 | Pueblo
- 🌶️ Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival | Sept. 22-24 | Pueblo
