There’s no shortage of fun-filled, cause-for-celebration events for the entire family to last until the first snowfall. So, for all you music lovers, beer drinkers, wine tasters and foodies, we’ve got you covered. Let’s go…
Feast of Saint Arnold, a family-friendly beer festival. Photo by Daniel Benjamin.
May 27-29
First stop, Old Colorado City, where the annual Territory Days Festival celebrates the spirit of Colorado’s first territorial capital and the Old West. Bragging rights for the state’s largest street fair include live music, crafts, a kid’s zone, beer garden, food and even a mechanical bull.
shopoldcoloradocity.com/territory-days
MUSIC FESTIVALS
Bass guitarist Joe Firstman leaps into the air as Cordovas plays during the third day of the 13th annual MeadowGrass Music Festival Sunday, May 29, 2022, at La Foret Conference and Retreat Center in Black Forest. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
May 27-29
You don’t have to love only bluegrass music to love the MeadowGrass Music Festival in Black Forest. This family-friendly three-day fest brings emerging name entertainment from a wide variety of genres to the rustic outdoor La Foret Conference and Retreat Center just north of Colorado Springs. Bring a lawn chair and blanket, and reserve your space under the magnificent towering pines.
rockymountainhighway.org
Outdoor Festival Orchestra Concert on Saturday, 6/11/22 in Worner Quad. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III / Colorado College.
June 4-23
If classical music soothes your soul, the Summer Music Festival at Colorado College will be your happy place. Fifty-four advanced student musicians will perform in an intensive three-week program in a variety of venues throughout Colorado Springs. The best of the best are selected to play publicly in The Festival Orchestra.
coloradocollege.edu/other/summermusicfestival
June 29-Aug 20
Just around the bend—and a few terrifying mountain passes—is the Aspen Music Festival. Produced by the Aspen Music School, it’s everything you’d expect from this glitzy enclave of sophistication and style.
aspenmusicfestival.com
August 11-13
People from all over the country travel to the quintessential mountain town of Telluride to experience high-altitude jazz from the genre’s top performers including crooner Gregory Porter, and the brass funk sounds of Tower of Power. Now in its 45th year, the Telluride Jazz Festival promises to be a sell-out.
telluridejazz.org
Cure those end-of-summer blues at Blues on the Mesa. Photo by John Stoesser.
September 30
If the end of summer has you singing the blues, sing along with others at Gold Hill Mesa’s Blues on the Mesa. Featured performers include Tampa troubadour and musical guitar legend, Damon Fowler along with special guest Jason Ricci.
bluesonthemesa.org
ART FESTIVALS
2022 Green Box Arts Festival Patron Party Saturday June 25, 2022. Photo by Jeff Kearney.
June 30-July 15
Green Mountain Falls and Woodland Park fall into the same category of artistic excellence. The Green Box Arts Festival showcases the contemporary arts in a series of exhibitions, performances, classes and camp.
greenboxarts.org/arts-festival
July 15-16
The Salida Arts Festival follows suit with its annual arts festival dubbed “the best art event in the valley.” Located on the banks on the Arkansas River, this boutique show features a selective group of artists who exhibit their finest work in sculpture, jewelry, mixed media and photography, to name just a few.
salida-arts-festival.com
Mountain Arts Festival in Woodland Park. Photo courtesy of Reserve our Gallery.
August 12-13
Woodland Park hosts the Mountain Arts Festival in August with a silent auction, over 70 artists, entertainment and food vendors overlooking the Colorado mountains.
themountainartists.org
The Commonwheel Arts Festival is a showcase of talent. Photo courtesy of Commonwheel Artist Co-op.
September 2-4
There is no shortage of creative talent in the mountain hamlet of Manitou Springs. The Commonwheel Arts Festival is no exception. A highly-respected juried art show, the streets come alive with a multitude of booths featuring artistic talent in all forms of media.
BEER FESTIVALS
Feast of Saint Arnold, a family-friendly beer festival. Photo by Daniel Benjamin.
June 10
In this Colorado heaven there is no shortage of beer. The Feast of St. Arnold (the patron saint of beer) is held—appropriately so—on the grounds of a church in Colorado Springs where beer lovers are blessed with over all types of craft beer from local brewers, along with wines and spirits.
feastofsaintarnold.com
September 21-23
If sampling over 100 beers is on your bucket (or beer mug) list, don’t miss the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. This two-day event brings thousands of brew lovers under one roof at the Denver Convention Center.
greatamericanbeerfestival.com
September 21-23
Don your lederhosen and head up to the ski town of Breckenridge to Breckenridge Brewery’s Oktober Fest. Seriously, visitors wear German outfits while drinking out of authentic beer steins.
gobreck.com
September 29-October 1
Who doesn’t love to oom-pa-pa? The Colorado Springs Oktoberfest held at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in all things Bavarian. This three-day event features a dachshund dash, live German music and of course, beer. Lots of beer.
csoktoberfest.com
WINE FESTIVALS
The Manitou Springs Wine Festival features all Colorado wines. Photo Courtesy of Manitou Springs Chamber.
June 3
The Manitou Springs Wine Festival is a one-day outdoor tribute dedicated entirely to Colorado wines. You may be pleasantly surprised by the inherent candor of native Colorado grapes in making a sophisticated bottle of vino. Come sip and see for yourself.
manitousprings.org
June 15
Wine tasting takes on a whole new level at the Castle Rock Wine Fest. With over 180 Colorado wines to choose from, you could easily take an afternoon siesta, but then you’d miss the live entertainment, food trucks and artisan vendors.
castlerock.org
June 16-18
Let’s head back to Aspen again, this time to sip some local wines, indulge in epicurean delights and sample the nightlife. The Food & Wine Classic features both celebrity chefs and beverage experts who bring their culinary talents to those patrons lucky enough to attend.
Typically, a solid sold-out event, make your reservations early.
classic.foodandwine.com
NEITHER WINE, NOR BEER, BUT SPIRITS JUST THE SAME
SoCo StillFest attendees enjoying whiskey from Deerhammer Distilling Co (Buena Vista). Photo by Kimoutgallivanting/SoCo Still Fest.
June 24
The SoCo StillFest showcases innovative craft spirits from Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Sponsored by the Colorado Spirits Collective and Blackhat Distillery, it’s an event guaranteed to elevate your mood and whet your whiskey appetite.
socostillfest.com
FOOD FESTIVALS
June 21
Kick off the rodeo season with the cowboy-authentic Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast in downtown. You’ll need to wake up with the chickens to enjoy the limitless pancakes—breakfast begins at 5:30 A.M. and ends at 9:00 A.M. Dress the part in your best western attire and you’ll feel right at home.
cswesternstreetbreakfast.com
Get full on food and fun at The Taste of Pikes Peak. Photo by Wepicturethis.
July 27
The Taste of Pikes Peak brings together epicurean bites from Colorado Springs’ top restaurants, pairs them with music from the SofaKillers and washes it all down with local craft spirits and beer. Held outside the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, the evening event promises to be a big party.
tasteofpikespeak.com
Competitors devour chicken wings at the Best of the West Wing Fest while spectators look on. Photo by Alan Stenback.
September 16
Sure to be a festival favorite, the Best of the West Wing Fest brings together a flock of restaurants vying for your appetite and hopes of being crowned “Best of the West.”
Think you can eat more chicken wings than your neighbor? Well, here’s your chance. The Best of the West Wing Fest will be also sponsoring a competitive spicy wing eating contest.
bestofthewestwingfest.com
“La Ristra” hot air balloon at the Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival. by Mike Sweeney.
September 22-24
September is chile harvest time in southern Colorado and no one does it better than the city of Pueblo at its 29th annual Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival. Follow the aroma of farm-fresh chiles blistered to perfection in a barrel-roaster. Sample salsa and consider the jalapeno eating contest. Get them while they’re hot, hot, hot.
pueblochilefestival.com
JUST FOR FUN FAMILY FESTIVALS
June 16-19
Scottish Highlanders and clans converge at the Pikes Peak Celtic Fest to partake in traditional Scottish-type stuff: whiskey/scotch tasting, bagpipe blowing, and athletic competitions of caber and stone tossing, plus scotch pies and Guinness. Held at the Western Mining Museum in Colorado Springs.
pikespeakcelticfestival.com
Overcast weather didn’t stop a great time at the 2022 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Photo by Larry Chen.
June 25
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb isn’t so much a climb as it is a race. Professional drivers power their speedsters up 12. 42 miles and through 156 turns to the summit of Pikes Peak. But you don’t have to be in the driver’s seat to experience the thrill. Fans congregate the evening before in downtown Colorado Springs for a 10-block street fest featuring the Colorado Springs Powersports FMX show and the opportunity to meet with the race drivers.
ppihc.org
July 17-August 6
Larkspur’s Renaissance Fair revels in all things Medieval. Performers dressed in period attire roam the grounds while showing off their juggling skills or magical tricks. Food is abundant and fit for a king or queen. Try your hand at axe throwing or archery, but make sure you don’t trip on your cape. Joisting is allowed.
coloradorenaissance.com
July 21-22
It’s a whitewater rodeo on the Arkansas River during the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival in Canon City. SUP’s, inflatables, kayaks, duckies and even surfing competitions challenge local river rats in this two-day event that cumulates with a build-your-own-boat race. For landlubbers, there’s ample food and entertainment.
royalgorgewhitewaterfestival.com
The Sand Sage Roundup Queens at the Colorado State Fair parade. Photo courtesy of Pueblo Chamber.
August 25-September 4
Some people come for the rides, some come for the food, others for the entertainment, but there’s no denying the love for the Colorado State Fair. Held in Pueblo, the fair features fan favorites such as the monster truck rally, rodeo bronc riding, 4-H animal exhibits and deep-fried Oreos.
coloradostatefair.com
Rise and shine for the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. Photo by Rob Miskowitch.
September 2-4
You don’t want to miss the annual Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off but be prepared to set your alarm early. Up to 70 multi-colored balloons take to the sky at approximately 7:00 A.M. each day. If you’re a night owl, the sunset evening balloon glows are equally breathtaking. The time in between can be spent exploring carnival rides and live entertainment.
