Must visit Colorado festivals this summer

Amid the mountain ranges and epic scenery, Colorado also boasts a jam packed festival calendar all summer long.

With something to suit every taste, the state’s roster of Colorado festivals mix music, arts, entertainment and culinary events to draw in visitors year in, year out.

From the gateway city of Denver, to the mountain towns of Telluride and Keystone, head to one of these unmissable celebrations.

 

Musical Moments 

 

Denver Underground Music Showcase (28-30 July)

Denver Underground Music Showcase is the perfect place to experience the Mile High City’s exploding music scene. Denver’s largest, multi-day music festival returns to South Broadway and feature over 700 artists. It is expected to draw over 10,000 music fans every day.

 

Telluride Jazz Festival, Telluride (12 – 14 August)

Nestled at the base of a canyon, surrounded by waterfalls, the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado hosts the Telluride Jazz Festival. This annual event combines the finest natural landscapes with boundless creativity by acclaimed artists. Amenities include food vendors, craft brews and cocktails.

 

Mountain Town Music Festival, Keystone (19 August)

A celebration of the state, Mountain Town Music Festival in Keystone welcomes warm summer days teamed with free live music. Be amazed by live performances from Salida Circus. Enjoy acrobats, stilt walkers, magicians and more. Festival goers can take advantage of lodging discounts on a range of accommodation options, from hotel rooms to cosy condos..

 

Foodie Favorites 

 

Palisade Peach Festival (18-19 August)

Life’s a peach at Palisade’s annual Peach Festival. Taking place 18-19 August, guests can experience Palisade peaches at their finest during its 55th annual celebrations. The peach party is a chance for farmers, families and businesses to share their famous fruits with the rest of the world. Guests can expect live music, drink vendors and food trucks, as well as family-friendly games and the famous BBQ throwdown and peach eating contests.

 

Taste of Colorado, Denver 

Taste of Colorado, will be hosted across four Sundays throughout the summer. Taking place at ¡Viva! Streets Denver at Civic Center Park, guests can tour the state’s menus with samples from restaurants and vendors, dance to live music and admire public art displays. Travelers, save the dates: 14 May, 4 June, 9 July and 6 August.

 

The Great American Beer Festival (21-23 September) 

From 21-23 September, the Great American Beer Festival returns to Denver for the first time since the pandemic. Presenting the largest collection of US beer ever served in a public tasting event, it brings together brewers, consumers and diverse beers. With over 100 breweries in the Denver metropolitan area, the city is the perfect host for this specialty festival.

 

The unique 

 

75th anniversary of whitewater festival, FIBArk, Salida (15-18 June)

For adrenaline-seekers, FIBArk (First in Boating on the Arkansas) is a must. Marking its 75th anniversary in 2023, FIBArk is the nation’s oldest whitewater festival and Salida’s signature event. A tradition since 1949, the exciting event draws kayakers, stand-up paddlers and rafters to compete and play in the mighty Arkansas River. While whitewater is the draw, the city of Salida also showcases live music and costumed bike competitors, as well as a parade and races on foot.

 

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, (7-16 July)

An annual ten-day festival offering wildflower expertise, Crested Butte Wildflower Festival is an advocate for the preservation and appreciation of wildflowers. As the Wildflower capital of the state, the festival offers awareness and admiration for natural wildflower habitats. Attendees can expect guided hikes into the wild through blooming flora and attend workshops in painting, pollination, photography and culinary arts.

 

Hot Air Balloon Festival, Craig (5-7 August)

Colorado is a destination that should be seen from the skies, and everyone who takes part in Craig’s Hot Air Balloon Festival gets that luxury. Hot air balloons dip and soar over lakes with mountainous views as the backdrop. Saturday boasts a full day of entertainment and activities in Loudy-Simpson Park, including a classic car show, a cardboard boat regatta and bouncy castles.

 

For more information, www.colorado.com.