By Lexi Reich
Fill your 2024 SUMMER CALENDAR with the Centennial State’s top events
Photo by Adobe Stock/David
Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival
June 1 | Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs
This event exclusively features wines crafted within Colorado. Perfect for the 21+ crowd, guests can honor local wineries and vendors at a day in the park (from 12:30 to 5 p.m.) highlighted by three live music acts, an array of food trucks and other treats to complement wine tastings. Your event ticket also includes a Colorado wine festival glass and six-bottle wine tote. manitousprings.org
Photo courtesy of Colorado Mountain Wine Fest
Outside Festival
June 1–2 | Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver
The inaugural Outside Festival is a celebration of everything outdoors, featuring live music, adventure film premieres, insightful speakers, immersive experiences, the latest outdoor gear and more. “We hope to get people to turn off their screens, step outside and connect with themselves and each other,” says Robin Thurston, founder and CEO of Outside Interactive Inc. “Most of all—it’s going to be a lot of fun!” theoutsidefestival.com
Photo courtesy of GoPro Mountain Games
GoPro Mountain Games
June 6–9 | Vail Village, Vail
Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, this event offers a wealth of music and art to enjoy while you either watch or join in the exhilarating games. Activities range from biking, hiking and kayaking to yoga, fishing and beyond. “We stay tapped into the ever-changing culture of outdoor sports and recreation,” says the Vail Valley Foundation’s Dave Dressman, who serves as the GoPro Mountain Games event director. Exciting new biking events like the Oakley XC Short Track and GoPro Jump Jam join the lineup this year, while additional waves in the Gates Kids Bike Race offer more chances for young riders to participate. Runners can tackle the Adidas Terrex Sunday Funday 5K and enjoy Sunday brunch at The Hangout, while the Nature Valley Mountain Mud Run features extra waves and new obstacles. Other highlights include slacklining, disc golf, yoga classes and the return of the Pro Plan K9 SuperWall. Aid stations are going cup-less this year to reduce waste. mountaingames.com
Taste of Fort Collins
June 8–9 | Washington Park, 301 Maple St., Fort Collins
Townsquare Media’s Taste of Fort Collins offers local music, entertainment and exclusive experiences with its weekend, individual and VIP pass options. We recommend arriving early to avoid lines, and donʼt forget sunscreen. An updated food and beverage vendor list can be found online. This year’s lineup features multi-platinum singer Andy Grammer on Saturday and influential rapper Rick Ross
on Sunday. tasteoffortcollins.com
Photo courtesy of Taste of Fort Collins
FIBArk 2024
June 13–16 | Arkansas River, Downtown Salida
America’s oldest whitewater festival returns for its 75th consecutive year. This iconic event transforms Salida into one of Colorado’s liveliest mountain towns during one of its busiest weekends. Attendees can enjoy concerts, craft beer and whitewater races—a tradition since 1949—featuring rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and running competitions. A highlight of the festival is the parade down F Street on Saturday at 10 a.m. Throughout the weekend, spectators can enjoy carnival games, food vendors and live music performances, ensuring thereʼs always something exciting to do. fibark.com
Reds Whites & Brews In The Boat
June 22 | Yampa Street between 10th and 12th, Steamboat Springs
From noon to 5 p.m., this event will feature unlimited wine and craft beer tastings, live music and food vendors all in downtown Steamboat Springs. Children are allowed at this busy festival, so the whole family can enjoy it. Plus, there’s an official after-party at The Yampa Brewing Hop House with two DJs as well as food trucks and yard games. redswhitesandbrews.net
Aspen Music Festival and School
June 26–August 18 | 960 North 3rd St., Aspen
In 2024, the Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) marks its 75th anniversary, showcasing a tapestry of intimate and experimental performances. For 74 years, it has also nurtured young artists through dedicated mentorship. The blend of artistic excellence and camaraderie sets it apart in the classical music realm, a notable fusion that will be honored throughout the entire 53 nights of the 2024 season. aspenmusicfestival.com
Telluride Yoga Festival
June 27–30 | 565 Mountain Village Blvd., Telluride
Here, festival attendees experience four days of connection and inspiration in Telluride’s Mountain Village. This festival boasts more than 100 activities, encompassing yoga, meditation, hiking, music, SUP yoga, wellness talks and social gatherings. This year’s lineup features industry veterans like Janet Stone, MC Yogi, Gina Caputo and Amy Ippoliti. tellurideyogafestival.com
Festival: Photo courtesy of Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Air Balloons: Adobe Stock/MGPhotos, Painter: Photo courtesy of Emma Montgomery for Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
July 5–7 | 2nd Avenue from Clayton to Adams Street, and between 2nd and 3rd Avenues from
Detroit to Adams Street, Denver
This dynamic event promises an enriching experience. It will unite artists and community members in a celebration of education and art, with more than 250 juried artists from around the world showcased right in the heart of Cherry Creek North. Attendees can immerse themselves in myriad activities, including art creation, live music, culinary delights, kids’ activities and more. cherryarts.org
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
July 12–21 | 716 Elk Ave., Crested Butte
Celebrating Crested Butte as the official “Wildflower Capital of Colorado,” the festival offers more than 150 events led by locally and nationally recognized leaders in painting, pollination, photography, culinary arts and more. Founded in 1986, the festival was established to celebrate the beauty of the montane and alpine wildflower environments in and around the Gunnison Valley. “Our 501(c)3 organization has since grown from a small weekend event run by a few volunteers to a 10-day festival employing more than 40 event leaders who help us advocate for the preservation and appreciation of wildflowers,” says executive director David Kish. “Through our events, we hope to instill both awareness and admiration of our interdependence with our natural wildflower habitats.” crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org
Photo courtesy of GoPro Mountain Games
Vail Dance Festival
July 26–August 5 | Various locations in Vail Valley
The Vail Dance Festival returns with 13 performances showcasing dance luminaries from around the world and across the U.S. This summer, the festival welcomes esteemed groups such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Limón Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Colorado Ballet and DanceAspen, as well as artists from Alonzo King LINES Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, BalletX, National Ballet of Canada, New York City Ballet,
Philadelphia Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and other independent artists. The 2024 artists-in-residence are Sara Mearns, star of New York City Ballet, and choreographer Jamar Roberts. vaildance.org
Moffat County Hot Air Balloon Festival
August 2–4 | 600 S Ranney St., Craig
There’s a reason thousands of visitors are attracted to northwest Colorado every summer: the Moffat County Hot Air Balloon Festival. Enjoy balloon launches, live music and various events like the Flying Colors 5K run and the Colorado Cruiser Classic Car Show. The nighttime Balloon Glow is a crowd favorite. It’s recommended to book accommodations early and bring a camera. mcballoonfestival.com
Photo courtesy of Colorado Mountain Wine Fest
Colorado Mountain Wine Fest
September 21 | Riverbend Park, 451 Pendleton St., Palisade
Awarded the title of Best Wine Festival in the Nation by USA Today, Wine Fest unfolds from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering boundless tastings from numerous local wineries, live music, a grape stomp, chef demonstrations and educational seminars. Ticket perks include unlimited Colorado wine tastings, a souvenir tasting glass, a wine tote and more. “We have an amazing group of folks that are hugely loyal to Colorado wine and the brand of Colorado Winefest,” says Cassidee Shull, executive director of Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology (CAVE). A full list of 2024 participating wineries can be found online. coloradowinefest.com
Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival
September 20–22 | Union Ave., Historic Downtown Pueblo
The Chile and Frijoles Festival promotes Pueblo’s rich agriculture and encourages the community—and region—to buy local fresh products at the numerous farm stands and specialty shops available during the festival and year-round. The event features live entertainment, street vendors, cooking competitions and—the main attraction—chilies, chilies, chilies! Details were not finalized at press time, but you’ll find more information online as the event draws near. pueblochilefestival.com
