Summertime Fairs and Festivals
Summer is full of fairs and festivals right down the street as well as around the state. Many are keeping the western tradition strong; most include rodeos, barrel racing, concerts, carnivals, exhibits and more.
Check websites for unique events such as bacon-, watermelon- and Jell-O-eating contests, a 2,000-year-old corn exhibit, dancing horse performances and ballet on horses.
Food festivals allow fairgoers the opportunity to meet, taste and purchase from local Colorado vendors, while art festivals give visitors the opportunity to meet local and national artists, typically representing a wide array of mediums – including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, glass, wood and more.
Below are some outings to get the ball rolling.
July
1-3 | Cherry Creek Arts Festival – cherrycreekartsfestival.org
2 | Snowmass Art Festival, Aspen – gosnowmass.com
2-4 | Granby Rodeo – westernaires.org
6-11 | Rooftop Rodeo, Estes Park – rooftoprodeo.com
8-16 | Cattlemen’s Days, Gunnison – cattlemensdays.com
9 | Oaked and Smoked – American Whiskey and BBQ, Highlands Ranch – eventbrite.com
12-16 | Mesa County Fair, Grand Junction – mesacountyfair.com
15-17 | Northern Colorado Vintage Market Days, Longmont – vintagemarketdays.com
15-17 | Mile High Global Bazaar, Denver, Skyline Park – coloradoevents.org
16 | Gilpin County Fair, Black Hawk – westernaires.org
16 | Castle Rock WineFest – castlerock.org
or meadowscastlerock.com
16-17 | Winter Park Jazz Festival – playwinterpark.com
16-23 | El Paso County Fair, Calhan – elpasocountyfair.com
17 | Evergreen Westernaires Show – westernaires.org
23-24 | Cheesman Park Art Fest – 10times.com
23-30 | Montrose County Fair & Rodeo – montrosecountyfairandrodeo.com
28-Aug.7 | Logan County Fair, Sterling – lcfair.org
28-31 | Arapahoe County Fair – arapahoecountyfair.com
29-31 | Breckenridge Food and Wine Festival – gobreck.com
29-31 | Buffalo Bill Days, Golden – visitgolden.com
29-Aug.7 | Douglas County Fair & Rodeo, Castle Rock. Josh Turner concert, carnival, farm-to-table brunch, rodeo, barn dance – douglascountyfairandrodeo.com
30 | Boots & Brews, Festival Park, Castle Rock. After the Douglas County Fair Parade, live music, an assortment of beer, food trucks and family activities – castlerock.org
30-31 | Boulder Fine Art Street Festival – artfestival.com
30-31 | Denver Street Fair – 10times.com
30-Aug.7 | Elbert County Fair, Kiowa – elbertcountyfair.com
31-Aug.7 | Middle Park Fair and Rodeo, Kremmling – middleparkfairandrodeo.com
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos
