Denver Events 2013 Find out all about the events, festivals and special programs coming to Denver in 2013
JANUARY 2013
National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, January 12-27
Grab your cowboy boots and head over to the world’s premier stock show and one of the nation’s largest rodeos. 303-297-1166; nationalwestern.com
Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade (March & Parade), January 21
Celebrate the largest Martin Luther King, Jr., march and rally in the United States. 720-971-1329 [website appears to be down]
FEBRUARY 2013
Colorado Home & Garden Show, February 9-17
The Colorado Convention Center fills more than 40,000-square-feet with flowering gardens and 1,300 booths from over 600 companies. 303-932-8100; gardeningcolorado.com
Georgia O’Keeffe in New Mexico: Architecture, Katsinam and the Land, February 10–April 28
Featuring some of Georgia O’Keeffe’s most rarely seen works, this exhibit at the Denver Art Museum includes numerous drawings, watercolors and paintings of katsina tithu (carved and painted representations of Hopi spirit beings). denverartmuseum.org
Mammoths & Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age, February 15-May 27
At the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, encounter some of Earth’s most awe-inspiring mammals, roam among saber-toothed cats and giant bears, and wonder over some of the oldest human artifacts in existence. www.dmns.org
Buffalo Bill Birthday Celebration, February 26
Celebrate Buffalo Bill’s 165th birthday at the Buffalo Bill Grave & Museum with festivities including include pin-the-tail on the buffalo, a buffalo-chip tossing contest, and more. 303-526-0744; buffalobill.org
Denver Restaurant Week, February 23 – March 8
Treat your taste buds when more than 200 top Denver restaurants offer multi-course meals for the “mile high” price of $52.80 for two (tax and tip not included). denverrestaurantweek.com
MARCH 2013
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16
The city’s largest annual parade features horses and stagecoaches, marching bands, floats and fun with a Western flair. denverstpatricksdayparade.org
Denver March Powwow, March 22-24
One of the nation’s largest annual American Indian gatherings featuring more than 700 dancers and musicians from 70 tribes. 303-934-8045; denvermarchpowwow.org
APRIL 2012
Rodeo All-Star Weekend, April 4-6
The nation’s top-ranked cowboys and cowgirls will ride into Denver to compete in the first Rodeo All-Star Weekend at the National Western Stock Show Complex (NWSS Complex). rodeoallstar.com
Doors Open Denver, April 13-14
Tour more than 70 sites and buildings during this free community event that provides public access to many of the city’s prominent architectural gems and the lesser-known treasures. 303-282-5073; denvergov.org/doorsopendenver
MAY 2013
Cinco de Mayo Festival, May 4-5
Spice up your weekend and head to the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the nation, featuring arts and crafts, Mariachi bands, Aztec dancers and more. 303-534-8342; cincodemayodenver.com
Colfax Marathon, May 18-19
A 26-mile race on Colfax Avenue, the longest business street in America. 303-770-9600; coloradocolfaxmarathon.org
Downtown Denver Festival of the Arts, May 24-27
More than 150 of Colorado’s most esteemed artists showcase paintings, sculpture, photography, glasswork, woodwork and more. 303-330-8237; downtowndenverartsfestival.com
Denver Day of Rock, May 25
Denver Day of Rock is a one-of-a-kind music event presented by Concerts For Kids to raise awareness of the children in our community. This free event will feature five stages of live music throughout downtown Denver. denverdayofrock.com
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Summer Concerts, May – August
This world-renowned outdoor amphitheatre located just 15 miles west of Denver hosts top musical events and more all summer long. redrocksonline.com
JUNE 2012
Capitol Hill People’s Fair, June 1-2
Denver’s most eclectic neighborhood festival features live entertainment on multiple stages, hundreds of arts and crafts booths and a food bazaar. 303-830-1651; peoplesfair.com
Denver Chalk Art Festival, June 1-2
The streets of Larimer Square are transformed into a giant canvas by hundreds of artists, professional, amateur and students alike, who recreate masterpieces and original works with vivid pastel chalk. 303-685-8143; larimerarts.org
Nick Cave: Soundsuits, June 9-September 22
Renowned contemporary artist Nick Cave will debut a new body of work at the Denver Art Museum in the summer of 2013. The exhibition features a combination of multimedia elements and performances along with a selection of figurative sculptures the artist dubbed “Soundsuits.” denverartmuseum.org
PrideFest, June 15-16
A morning parade leads to a two-day festival in Civic Center Park filled with food, live music and information highlighting the local gay and lesbian community. 303-733-7743; www.denverpridefest.org
Juneteenth Music Festival, June 15
Celebrate African-American culture with food, music and a parade in the historic Five Points neighborhood during one of the largest Juneteenth events in the nation. juneteenthmusicfestival.com
Central City Opera Summer Festival, June – August
Take in the opera in the restored jewel box theater that has provide a rich and intimate opera experience for more than 75 years. 303-292-6700; centralcityopera.org
JULY
4th of July Fireworks, July 3-4
The Mile High City celebrates Independence Day with a host of fireworks displays throughout the city. visitdenver.com
Cherry Creek Arts Festival, July 5-7
One of the finest arts and crafts exhibitions in the nation, this festival draws more than 350,000 people each year. 303-355-2787, cherryarts.org
Colorado Black Arts Festival, July 13-14 (tentative)
The Black Arts Festival has enriched and entertained Denver with its heritage celebration for 25 years. 720-339-1693, colbaf.org
Colorado Gay Rodeo, July 12-14
Hang on to your cowboy hats – this traditional rodeo comes with a few twists including a goat dressing and a Wild Drag Race at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. cgra.us
Colorado Irish Festival, July 12-14
Experience the largest Irish celebration in the Rocky Mountains with traditional Irish music performances and dancing, Irish drama and storytelling, crafts, games, and food and drinks at Clement Park in Littleton. 303-561-4007, coloradoirishfestival.org
Denver Biennial of the Americas, July 16 – September 30
The Biennial of the Americas is an international festival of ideas, art and culture hosted in Denver, Colorado, that provides a non-partisan platform for leaders in business, government, civil society, and the arts to examine the significant issues impacting life in the Americas. www.platform5280.com
Buffalo Bill Days, July 24-28
The legacy of Buffalo Bill is celebrated in the city of Golden with a Wild West Show, burro race, games, food and a Western parade. 303-384-0003, buffalobilldays.com
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, July 27-28
Set sail for summer fun at Sloan’s Lake Park where vibrantly decorated dragon boats race in an exciting pan-Asian sport. 303-953-7277, cdbf.org
AUGUST
Colorado Scottish and Irish Festival, August 10-11
Join this Celtic celebration featuring pipe bands, drumming, Scottish athletic competitions, highland dancing and folk music. 303-238-6524, scottishgames.org
Solheim Cup, August 13-18
The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of the game of golf with passion for one’s country. This biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition features the best U.S.-born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the best European members from the Ladies European Tour (LET). visitdenver.com/solheim-cup
Denver County Fair, dates TBD
An offbeat take on the traditional county fair, this fun fest includes a skateboard rodeo, a carnival (complete with rides and midway games), competitive eating contests, animals, rockets, Roller Girls and more. denvercountyfair.org
USA Pro Challenge, August 19-25
The USA Pro Challenge will return to Colorado. The event is the most demanding bike race ever held on American soil, with racers experiencing breathless altitudes, day after day, bringing the high speeds, danger and adrenaline of professional biking to elevations over two miles high in some of the most picturesque terrain in the world—the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The race’s grand finale is in Denver on Sunday, Aug. 25. www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com
Colorado County Fair, August 23 – September 2
Enjoy nonstop entertainment during one of the largest pro rodeos in the country featuring a livestock and horse show, parades, country concerts and more at the Pueblo Fairgrounds. 800-876-4567, coloradostatefair.com
A Taste of Colorado, August 30 – September 2
Give your taste buds a treat this Labor Day weekend. Enjoy great food from 75 of Colorado’s premier restaurants, live entertainment, artisans and carnival rides. 303-295-6330; atasteofcolorado.com
SEPTEMBER
Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Festival, September 5-8
Join this Celtic celebration held in Estes Park featuring bagpipe bands, athletic competitions, highland dancing and much more. 1-800-90-ESTES; scotfest.com
Oktoberfest Denver, September TBD
Celebrated on two consecutive weekends each September, the festival features an amazing lineup of German entertainment, live music, contests, and of course the traditional large biergartens. oktoberfestdenver.com
OCTOBER
Boo At The Zoo, October
Discover “spooktacular” Halloween fun at the Denver Zoo. Costumed kids get a real treat as the zoo fills with mysterious creatures and lots of sweets! 303-376-4800; denverzoo.org
Denver Beer Fest, October 4-12
A nine-day celebration of all things beer, including beer tastings at local restaurants, beer-paired dinners and “meet- the brewer” nights. denverbeerfest.com
Great American Beer Festival, October 10-12
The largest gathering of beer enthusiasts boasts more than 2,000 different beers from more than 400 brewers at the Colorado Convention Center. greatamericanbeerfestival.com
Rock and Roll Marathon, October 20
See the sights of Downtown Denver by foot and join thousands of runners on this urban course. 1-888-RUN-5280; runrocknroll.competitor.com/denver
NOVEMBER
Starz Denver Film Festival, November TBA
Grab the popcorn and check out this four-star event! Dozens of filmmakers introduce a slate of new movies, including star-studded world premieres! denverfilm.org
Denver International Wine Festival, November 6-9
A four-day celebration of wine and cuisine, with 400 wines presented by winemakers from around the world. denverwinefest.com
Denver Arts Week, November 1-9
Denver celebrates all of the arts from performing to visual. Explore Denver’s neighborhood studios and galleries, as well as its world-class museums during this annual event, including Night At The Museums, during which most of the city’s museums offer free admission. www.denverartsweek.org
Downtown Denver’s Grand Illumination, November 22
Dazzling lights illuminate downtown to kick off the holiday season. downtowndenver.com
DECEMBER
Blossoms of Light, December 2013 – January 2014
Journey through the brilliantly lit Denver Botanic Gardens, featuring artistically highlightes silhouettes of plants throughout 17 acres. Enjoy festiva carolers, dancers and hote beverages. 720-865-3500; botanicgardens.org
9News Parade of Lights, December 6-7
The streets of downtown burst with color as spectators enjoy sparkling lights, ornamented floats, marching bands, giant balloons and festive costumed performers. 303-534-6161; denverparadeoflights.com
Zoo Lights, December 2013 – January 2014
Luminous animated animal sculptures, traditional Christmas tunes and roaming wildlife make this event among the brightest and most beautiful in the state. 303-776-4800; denverzoo.org
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Downtown, December 31
Toast in 2013 under an umbrella of spectacular fireworks on the 16th Street Mall (9 p.m. & midnight). Admission is free. 303-534-6161; downtowndenver.com