Denver Spring and Summer Festivals

From the first flowers of spring until the last rays of summer, weekends in The Mile High City are filled with arts, entertainment, food and more — all with a distinctly Denver twist. Find more spring and summer festivals and events on the Denver 365 Event Calendar.

June

Colorado Shakespeare Festival

WHEN: Thru Aug. 7, 2022
WHERE: University of Colorado, Boulder
For more than 60 seasons, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has delighted audiences with classic theatre under the stars. This year's season includes "Two Gentlemen of Verona," "All's Well That Ends Well," "The Book of Will," "Coriolanus" and "The Alchemist."

Colorado Renaissance Festival

WHEN: Thru Aug. 7, 2022
WHERE: Larkspur
This season we will take you on a magical tour through time and legend. As you wander down the village streets and pathways of the Colorado Renaissance Festival, experience a 16th-century Renaissance amusement park! Ready thyself to revel with master revelers, watch artisans create original works of their ancient craft and be taken in by the tantalizing aromas of roast turkey legs, steak on a stake, fresh baked goods and much more. Featuring a cast of hundreds of authentically costumed merrymakers living and working throughout the village and performing, continuously, upon the Festival’s stages.

Top Taco

WHEN: June 23, 2022
WHERE: Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village
Festival-goers sample unlimited taco tastes from more than 60 restaurants and signature tequila cocktails from some of the best bartenders in Denver. Vote for your favorites to crown four categories of awards: Top Creative Taco, Top Traditional Taco, Top Vegetarian Taco and Top Cocktail. With five stages of amazing music, creative tequila lounge areas, an entire tent dedicated to mezcal tasting and some of the best chefs and mixologists in the city, Top Taco has become the can’t-miss summer event in Denver!

The Family Dog Experience Opening

WHEN: June 23, 2022
WHERE: Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village
Join us at the opening celebration of "The Family Dog Experience," a psychedelic rock poster immersive exhibition celebrating Denver's late 60s "The Family Dog" rock venue. Come in your bohemian best and get groovy with a psychedelic light show by Waveform.exp, curated music of the era by DJ Manos, a silent auction and dressing rooms designed and inspired by the legendary bands who played at The Family Dog in 1967 and 1968. Tickets include food truck bites and wine and beer.

Denver Fringe Festival

WHEN: June 23–26, 2022
WHERE: River North Art District - RiNo
The Denver Fringe Festival is an annual performing arts festival featuring original theatre, comedy, improv, cabaret, magic, dance, aerial, circus and more at venues throughout Five Points and the RiNo Art District.

Color Field 2022

WHEN: June 24–26, 2022
WHERE: Levitt Pavilion Denver
Featuring Shpongle, Tycho, Opiuo and so many more, this music festival isn't pulling any punches for its inaugural year!

Blues From The Top

WHEN: June 24–26, 2022
WHERE: Rendezvous Event Center, Winter Park
Blues From The Top is pulling out all the stops for its 20th anniversary, with a lineup that includes Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Gov’t Mule, Larkin Poe, Tab Benoit, Charlie Musslewhite, Southern Avenue, Sue Foley, Southern Hospitality featuring Damon Fowler, Victor Wainwright and J.P. Soars, Eddie 9V, Bette Smith, Emma Marie Music and more.

2022 Denver Exclusive Whiskey Tasting Festival

WHEN: June 25, 2022
WHERE: TBA Downtown Denver
Are you a lover of whiskey? Here's your chance to sample over $2,000 in whiskey with over 20 whiskey varieties averaging $100 a bottle or more at an exclusive event limited to just 200 attendees!

Belgian Brew Fest 2022

WHEN: June 25, 2022
WHERE: Bruz Beers
Tickets to Belgian Brew Fest include unlimited pours of dozens of renowned Belgian beers from around the world. Come enjoy a taste of Belgium in this outdoor festival, featuring more than a dozen local breweries, food truck fare and live music. The party continues after the festival is over! Bring your wristband into Bruz Beers for happy hour pricing all night long.

Highlands Street Fair

WHEN: June 25, 2022
WHERE: Highland Square
Head to the free Highlands Street Fair to enjoy live music, food from local restaurants, great shopping and more! Support local business and the local Denver community to start your summer on a high note.

Hops Drops Music and Beer Festival

WHEN: June 25, 2022
WHERE: Buchanan Park Recreation Center, Evergreen
Enjoy a full day of music and beer, nestled in the mountains of Evergreen, Colorado, at the base of Bergen Peak. Hops Drops will showcase more than a dozen regional and national musical acts, while highlighting some of the state's best brewing companies. A collaboration of everything that Colorado does best: beer, music, sun, fun and food.

2022 Denver PrideFest

WHEN: June 25–26, 2022
WHERE: Civic Center Park
Denver PrideFest is a two-day festival that draws visitors from throughout the state of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. The weekend kicks off with the PRIDE5K on Saturday, followed by the Dyke March and the two-day Denver PrideFest at Civic Center Park. The Fest includes over 250 exhibitors, 30 food and beverage vendor, and live performances all weekend long. Sunday begins at 9:30 a.m. with colorful floats, marchers, music and much more at the annual Coors Light Denver Pride Parade. Thousands of cheering guests will line 14 blocks of Colfax Avenue from Cheesman Park to Civic Center, where the celebrations continue at day two of Denver PrideFest, starting with the Pride Rally.

Cherry Blossom Festival

WHEN: June 25–26, 2022
WHERE: Sakura Square
Fans of taiko drumming, teriyaki chicken, sake and Japanese artwork and wares won't want to miss this year's Cherry Blossom Festival – "Sakura Matsuri" in Japanese. The annual event celebrates the Japanese heritage and culture through live entertainment, food and drink, a marketplace and informative exhibits and demonstrations.

Colorado Tiny House Festival

WHEN: June 25–26, 2022
WHERE: Riverdale Regional Park, Brighton
Tour tiny house models, container homes, bus and van conversions, yurts, tents, tipis, teardrops, overland and expedition trailers, custom campers, RVs and more! You'll learn from industry experts during incredible speaking presentations and meet professional builders and people who have DIY-built their own tiny home who can answer your questions.

Unicorn Festival

WHEN: June 25–26, 2022
WHERE: Clement Park, Littleton
Spend a beautiful weekend in a magical world! Ongoing entertainment and activities include multiple unicorn corrals and photo ops, sing-alongs and stories, princess meet and greets, a castle maze and dragon slide obstacle course, fairy land face painters, food trucks and more!

July

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

WHEN: July 1–3, 2022
WHERE: Cherry Creek North
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is an innovative outdoor fine art event featuring 220 juried artist exhibitors selling original artworks, family-friendly art activities for people of all ages, live music, immersive art experiences and amazing food and drink. The three-day event gives patrons the rare and special opportunity to meet and purchase art from artists from around the country.

Fan Expo

WHEN: July 1–3, 2022
WHERE: Colorado Convention Center
Experience the ultimate playground for comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming. Three days of citywide events, family-friendly attractions and world-renowned celebrities await you at Fan Expo!

Central City Opera's 2022 Festival

WHEN: July 2–31, 2022
WHERE: Central City Opera House, Central City
Central City Opera’s summer festival is a four-week extravaganza of storytelling and powerful voices, featuring classical music’s biggest talents. Central City Opera’s 90th season will include mainstage productions of the classic operetta "Die Fledermaus" and the modern musical, "The Light in the Piazza." The moving Holocaust remembrance opera "Two Remain" rounds out the 90th Anniversary season.

Colorado Black Arts Festival

WHEN: July 8–10, 2022
WHERE: City Park
The Colorado Black Arts Festival proudly presents its 36th annual celebration of African American art and culture, a Colorado experience like no other!

Blues & BBQ

WHEN: July 16, 2022
WHERE: Citizens Park, Edgewater
Carve out a spot in your calendar for a full day of blues music and delicious, juicy BBQ.

Mile High Global Bazaar

WHEN: July 16–17, 2022
WHERE: Skyline Park
The Mile High Global Bazaar is a three-day, annual celebration of international cultures, arts, crafts, merchandise, food and music. The event will consist of exhibitors from around the globe representing a vast array of cultures and goods. Denver is home to more than two million people representing a vast array of cultures and countries from around the world.

RiNo Showcase

WHEN: July 17, 2022
WHERE: Number Thirty Eight
RiNo Showcase is an annual series of festival-link events where locals creatives can share and sell their work. Artists and vendors always keep 100% of their profits.

Cheesman Park Art Festival

WHEN: July 23–24, 2022
WHERE: Cheesman Park
This show was just nationally ranked as one of the Top 100 Shows of the Decade by Sunshine Artist Magazine! A charming event with an outstanding lineup of artists and craftsmen, the Cheesman Park Art Fest has you culturally covered from live music beneath the trees to Denver's best food trucks! All of the booths showcase handmade juried works of art and craft. From jewelry and pottery, to oil paintings and woodwork, there's something for everyone!

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival

WHEN: July 23–24, 2022
WHERE: Cheesman Park
Join Colorado's annual celebration of Asian and Asian American heritage with the biggest dragon boat festival in the U.S.!

The Big Eat

WHEN: July 28, 2022
WHERE: DPAC/Denver Performing Arts Complex
The Big Eat, hosted inside The Galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, is a one-night showcase of the Denver area’s vibrant and dynamic independent dining scene. Featuring small bites and sips from more than 60 independent food and beverage providers, guests experience the city's diverse array of local and international cuisines, all while supporting Colorado’s food community.

Underground Music Showcase 2022

WHEN: July 29–31, 2022
WHERE: Various venues
The 22nd annual UMS returns to South Broadway for three nights of music from local and touring acts. As new co-owners, Two Parts and Youth on Record will focus the UMS on artistic excellence, community impact and economic sustainability, with a commitment to advancing opportunities for historically marginalized artists.

Breckenridge Food & Wine Festival

WHEN: July 29–31, 2022
WHERE: Main Street Station & The Village at Breckenridge
The Breckenridge Food & Wine Festival brings you a unique wine-tasting experience starring an array of varietals created by top wineries. From the soft and smooth to the unabashedly bold, guests will get more than their fair share of delicious sips with nearly 300 wines to choose from! Small dishes will be available for purchase to accompany each vintage, and live music featuring Spinphony will blow your mind!

16th Street Fair

WHEN: July 30–31, 2022
WHERE: 16th Street Mall - Pedestrian Mall
The annual 16th Street Fair is a celebration of fine art, handcrafted goods and the 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver. Take a stroll along the 16th Street Mall to enjoy a showcase of emerging artists and designers producing original and unique handmade goods in a wide array of media. This is Downtown Denver’s premier art and craft festival located in the city center along the busiest pedestrian street in the state!

August

Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department Annual Mountain Festival

WHEN: Aug. 1–Sept. 10, 2022
WHERE: 10830 Rist Canyon Rd., Bellvue
Benefitting the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, events include a full day’s lineup of performers, demonstrations, booths and activities for the entire family. Other festival favorites include a used book sale, silent auction, bake and plant sales, craft and art vendors, food trucks, educational booths and demonstrations. Admission, parking, a hayride shuttle to/from the parking area, live musical entertainment and ice cream all are free of charge.

Colorado State Fair

WHEN: Aug. 26–Sept. 5, 2022
WHERE: Colorado State Fairgrounds, Pueblo
The annual Colorado State Fair creates an entertaining, inspiring and educational inter-generational experience highlighting the preservation, promotion and exposition of our State’s vibrant and diverse agriculture, industry and culture.

RiNo Showcase

WHEN: Aug. 27, 2022
WHERE: Number Thirty Eight
RiNo Showcase is an annual series of festival-link events where local creatives can share and sell their work. Artists and vendors always keep 100 percent of their profits.

September

Taste of Colorado

WHEN: Sept. 3–5, 2022
WHERE: 16th Street Mall
Come out and enjoy the end-of-summer celebration, complete with multiple outdoor performance stages, dozens of food vendors, a large arts and crafts marketplace, and an expanded Kids Zone packed with family-friendly activities.

Art RiNo

WHEN: Sept. 5–11, 2022
WHERE: River North Art District - RiNo
This year the RiNo Art District is launching Art RiNo, a new, week-long arts festival featuring art in all its forms, with murals, music, installations, arts workshops and special events in partnership with Westword Music Showcase.

Outdoor Family Fun All Summer Long

Farmers' Markets

The Mile High City's more than 20 farmers' markets aren't just about locally grown produce, delicious baked goods and prepared foods — though you'll find those in abundance! Each market is a festive, weekly street fair, many with live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

Denver Zoo

With over 3,500 animals on 84 gorgeous acres, Denver Zoo is an amazing experience year-round. Your donation helps to provide world-class care for the lions, giraffes and elephants, as well as other wild animals and wild places, from the Rockies to Mongolia.

Denver Botanic Gardens

One of the top five botanic gardens in the nation, Denver Botanic Gardens is an oasis in the city, offering year-round events, a children’s garden, lifelong-learning opportunities and research to preserve Colorado’s precious natural resources. Meanwhile, Chatfield Farms, located in nearby Littleton, takes pride in its exemplary nature preserve and gardens. Located on 750 acres, this picturesque site includes display gardens and a historical farm with a rustic barn.

Denver's City Parks

No matter where you find yourself in The Mile High City, you’re likely only a few steps away from a lush and relaxing green space. Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to explore Denver's more than 5,000 acres of traditional parks and parkways, as well as an additional 14,000 acres of spectacular mountain parks in neighboring counties that are maintained by the City and County of Denver.

Denver Street Art

Denver street artists have been busy brightening (and enlightening) the urban landscape for decades by making canvases of the city’s alleyways, building exteriors, warehouses, garage doors and storefronts. Grab your camera and take a stroll past some of the city's favorite murals.

First Friday Art Walks

Galleries, studios and cultural attractions in Denver's art districts stay open late the first Friday of every month for a mind-expanding night of art, food, drink and fun.