👉 Jump to Festivals in:January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | FAQ
I’m a Denver local here to share the best Denver festivals in every month of the year!
As a bonus, you can even add this Denver Festival calendar to your Google calendar!
These events are some of the best things to do in Denver, and many of them are free to attend. Discover popular festivals and hidden gems for every interest, including food, music, art, and culture. Several of these festivals also surround holidays — and there’s no better way to celebrate than with the local community!
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Table of Contents
Denver Festivals in January
National Western Stock Show
Celebrate Colorado’s ranching heritage by attending cattle shows, rodeos, mutton bustin’, and more events.
📅 January 11 – 26 | 📍 Google Maps | National Western Stock Show Website
The National Western Stock Show is a two-week-long cattle extravaganza. It’s a pretty big deal here in Denver and is one of the best festivals in Colorado! Some attend to buy and sell cattle — my favorite are the kids raising livestock for college funds.
Others visit for the food and merch stalls, and everyone enjoys the rodeos, mutton bustin’, and other entertainment. There are also stalls that educate the public, plus baby animal displays (another favorite!).
Denver Festivals in February
Loveland Sweetheart Festival
Celebrate love in the Sweetheart City, set roughly an hour north of Denver.
📅 February 10, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Loveland Sweetheart Festival Website
Loveland is one of the Colorado cities near Denver, located about an hour north. It’s aptly known as the Sweetheart City and puts on quite a celebration right before Valentine’s Day! Walk through the Tunnel of Love, see live ice sculpting, and hear some live music. The festival has local craft beers, food trucks, and kids’ activities.
Denver Festivals in March
Denver Restaurant Week
Sample some of Denver’s most delicious fare for a fraction of the price!
📅 March 1-10, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Restaurant Week Website
Denver Restaurant Week involves ten days of cheap and tasty goodness! Many of the best restaurants in Denver offer meals at four price points. You’ll find options for $25, $35, $45, and $55. It’s an excellent, affordable time to try a new restaurant or several. I especially recommend checking out some of the Michelin-recognized restaurants in Denver!
Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Enjoy one of Denver’s longest-running traditions which draws over 10,000 participants.
📅 March 16, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | St. Patrick’s Day Parade Website
Denver is home to the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade west of the Mississippi! The parade usually has over 10,000 participants. There are also bands, step dancers, equestrians, bagpipers, and floats which all make their way through downtown Denver.
Denver Festivals in April
Arvada Kite Festival
Celebrate spring with colorful kites in a suburb west of downtown Denver.
📅 April 14, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Arvada Kite Festival Website
The Arvada Kite Festival occurs in one of the Denver suburbs west of downtown. Head here to shake off the winter doldrums and enjoy the breezes of spring! You can bring your own kite or buy one at the festival. See kite demonstrations and enjoy food trucks, face painting, and lots of kite flying all day long.
Denver Festivals in May
Cinco de Mayo Festival
Watch the parade, cheer on racing chihuahuas, and sample delicious food and drink!
📅 May 4 – 5, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Cinco de Mayo Website
The Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival is two days of fun at Civic Center Park. The parade is a highlight of the festival, which also features dancers, bands, equestrian teams, and more.
The two days also involve chihuahua races, a lowrider car show, and tequila tastings. Plus, you can watch musical performances and see art displays from the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council.
Denver Arts Festival
See Denver’s creativity and artistic talent, and enjoy hands-on childrens’ booths.
📅 May 25 – 26, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Arts Festival Website
The Denver Arts Festival showcases fine arts and crafts by Colorado and national artists. Browse the booths and pick up an original creation! There’s also live music, food, beer, and wine. A kids’ art zone gets younger artists painting and they walk away with their very own art piece!
BBQFest Denver
Experience the thrill of the grill at this all-you-can-eat event.
📅 May 27 – 28 | 📍 Google Maps | BBQFest Denver Website
Love the craft of barbecue? BBQFest Denver celebrates the delicious art of grilled and smoked meats with live music and lots and lots of food!
You can buy a ticket for all-you-can-eat BBQ and drinks. The top pitmasters across the country also host talks. Additionally, you can watch demos on how to improve your own grilling and barbecuing techniques.
Denver Festivals in June
Denver Chalk Art Festival
Watch artists create short-lived but stunning masterpieces.
📅 June 1 – 2 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Chalk Art Festival Website
These chalk creations may be impermanent, but that doesn’t make them any less impressive! See artists who do amazing work with color and perspective. You can even watch their process and vote for your favorite art piece.
Denver Greek Festival
Admire ornate Orthodox churches, sample Greek food, watch cultural dances, and more.
📅 June 7 – 9, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Greek Festival Website
Denver’s Greek Festival takes place over three days and includes Greek food, music, and dancing. You can sign up for tours of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral. You can also shop for jewelry, icons, books, clothing, and other items. Many of them are straight from Greece!
Five Points Jazz Festival
Groove to some of Denver’s top musical talent at this free event.
📅 June 8, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Five Points Jazz Festival Website
Five Points Jazz Festival has been going on for just over 20 years. But the history of jazz in Five Points, one of the best Denver neighborhoods, is much older than that!
Five Points was once called the “Harlem of the West,” and clubs in the area hosted musicians like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. Spend a day listening to live music at the festival, and see if you can spot the next jazz great!
Parker Days Festival
Climb aboard carnival rides, attend live performances, and enjoy downtown Parker!
📅 June 13 – 16, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Parker Days Festival Website
The Parker Days Festival began as a small-town affair but has grown to attract hundreds of thousands of people. There are culinary demonstrations and food from more than 30 restaurants and food trucks.
Festival goers can also ride carnival rides and see street performers, and kids can enjoy free crafts and games. Hit up this fun festival, then explore the many other fun things to do in Parker!
Juneteenth Music Festival
Listen to live music, watch the parade, and celebrate a historic day.
📅 June 15 – 16 | 📍 Google Maps | Juneteenth Music Festival Website
Five Points holds a street festival and parade every year to celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. Participants can join the nearly 5,000 people who march in the Juneteenth parade. You can also shop for clothing, arts, and crafts, and sample food from the many vendors.
Denver PrideFest
Take in the parade, run the 5k, and spend the weekend celebrating at one of the top Pride events in the U.S.
📅 June 22 & 23, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver PrideFest Website
Denver celebrates Pride each June with two full days’ worth of events! Three stages provide lots of space for live music, dancing, DJs, and performers all weekend. There’s also the parade, booths, food, and much more.
Colorado Renaissance Festival
Good morrow, milord! Enjoy time at this olde time festival in Larkspur all summer long.
📅 June – August | 📍 Google Maps | Colorado Renaissance Festival Website
The Colorado Renaissance Festival runs all summer long in Larkspur, about 45 minutes south of Denver. You can enjoy shows, explore booths with Renaissance clothing and fanciful creations, and gnaw on a massive turkey leg for lunch!
Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Verily, you’ll enjoy these interpretations of the Bard’s most popular plays in Boulder!
📅 June – August | 📍 Google Maps | Colorado Shakespeare Festival Website
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival takes place at CU Boulder every summer. Festival goers can watch plays performed by a professional theater company at the Roe Green Theatre. In 2024, plays include The Merry Wives of Windsor, Macbeth, and Arden of Faversham. This is one of the many fun things to do in Boulder each summer!
RidgeFest
Discover the charm of Wheat Ridge at this summer event that celebrates all things local.
📅 Dates TBD | 📍 Google Maps | Festival’s Website
RidgeFest is the key summer festival in Wheat Ridge. This charming suburb is located northwest of Denver and has a strong community feel. It draws around 7,000 attendees, but I never have a hard time spotting my neighborhoods. They’re usually up dancing by the stage!
I love the live music at RidgeFest. The line-up is full of great local acts. “Local” describes the drink selection, too, which includes craft beer and Stem Ciders wine. There are also food trucks, as well as vendor booths selling handmade art, crafts, clothing, and more.
– Abigail
Denver Festivals in July
Fan EXPO Denver
Grab your favorite costume and get ready for 3 days of super fandom!
📅 July 4 – 7, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Fan EXPO Denver Website
Fan EXPO Denver takes the place of Denver Comic Con, but it still has all the favorite activities! Meet the stars of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and gaming, and enjoy three days of pop culture. There are photo and autograph sessions with celebrities, kids’ activities, and lots of swag to purchase!
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Browse fine art from Colorado and nationwide artists at this outdoor summer festival.
📅 July 5 – 7, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Cherry Creek Arts Festival Website
More than 250 artists share their paintings and artwork on the streets of Cherry Creek North during the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Artwork is for sale, and there’s live music, food, and drinks for purchase as well. Kids can explore art through activities just for them, and you can attend art education programs as well.
Lavender Festival at Chatfield Farms
Explore the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Littleton location when more than 2,000 lavender plants are in full bloom.
📅 July 15 – 16 | 📍 Google Maps | Festival’s Website
The Denver Botanic Gardens’ Chatfield Farms location is a key attraction in Littleton. It’s especially scenic during the Lavender Festival, an annual summer event.
My husband and I love wandering the lavender fields, which feature over 2,000 lavender plant varieties. There are also other collections worth seeing. I especially recommend the dye garden and medicinal herb garden. I also enjoy the riparian demonstration garden — which is one of the few shaded areas at Chatfield Farms.
Be sure to grab some lavender lemonade to help beat the July heat. Vendor booths sell other lavender-infused goods and of course, there’s also live music!
– Abigail
Douglas County Fair & Rodeo
Visit an Old Western town, see livestock exhibits, and watch the rodeo at this county fair.
📅 July 26 – August 4, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Festival Website
The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo in Castle Rock has the standard exhibitions of animals, crafts, food, and more. It also has live music and a replica of an Old Western town with blacksmith demonstrations and photo ops. And, of course, there are various rodeo events culminating with the PRCA Rodeo.
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
Cheer on dragon boat races, sample tasty food, and watch performances that celebrate Asian culture.
📅 July 27 – 28, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Dragon Boat Festival Website
The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival involves dragon boat races on Sloan’s Lake, one of the best lakes near Denver. You can also watch martial arts and dance demonstrations, listen to live music, and purchase food at this event which celebrates Asian culture.
Underground Music Showcase
Explore the Baker neighborhood of Denver while listening to live bands from around the world!
📅 July 26 – 28, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Underground Music Showcase Website
The Underground Music Showcase is three days of outdoor performances. Concert goers can see a variety of music types by up-and-coming bands. The Baker neighborhoodalso has plenty of restaurants and shops you can browse while you’re in the area.
Denver Festivals in August
Western Welcome Week
Celebrate Littleton history with a small-town parade and events.
📅 August 9 – 18, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Western Welcome Week Website
The centerpiece of Littleton’s Western Welcome Week is the Grand Parade. Local Littleton businesses and organizations design floats for the parade. You’ll also see high school marching bands and equestrians.
There’s live music, duck races, art and quilt displays, plus food and drinks available for purchase. Hands down, it’s one of the best things to do in Littleton!
Denver Polish Food Festival
Enjoy a weekend of Polish food, dancing, and other celebrations of heritage.
📅 August 26 – 27 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Polish Food Festival Website
The Denver Polish Food Festival has more than just food — although, the cuisine is worth experiencing alone! You can also watch Polish and Ukrainian folk dancing and singing. Enjoy a Polish Disco Dance Party and visit vendor booths for Polish pottery and other items.
Denver Festivals in September
Taste of Colorado
Try a variety of Colorado’s best foods and enjoy live music downtown.
📅 TBD | 📍 Google Maps | A Taste of Colorado Website
Taste of Colorado is a beloved Denver tradition and plenty of people here consider it the official end of summer. The festival has arts and crafts, souvenirs, live music, and, of course, tons of delicious Denver food and drink to sample.
👉 Worth Noting: Denver folded the Taste of Colorado event into Viva Streets Denver during the summer of 2023. It’s not clear how the 2024 festival will work yet.
Denver Food & Wine Festival
Raise money for the Colorado Restaurant Foundation while enjoying some of the best local food businesses.
📅 September 4 – 7 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Food & Wine Festival Website
The Denver Food & Wine Festival is the biggest fundraiser for the Colorado Restaurant Foundation. It provides education to those interested in culinary careers, along with grants for industry workers in need.
Guests at the festival can take wine-tasting seminars. They’ll also sample food from top restaurants at the Grand Tasting event.
High Plains Comedy Festival
Laugh along with local and national comedians at this annual Baker event.
📅 September 21 – 23 | 📍 Google Maps | High Plains Comedy Festival Website
The High Plains Comedy Festival has been taking place in Denver for more than 10 years. The festival invites comics from Colorado and across the country to perform around the city. Many of the events are scheduled in the Baker neighborhood near South Broadway.
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns
Marvel at fantastically carved pumpkins and enjoy Hudson Gardens after dark!
📅 September 22 – October 31 | 📍 Google Maps | Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns Website
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns in Littleton features some seriously impressive gourd carving! You can follow the trail through Hudson Gardens, decorated with more than 7,000 hand-carved and lit pumpkins. You’ll see jack o’ lanterns to admire on their own and some that are part of larger displays like dinosaurs, seascapes, and dragons.
Denver Festivals in October
Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms
Explore the corn maze, hop on a hayride, and pick a pumpkin at this Littleton event.
📅 October 6 – 8 | 📍 Google Maps | Chatfield Farms Website
Chatfield Farms in Littleton has a 10-acre pumpkin patch, a challenging corn maze, and plenty of family activities at the Pumpkin Festival each year! There’s live music, lots of fall foods, carnival games and inflatables for the kids, face painting, and more. There’s even a pumpkin daycare, so you can pick yours out and not lug it around with you all day.
Great American Beer Festival
Sample beers from across America at this event featuring over 2,000 craft breweries.
📅 October 10 – 12, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Great American Beer Festival Website
The Great American Beer Festival is one of Colorado’s most popular festivals! More than 2,000 breweries compete for medals in several categories of beer. Participants include some of the best breweries in Denver and beers from every state in the country. There are costume competitions, a scavenger hunt, food trucks, and seminars on brewing.
Denver Oktoberfest
Enjoy a fall tradition with competitions and plenty of beer!
📅 Festival Dates TBD | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Oktoberfest Website
There are Oktoberfest celebrations throughout Colorado, including one here in Denver! Watch the stein hoisting competition — or compete, if you have amazing upper arm strength! Try keg bowling. Cheer on the long dog derby, compete in the costume contest, and visit the beer hall to quench your thirst.
Denver Festivals in November
Denver Film Festival
See films with Oscar buzz and spot celebrities in the Mile High City!
📅 November 3 – 12 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Film Festival Website
The Denver Film Festival was one of the first film festivals in the United States. It’s now a place to watch movies that are generating early Oscar buzz each November. You may also spot some stars of these movies. Celebrities have been known to show up! Movie buffs can also attend filmmaker Q&A sessions, workshops, panel discussions, and more.
Denver Christkindlmarket
Kick off the holiday season by shopping for unique gifts and sipping warm, spiced German glühwein.
📅 November 17 – December 23 | 📍 Google Maps | Denver Christkindl Market Website
Denver Christkindlmarket has food and craft vendors, plus lots of Colorado small businesses offering their wares. The European-style holiday market also has entertainment. You can see lots of different live bands throughout the month. The market is free and takes place in Civic Center Park, adjacent to the Mile High Tree.
Christmas in Color
Enjoy an explosion of Christmas lights from the warmth of your car.
📅 November 17 – December 30 | 📍 Google Maps | Christmas in Color Website
Morrison’s Bandimere Speedway is ablaze with lights at the Christmas in Color show. Lights are synchronized to music, and you’ll see them light up in colorful patterns and displays as you drive past and under them. Visitors are charged per vehicle, which means the more people you bring in your car, the less it costs per person.
Blossoms of Light
See the Denver Botanic Gardens sparkling with lights during the holiday season.
📅 November 17 – January 7 | 📍 Google Maps | Blossoms of Light Website
Blossoms of Light is one of my favorite Denver holiday light shows! The Denver Botanic Gardens are beautiful at any time of year, but are especially magical when transformed into a winter wonderland.
Trees are completely covered in twinkle lights, and there’s a lit-up tunnel that’s perfect for pictures. Don’t miss the light show with music in the amphitheater area.
Hudson Holidays & Light Up The New Year
Enjoy the laser garden, twinkle lights in the trees, and a magical light show.
📅 November 24 – January 28 | 📍 Google Maps | Hudson Holidays Website
Hudson Gardens & Event Center in Littleton has two holiday light shows. Hudson Holidays features light installations, including a gorgeous cathedral made of LED lights. In the new year, the displays change to the Light Up the New Year show with a laser garden, music, and exciting light displays.
Denver Festivals in December
Parade of Lights
Welcome the holidays with one of Denver’s best-known parades!
📅 December 2 | 📍 Google Maps | Parade of Lights Website
The Parade of Lights in downtown Denver is the area’s kickoff to the holiday season! Spectators line up along the parade route to watch as floats, marching bands, character balloons, and cultural groups pass by. There is, of course, an appearance by Santa, and you can admire the City & County Building as it’s all lit up for the holidays.
Zoo Lights
Admire displays with millions of lights and get a glimpse of zoo animals at night!
📅 December 2 – January 7, 2024 | 📍 Google Maps | Zoo Lights Website
Denver Zoo Lights has more than 3 million lights in the 80 acres of displays around the zoo. You’ll see animated light sculptures featuring zoo animals. You can also watch ice-carving exhibitions, and gaze at trees and tunnels aglow with lights. Watch the animals at night in their warm enclosures and admire those frolicking in the winter air outside.
FAQs About Festivals in Denver
What music festivals are in Denver?
Music festivals in Denver include the Five Points Jazz Festival and Juneteenth Music Festival. Both are some of the best festivals in June. There’s also the Underground Music Showcase, one of the best festivals in July.
What food festivals are in Denver?
Food festivals in Denver include Taste of Colorado and Denver Food & Wine Festival. They’re some of the best festivals in September. There’s also Denver Restaurant Week, one of the best festivals in March.
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Hopefully, this guide to the best Denver festivals has inspired you to visit a few events! Check out our guide to free things to do in Denver for more activity ideas.
(Featured Image Credit: Kit Leong / Shutterstock)
