The Ultimate Guide to Annual Festivals in Denver
Denver Celebrations You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
With its mighty Rocky Mountain backdrop and 300-plus days of sunshine, it’s little surprise that Denver, Colorado, is an ideal setting for festivals. Folks from every corner of America visit this mile-high city for its richly woven tapestry of music, arts, and culture, as well as a booming gastronomic scene that teems with food trucks and restaurants.
Our Ultimate Guide to Festivals in Denver will see you discovering the best indie talent, sampling delectable Mexican fare, and admiring mind-bending street art murals. Read on to discover when to indulge in regional wines and gourmet dishes during a sophisticated weekend getaway, or connect with fellow cinema enthusiasts at a star-studded film gathering.
1. Underground Music Showcase (UMS)
An extraordinary lineup of independent talent
Good for: Photo, Nightlife
Featuring hundreds of artists over multiple days, Underground Music Showcase (UMS) is Denver’s premier indie music festival, drawing lovers of all things under-the-radar to venues across the city. Benefiting the Denver Post Community Foundation, a grassroots not-for-profit, this sonic celebration features several stages and exclusive events, including silent discos and Latin dance parties.
Watch performances from the likes of All Them Witches, Flyana Boss, Shermanology, and The Velveteers. There are food trucks galore and plenty of refreshments from Monster Tour Water and Best Day Brewing. Buy a day ticket or a weekend pass from the official website or the UMS box office.
Underground Music Showcase (UMS)
2. Cherry Creek Arts Festival
A visual feast that aids a good cause
Good for: Couples, Photo, Families
Cherry Creek Arts Festival is one of America’s largest art exhibitions, featuring a host of local and international creatives over the Fourth of July weekend. Supporting a charity that fosters education across Colorado, CCAF has grown into a cultural extravaganza that draws over 350,000 visitors to Denver’s Cherry Creek North neighborhood for ceramics, paintings, jewelry, and mixed media collages.
When you’re not admiring the art, catch blistering live music on the Filmore Main Stage or book yourself into a creative workshop taught by a professional working artist. Learn to make ancient Greek vessels, traditional Māori necklaces, and colorful sand mandalas inspired by those found in India. Don’t miss the cultural street performances from Bella Diva World Dance.
Location: Cherry Creek North, Denver, CO 80206, USA
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
3. Top Taco Denver
Premium pig out for those aged 21+
Good for: Food, Couples, Unusual
Founded in 2014, Top Taco Denver is a charismatic culinary event that draws hungry foodies from across the city for a serious Mexican feast. This fiery fiesta showcases over 60 restaurants and eateries that serve the tastiest tacos in all of Colorado: think traditional tortillas stuffed with black beans and chicken, and weird and wonderful fusion creations.
Roll up to Westminster Central Park in June for unlimited tacos, knockout tequila cocktails, and Lucha Libre wrestling. Featured food trucks include Chile Con Quesadilla, Ta-Co Mucho Bueno, My Neighbor Felix, and Cencalli Taqueria.
Location: Westminster Center Park, 4901 W 93rd Ave, Westminster, CO 80031, USA
Top Taco Denver
4. Denver Chalk Art Festival
It has to be seen to be believed
Good for: Families, Budget, Couples
Drawing hundreds of artists to the city, the Denver Chalk Art Festival takes place every June in the Golden Triangle Creative District, long considered the culture capital of Colorado state. Previous attendees include animal street art painter Julie Kirk Purcell and 3D muralist Chris Carlson, who brought compelling pops of color to the city’s concrete sidewalks.
This family day out is made even more special with the Little Spoon Kids Corner, where children can make their own masterpieces, and upbeat live performances from the Mexican folk dance group, Folklórico de Colores. Food and drink vendors can be found on Bannock between 11th and 13th Streets. The festival is free of charge and takes place in all weather.
Location: 123 W. 12th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204, USA
Denver Chalk Art Festival
5. Outside Festival
A heartfelt homage to the great outdoors
Good for: Families, Photo, Adventure
You’ll find the Outside Festival and Summit in Civic Center Park, a sprawling greenspace featuring extensive flower beds and a large collection of public art. A relatively new event, OFS has proved a hit with its live music, adventure documentaries, motivational speakers, and Ultimate Basecamp sessions, which feature bicycle clinics, first aid training, and hiking boot repair classes.
Previously, acts like Sylvan Esso, Lord Huron, and Trampled by Turtles performed on the main stage. When you’re not taking in the entertainment, you can enjoy yoga sessions, wall climbing, and plunge pools filled with icy water. There are also plenty of food trucks on standby serving tasty street food and refreshing beverages.
Location: Civic Center Park, 101 14th Street Denver, CO 80204, USA
Outside Festival
6. Denver Food + Wine Festival
Spotlighting the city’s best cuisine and vino
Good for: Food, Couples
The Denver Food + Wine Festival is a three-day gastro spectacular that ends with an exclusive Grand Tasting featuring all-you-can-eat bites from award-winning chefs and ritzy cocktails from master mixologists. Prior to this, the Shake and Brake Showdown pits the city’s best bartenders against each other, while local eateries compete to win the coveted food truck crown.
Attend events like the Riedel Wine Glass Seminar, hosted by sommelier Shelley Sale, to learn how your perception shifts when drinking from specific glassware. Meanwhile, the Dine Out Auction offers a host of quality prizes to the highest bidder; think dinner for two at Alma Fonda Fina and a pit tour for four at G-Que Barbeque.
Denver Food + Wine Festival
7. Denver Film Festival
A highlight for Colorado’s cinephile community
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Founded nearly 50 years ago, the Denver Film Festival screens boundary-pushing and emotionally compelling films from dozens of national and international directors. It also acts as an open forum between movie makers and the general public. Previous discussions have focused on the nuances of modern filmmaking and how to document climate change.
Hollywood stars like Anthony Mackie (from 8 Mile and The Hurt Locker) and Patricia Clarkson (from Sharp Objects and Six Feet Under) have graced the DFF red carpet, while thousands of ticket holders have attended screenings, talks, and awards shows with popcorn and soda in hand. A range of passes is available, offering entry to numerous screenings, plus a host of glamorous perks like access to celebrity parties.
Denver Film Festival
8. Denver Arts Week
Ten exhilarating days filled with eclectic events and exhibits
Good for: Couples, Families
A grand celebration of the city’s creative heritage, Denver Arts Week hosts hundreds of events that span theatrical burlesque shows, exhibits exploring indigenous art, and immersive sound and light experiences. In former years, the Museum of Outdoor Arts has showcased sculptural installations by Robert Mangold and colorful murals by Olive Moya, while the Denver Botanic Gardens has explored the symbolism of agave.
Attend the First Friday Art Walk in the Santa Fe neighborhood for colorful pieces at Museo de las Americas, before taking in performances at the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council. Meanwhile, the Denver Art Museum boasts 70,000 works across 12 distinct collections, including an entire section dedicated to Western American Art.
Denver Arts Week
9. Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
A colorful Chinese holiday, recognized by UNESCO
Good for: Shoppers, Food, Photo
The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is the largest of its kind in America. Every year, over 200,000 people descend on Sloan’s Lake Park to watch this exciting Chinese boat regatta unfold before them. A 2,000-year-old sport, the event draws as many as 50 competing teams who row frantically during the race to the sound of audience applause.
When you’re not immersed in all the dragon boat action, groove to electrifying music beneath the Coors Light Band Stage, shop at the lively Asian Marketplace, or order delectable oriental cuisine in the Taste of Asia arena. Dig into treats from Seoul Bowl, Hot Wok, and Pho King Rapidos before washing it all down with a Yoyo Bubble Tea.
Location: Sloan’s Lake Park, 1700 N Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80212, USA
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
10. VegFest Colorado
Celebrating all things plant-based
Good for: Food, Couples
Held every spring and fall, VegFest Colorado honors a greener, cleaner planet by embracing plant-based foods and products that are inherently sustainable. Vegans and vegetarians congregate here to make new friends with like-minded people, dance to live music in the warm Denver sunshine, and mill about the food trucks which serve delicious meat-free meals.
Try dishes from The Savage Beet and The Hungry Tree Hugger before attending talks by experts like Dr. Andrew Freeman, the Vegan Cardiologist. Later on, you can chat with staff from leading not-for-profits like PETA and the Protego Foundation who change the lives of animals through their tireless, game-changing work.
Location: Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80204, USA
VegFest Colorado
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