DENVER — From festivals and rodeos to monster trucks and runs, there's lots to do, see and explore in Denver and Colorado this Father's Day weekend.
Colorado hosts several big names in music including Zach Bryan, Janet Jackson and Russ. Returning festivals include Parker Days, the Juneteenth Music Festival, Evergreen Rodeo, Littleton Fire Truck Parade, and the Colorado Renaissance Festival.
Whether you're looking to brave the heat or are planning to stay inside, check out one of these fun events across Colorado. Celebrate the season this weekend by experiencing the unique culture, food and geography that makes our state so special.
Juneteenth Music Festival
DENVER — The Juneteenth Music Festival returns to Denver's Historic Five Points Neighborhood on Saturday and Sunday. The annual Juneteenth Parade kicks off the festivities, stepping off at 12 p.m. Saturday. The festival, at 27th and Welton Streets, features two days of live entertainment, food, retail and community vendors, interactive and educational activities, block parties and VIP areas. Bow Wow heads the line-up of performers. Chauncey Billups will receive the Juneteenth Music Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.
Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival
COLORADO SPRINGS — The 4th annual Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival will be held Friday to Sunday at America the Beautiful Park in Colorado Springs. The three-day festival is free and open to the public and more information can be found at CSJuneteenthFestival.com.
Juneteenth at CPRD
DENVER — Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (CPRD) will hold Juneteenth celebrations on Friday and Saturday. "Hip-Hop and Politics," a millenial conversation begins at 5 p.m. Friday at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. The dance company will be at the Juneteenth Music Festival starting at 2 p.m. Saturday with a main stage performance at 3 p.m.
Fort Collins Juneteenth Celebration
FORT COLLINS — The Juneteenth Celebration in Fort Collins runs Friday through Sunday. Events take place at the Cultural Enrichment Center of Fort Collins and Foothills Mall. Activities throughout the weekend include a community bike ride, yoga on the lawn, wellness workshops, kids’ activities including a scavenger hunt, a vendor market featuring BIPOC-owned businesses, and food trucks.
Fire Parade & Muster
LITTLETON — Fire engine buffs will converge on Littleton on Saturday for the 38th annual Fire Truck Parade and Muster. This free and family-friendly event kicks off with a 9 a.m. parade at Bannock and Littleton Boulevard that will travel down Littleton's Main Street and then "muster" at Arapahoe Community College. There will be classic fire trucks, modern fire engines, free fire truck rides, a kids' fire safety obstacle course and aerial platform trucks will hoist their ladders sky-high to spray water on the crowds below.
Zach Bryan
DENVER — Zach Bryan brings his summer concert tour to Colorado's biggest stadium this weekend. The country music singer will perform at Empower Field at Mile High on Friday and Saturday as part of "The Quittin Time Tour." The stadium concerts will feature support from Sierra Ferrell and Levi Turner.
Bryan last played Empower Field at Mile High in May 2022, supporting headliner Luke Combs. Bryan sold out two shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre June 2023 and sold out his concert at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in July 2023.
The country music car, who is often featured on the television series "Yellowstone," recorded a live album at Red Rocks in 2022 titled "All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster (Live From Red Rocks)."
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
GOLDEN — Estes Park welcomes summer this weekend with the 31st annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. The traditional Scandinavian festival celebrates the summer solstice with fun, dancing, exhibits and kids' activities. The celebration begins Friday at 4 p.m. with the opening of the beer garden. On Saturday, there will be a raising of the midsummer pole and opening ceremony. Other activities planned this weekend include a craft fair, food vendors, art exhibitors, and Scandinavian classic car show. The free festival will be held at Parfet Park in Golden.
Colorado Renaissance Festival
LARKSPUR — Take a magical tour through time and legend at the annual Colorado Renaissance Festival. The village streets of the festival are full of artisans selling original art, fresh baked goods, roasted turkey legs, steak on a stake and much more. There will be jousting, comedy shows and a cast of hundreds walking and performing throughout the faire. The Renaissance Festival runs on weekends through the first weekend of August. Tickets are available at ColoradoRenaissance.com.
Parker Days
PARKER — “Colorado's Hometown Festival” is back for four days of shows, carnival rides, food and more. Located on Mainstreet, the 48th annual Parker Days is loaded with festival booths, face painting, a silent disco, inflatable activities, music, crafts, axe throwing, buskers, and carnival rides. The free festival runs Thursday through Sunday. See the festival schedule at ParkerDaysFestival.com.
Evergreen Rodeo
EVERGREEN — Father's Day weekend means it is rodeo weekend in beautiful Evergreen. The Evergreen Rodeo parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Evergreen. The parade will have more than 100 entries including marching bands, floats, horses, carriages, antique cars and farm equipment. Rodeo performances will take place Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at the El Pinal Rodeo Grounds on Highway 74 at Stagecoach Blvd. Tickets are available online at EvergreenRodeo.com.
Alamosa Round-UP
ALAMOSA — The Alamosa Round-UP is back this weekend. A rodeo is scheduled for Friday at the Alamosa Fairgrounds. A demolition derby takes place Saturday night. If you miss this weekend's action, the Alamosa Round-UP continues the following weekend, Thursday, June 20, through Sunday, June 22.
Kremmling Days
KREMMLING — Kremmling is honoring its history this weekend with its three-day Kremmling Days festival. The festival begins Friday with a community BBQ, live music, beer garden, vendors and kids zone. A pancake breakfast begins the festivities on Saturday, followed by the Mustang Mile, parade, live music, beer garden, kids' activities and more. Another pancake breakfast and community church service are planned for Sunday.
Russ
DENVER — Russ is coming back to Colorado this weekend. The rapper, singer songwriter, producer and author brings his "It Was You All Along" tour to Ball Arena on Saturday. The show will feature 6LACK and Melii. Tickets are sold at Ticketmaster.com. Russ, 31, has surpassed 22 billion career streams and 25 million sales of singles.
Janet Jackson
DENVER — Janet Jackson brings her ninth concert tour to Colorado this Sunday. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is set to perform with her "Together Again" tour at Ball Arena in Denver Sunday night. The performance will feature special guest Nelly. For the latest ticket information, head to Ticketmaster.com.
Greeley Stampede Kickoff Concert
GREELEY — The Greeley Stampede is two weeks away and the summer celebration begins this Friday at 6 p.m. with a Downtown Kickoff Concert. Featuring Woodland Park, the concert is part of Downtown Greeley’s Friday Fest concert series and is free to attend. The concert also has face painting, fire spinners, bubbles and balloon at the 9th Street Plaza.
Cherry Creek North Summer Concert Series
DENVER — Kick the summer off with free, open-air concerts on Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North. Musicians and artists from Athena Project will gather to showcase their skills every other Saturday in June. This Saturday's free concert series includes Roadside Direction, Emelise Munoz, Jordin Dearinger, and Amy Martin.
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical
DENVER — "Broadway’s Next Hit Musical" is the only unscripted theatrical awards show. Audience members write down made up song titles and the show's master improvisers gather the suggestions and present them as “nominated songs” for this coveted award. "Broadway’s Next Hit Musical" creates spontaneous scenes and songs filled with dancing, catchy melodies and laughter. "Broadway’s Next Hit Musical" plays at the Garner Galleria Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex through June 30.
Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup
CRIPPLE CREEK — The 36th annual Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup is coming to Cripple Creek. On Saturday, the event will bring several hundred classic and modern Ford Mustangs to Bennett Avenue in downtown Cripple Creek for a show-and-shine event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To see a complete schedule, visit RockyMountainMustangRoundup.org.
Classic Rock Cruise-In Car Show
CASTLE ROCK — The annual Classic Rock Cruise-In Car Show will transform historic downtown Castle Rock into a showplace of cool cars, trucks and specialty vehicles on Saturday. The event offers cars, shops, live music, restaurants, attractions for the kids and specialty vendor booths at Castle Rock's Wilcox Square from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Monster Truck Show
DACONO — Monster trucks will take over Colorado National Speedway this weekend for a special Father’s Day Super Sunday Monster Truck Show. All online tickets include access to the event’s pit party at 4 p.m. and the 5:30 p.m. main event. For tickets, visit ColoradoSpeedway.com.
Lafayette Old Town Garden Tour
LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Old Town Garden Tour is a showcase of the best homegrown gardens throughout the historic center of Lafayette. The self-guided tour features the work of gardeners with varying approaches to the craft, but all sharing a common love of thoughtful, water-wise, sustainable gardening. Join the garden tour on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a leisurely exploration of some unique and inspiring Front Range gardens. Tickets are available from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Festival Plaza at 311 South Public Road.
1940s Ball
BOULDER — The 1940s Ball will transport guests back to simpler times through music, costumes, a pin-up girl contest, food, drinks and dancing. Attendees will have the opportunity to step into Hollywood’s World War II planes, have their photos taken with 1940s cars, stop by Casablanca's Rick's Café, mingle with WWII re-enactors, and dance the night away under the stars. The Glenn Miller Orchestra and other vintage acts and big bands will provide vintage music. Doors open at 4 p.m. on Saturday for the USO-style celebration. Tickets, photos, costume inspiration and information are available at 1940sball.org.
Shakespeare in the Sangres
WESTCLIFFE — The Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts’ "Shakespeare in the Sangres" kicks off Friday and runs through July 7 with "As you Like It" by William Shakespeare. Plays are held in the Historic Jones Theater that has been restored to its original 1930s glamour. In a rural community of less than 5,000 county residents, Westcliffe has a robust schedule of cultural and artistic performances presented by a dedicated group of professional actors. For ticket information, visit JonesTheater.com or call 719-783-3004.
FIBArk Whitewater Festival
SALIDA — The nation's oldest whitewater festival begins Thursday in downtown Salida. This year marks the 76th anniversary of FIBArk — "First in Boating on the Arkansas" — which has been held every June since 1949. There are numerous land and water events including 5K and 10K races, kids' fun run, mountain bike races, raft and kayak events and more. The festival and four days of music are free. To see a complete schedule, visit FIBArk.com.
Vail Craft Beer Classic
VAIL — Colorado's highest-altitude beer tasting pairs beer with adventure for two days of events. Paired beer dinners, mountain biking with a brewer and hundreds of craft beers to sample in Vail Village are just a few parts of the 8th annual Vail Craft Beer Classic on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available online. To see a complete schedule, visit VailCraftBeerClassic.com.
Leftapalooza
LONGMONT — Left Hand Brewing will hold the 12th annual Leftapalooza, the ultimate tribute band competition, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Left Hand Brewing’s outdoor venue, The Garden. Concert goers will enjoy a full day’s worth of music and brews as local tribute bands go mic-to-mic for a $1,000 cash prize, and the right to return as the 2025 Leftapalooza headliner. Fans can vote for their favorite performance at the event. Tickets can be purchased for $20 through Eventbrite.
Cattle Crossing 5K & Family Fun Trek
PARKER — Parker Parks and Recreations hosts the Cattle Crossing 5K and Family Fun Trek at 8 a.m. Saturday. The fun run will be held at Tallman Meadow Park. Registration is available online.
Estes Park Marathon
ESTES PARK — Runners of all abilities can head to Estes Park this weekend for a series of running events. Considered one of America's most scenic marathon courses, the Estes Park Marathon is scheduled for Sunday with a full marathon and half marathon. The Longs Peak 5K and kids fun run are Saturday. Registration for all events is available online at EPMarathon.org.
Spartan Race
FORT CARSON — The Spartan Race weekend will be hosted by the Fort Carson Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Spartan Race Inc. on Saturday and Sunday at Fort Carson. There will be four obstacle courses throughout the weekend, starting at 6 a.m. for the Ultra race and 7 a.m. for the rest of the races, at Fort Carson Training Areas two and four, which can be accessed through Gate 6 off State Highway 115 North. Registered participants over the age of 13 will get to test their abilities on the traditional signature Spartan obstacles.
Father’s Day Classic
ARVADA — One of Arvada’s favorite events is back on Father’s Day at APEX Center. The Father’s Day Classic features 10 mile, 5K and 10K events, plus a one-mile out-and-back fun run/walk. All are welcome at Sunday’s events including walkers, joggers and speed demons.
City Park Jazz
DENVER — City Park Jazz is back in Denver. Mistura Fina headlines the second week of the festival at Denver's pavilion City Park at 6 p.m. Sunday. The 2024 season continues each Sunday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through early August.
Red Rocks
DENVER — There is no better venue for live music in the country than Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The Red Rocks 2024 concert schedule (announced so far) is still growing and this spring and summer looks to be one for the record books.
- Wednesday, June 12 - Whiskey Myers
- Thursday, June 13 - Whiskey Myers
- Friday, June 14 - Steve Martin and Martin Short
- Saturday, June 15 - Umphrey's McGee
- Sunday, June 16 - Kaleo
- Monday, June 17 - Parcels
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies are back at Coors Field for a 10-game homestand. The Rockies begin the stretch with a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning at 6:40 p.m. Friday. There is a camping mug giveaway planned for Saturday and Father's Day trucker hat giveaway Sunday afternoon.
Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids
COMMERCE CITY — Your Colorado Rapids return to Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday. The Rapids host Austin F.C. at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Commerce City. Ticketmaster.com is the place for tickets.
The North Pole: Santa's Workshop
CASCADE — Colorado's favorite Christmas-themed amusement park has opened for the season. Home to Santa's village and the jolly old elf himself, The North Pole: Santa’s Workshop, located at 7,500 feet at the foot of Pikes Peak west of Colorado Springs, traditionally opens the weekend before Memorial Day and remains open through Christmas. With vintage rides and sweet treats, the park as been spreading Christmas cheer since 1956.
Orcas: Our Shared Future
DENVER — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has opened its newest temporary exhibition: "Orcas: Our Share Future." The exhibition traces the evolution of our beliefs about orcas, from fear to admiration and awe, as we discover their intelligence and complex social structures. At the exhibition, visitors will see a life-sized replica of an orca family, inviting guests to witness their harmonies in an immersive underwater environment. Guests will also learn about the Indigenous peoples of North America’s Northwest Coast, whose respect for orcas is reflected in their art and traditions.
City Park Farmers Market
DENVER — The City Park Farmers Market has opened for its fourth season. The market has more than 100 vendors offering a variety of local Colorado produce and products from area farmers, food producers and agriculture-based brands. The market runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October. Other activations include a run club at 8 a.m., donation-based yoga at 9 a.m. and live music from local acts.
Denver Trolley
DENVER — The last operating trolley in Denver has begun summer operations. The Denver Trolley has run along the South Platte River for more than 30 years. This summer, the trolley will operate Thursdays through Mondays beginning at 10 a.m. with the last departure at 5 p.m. The Denver Trolley departs from the home platform at REI/Confluence Park every 30 minutes. Roundtrip rides last about 25 minutes and include a narration about the surrounding area.
88 Drive-In Theatre
COMMERCE CITY —The only drive-in movie theater in the Denver metro area reopened for a 48th summer season. Tickets are $10 per person, and children under 12 are free. Tickets are sold only at the box office starting at 7 p.m. for that evening's program.
Movies this weekend
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in the Will Smith-Martin Lawrence action comedy series, opened with $56 million last weekend.
A big test for the summer box office comes this weekend with the release of Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” After sending several Pixar releases straight to Disney+, Disney has vowed a lengthy, traditional theatrical rollout this time.
Opening this weekend
- Inside Out 2
Last weekend's box office
- “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” $56 million.
- ”The Garfield Movie," $10 million.
- “If,” $8 million.
- “The Watchers,” $7 million.
- “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” $5.4 million.
- “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” $4.2 million.
- “The Fall Guy,” $2.7 million.
- “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” $2.4 million.
- “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” $1.9 million.
- “The Strangers: Chapter 1,” $1.8 million.
Do you know of a cool, fun Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, or event you think we ought to mention in this week's 9Things or the future? Send it to alexander.kirk@9news.com.
Have a nice weekend!
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado Guide
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
ADD THE 9NEWS+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.