COLORADO, USA — Our state's largest summer fair is here!
The Colorado State Fair opens Friday for 11 days of family-friendly fun, free attractions, carnivals, rodeos, concerts and entertainment.
Other annual events underway this August weekend include Loveland's Corn Roast Festival, the Polish Food Festival and Summer Art Market in Denver, and Broncos preseason football. Colorado will also be home to beer, car, art, music and rugby festivals. Finally, a rubber duck race is scheduled in Loveland while Colorado Springs hosts a comic convention.
Don't forget to share your weekend photos with the "Near Me" tab on the 9NEWS app. Have a great weekend!
Colorado State Fair
PUEBLO — The largest summer event in Colorado is here. The Colorado State Fair opens Friday in Pueblo with a carnival, 4-H exhibits, agricultural competitions, tractor pulls, live music performances, rodeos, bake offs and amazing food. The State Fair Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Pueblo.
This weekend’s scheduled performers include Shane Smith and the Saints, Scotty McCreery, and Lonestar. The Colorado State Fair runs through Monday, Sept. 2, with concerts from Chancey Williams, The Commodores and The Spinners, Trace Adkins, Ludacris, and Bando El Recodo, plus monster trucks and a demolition derby. Check out the schedule at ColoradoStateFair.com.
Loveland Corn Roast Festival
LOVELAND — Loveland's oldest festival returns this weekend. The 128th annual Loveland Corn Roast Festival includes corn-shucking competitions, live music, kids zone, vendors, cornhole, beer garden and Colorado-grown corn. The corn roast parade is scheduled for Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The festival takes place Friday and Saturday at the Fairgrounds Park.
Arvada Days
ARVADA — Arvada Days returns Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Clear Creek Valley Park. Arvada Days is a festival dedicated to family fun with live music, food trucks, inflatables, nerf zone, craft vendors, beer garden and train rides. Proceeds from the beer garden benefit Ralston House.
Polish Food Festival
DENVER — The 11th annual Polish Food Festival features numerous food options including Polish pierogi, hunter's stew, potato pancakes, kiełbas, kaszanka and more, plus Polish beer and pastries. There will also be music, entertainment, and children's activities. The Polish Food Festival runs Saturday and Sunday at Saint Joseph Polish Roman Catholic Parish at 517 E. 46th Ave.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos
DENVER — The third and final preseason game for the Denver Broncos is this Sunday. The Broncos and Arizona Cardinals kick off at 2:30 p.m. at Empower Field at Mile High. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
BMW Championship
CASTLE PINES — The BMW Championship will be played at Castle Pines Golf Club this weekend. The BMW Championship, which was last held in Colorado in 2014 at Cherry Hills, is held each August as part of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff event. PGA Tour officials said the BMW Championship is the longest running regular PGA Tour event on the calendar outside of the four major tournaments. The top 50 golfers in the world will be competing through Sunday.
Severance Days
SEVERANCE — The Town of Severance’s annual Severance Days is a weekend of family oriented fun and entertainment including a parade, market vendors, food trucks, refreshments, 5K and fun run, contests, kid's games, live entertainment and firework display. Matt Stell performs a concert Saturday at 7 p.m. at Community Park.
Unity in the Community
LONGMONT — Longmont's final festival of the summer season is a family friendly evening of entertainment, music, food and drink. The celebration will take place Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kimbark Street and 4th Avenue in downtown Longmont. The event will music, a climbing wall, putt putt, musical performances, and mobile arcade.
Raftoberfest
GLENWOOD SPRINGS — The 6th annual Raftoberfest is Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Raftoberfest is a one-of-a-kind event where guided raft trips down the Colorado River are followed by a beer festival in Glenwood Springs. Participants spend three hours rafting before heading to the boathouse for an outdoor party with music, drinks, games, dinner, and silent auction.
Colorado Springs Comic Con
COLORADO SPRINGS — The annual Colorado Springs Comic Con runs Friday to Sunday at Broadmoor World Arena. Fans can meet celebrities, buy art, shop the vendors and make friends with other pop culture fans. Some of the celebrity guests on this weekend's schedule include Ernie Hudson, Peter Facinelli, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Rikishi, Shelton Benjamin, Paige O'Hara, Ray Park, and David Yost.
Plane Pull
DENVER — The 2024 Denver Plane Pull will be at Denver International Airport on Saturday. Teams will fundraise for a chance to be the fastest team to pull a 167,000-pound United Airlines plane across the tarmac. Proceeds from the event will help Special Olympics of Colorado provide year-round training, health screenings and leadership programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Colorado. The event will include exhibits, vendors, food and entertainment.
Morgan Adams Concours d'Elegance
ENGLEWOOD — The 21st annual Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance returns Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Centennial Airport. The event brings together vintage and modern aircraft, automobiles and motorcycles to benefit the Morgan Adams Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to making sure children diagnosed with cancer have access to the best possible research and therapeutic options. For tickets, visit MorganAdamsConcours.org.
Summer Art Market
DENVER — The Art Students League of Denver hosts the 31st Summer Art Market on Saturday and Sunday. This year's market will be held in the West Washington Park neighborhood between 1st Avenue and 4th Avenue and between Logan Street and Sherman Street. There will be more than visual art booths, artist demonstrations, kids programming, live music and vendors. Tickets are $5 and kids 12 and under are free.
Handmade in Colorado Expo
ESTES PARK — The 17th annual Handmade in Colorado Expo features original handcrafted goods from metals, paper, glass, fibers, food, fabricated objects, clay, paint, wax, gems and more. This event has free admission and live music. The event runs Friday through Sunday at Bond Park in downtown Estes Park.
Evergreen Fine Arts Festival
EVERGREEN — The 58th annual Evergreen Fine Arts Festival runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The juried fine art show at Buchanan Fields has children’s activities, local music, food, drink and free shuttle service from Bergen Meadow Elementary School and Evergreen Middle School.
Affordable Arts Festival
LITTLETON — The annual Affordable Arts Festival takes place Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the campus of Arapahoe Community College. All of the art, from more than 160 Colorado and national artists, is priced for $150 or less. Tickets are $12 with proceeds going to the Arapahoe Community College College Foundation.
All Colorado Art Show
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — The 41st annual All Colorado Art Show is open through Saturday, Aug. 31. The exhibit at the Curtis Center for the Arts features Colorado artists in a variety of styles and mediums.
Family Fest & Bears Bash
GREELEY — The Family Fest & Bears Bash runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the UNC practice fields next to Nottingham Field. The family-friendly event features food trucks, local businesses and members of the University of Northern Colorado sports teams. The public is invited to meet students from the band, cheerleading team, soccer team, football team and jump in the bounce houses.
RugbyTown 7s Tournament
GLENDALE — Infinity Park hosts the 12th annual RugbyTown Sevens Tournament from Friday through Sunday. There will be food trucks, arcade games and 20 rugby teams from across the world, competing for a prize of $10,000.
Tour de Fat
FORT COLLINS — Tour de Fat, the world’s greatest costumed bike parade, celebrates its 25th anniversary with a pedal-powered party for all ages. The free festival of beer, bikes, and bemusement will be held Saturday with entertainment throughout the day. The costumed bike parade launches at 9:30 a.m. from City Park and loop Mountain Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins until 11:30 a.m. Festivities at New Belgium brewery, located 500 Linden Street, begin shortly after and include variety acts on stage, contests, games, and performances from Denver-based Shady Oaks and singer-songwriter Paul Cauthen.
San Juan Brewfest
DURANGO — The San Juan Brewfest is back for a 25th year at Buckley Park in downtown Durango. Brewfest features 35 breweries and dozens of beers and live music. Friday is VIP Day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday is general admission day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for San Juan Brewest can be purchased at SanJuanBrewfest.com.
Breckenridge Wine Classic
BRECKENRIDGE — The annual Breckenridge Wine Classic offers food artisans, wineries, breweries, distilleries and locally made products. The three-day event runs Thursday to Saturday with grand tasting sessions hosted at Beaver Run Resort. Reserve your tickets online.
Tacos & Margs in the Mountains
WINTER PARK — The 3rd annual Tacos + Margs in the Mountains is Saturday at Winter Park Resort. Admission includes a variety of margarita samples from blanco to reposado to something spicy and a variety of flavors in between, plus unlimited street tacos and mountain views.
Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival
NEDERLAND — The Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival is back for a third year, where people gather to celebrate Colorado jazz artists and wineries. The festival has expanded its unlimited tasting booths to include distilleries, breweries, and non-alcoholic makers. There will be food booths, food trucks and artist booths. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Chipeta Park.
Lakewood Brewery Collective
LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood Brewery Collective is Saturday at WestFax Brewing. Taste brews from Old 121, WestFax, Green Mountain Beer, 6 & 40, and Landlocked Ales. There will be live music, a food truck, t-shirt, and collectible glassware.
Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival
BROOMFIELD — Saturday's Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival will let attendees mingle with cigar manufacturers and cigar celebrities from around the world. The festival, held at Omni Interlocken Hotel, offers the latest in cigars, brews, spirits and wine. Each ticket purchase comes with a festival bag with over 40 cigars samples, cutter, lighter, festival glass, t-shirt and drink tickets.
Touch-A-Truck
BRIGHTON — The City of Brighton is bringing out the heavy machinery for the 6th annual Touch-A-Truck event at the Brighton City Hall parking lot. Kids of all ages will be able to get behind the wheel, climb and explore vehicles of all sizes including police cars, fire trucks, tractors, snow plows, loaders and more. Touch-A-Truck will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Flight for Life will land at 11 a.m. if available.
Loveland Rubber Duck Race
LOVELAND — The annual Loveland Rubber Duck Race is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Fairgrounds Park in Loveland. The race is a fundraiser for the Loveland Rotary Club which benefits students in Thompson School District. The winners will be announced at the Rotary Duck Race booth shortly after the race concludes and you don’t have to be present to win.
An Evening Under The Stars
GRAND JUNCTION — The 32nd annual Evening Under The Stars is a free outdoor concert at Las Colonias Amphitheater. The Grand Junction Centennial Band and the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra will be performing the show featuring patriotic, pops and classical music. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
FACE Vocal Band
ERIE — FACE Vocal Band will headline Erie's free Concert in the Park on Saturday at Coal Creek Park. The group takes the stage at 5:45 p.m. There will be food trucks, a beer garden, kids' activities, bounce houses and face painting.
Headwaters Music Festival
CREEDE — The annual Headwaters Music Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Ball Field in Creede. Saturday's lineup includes Rally Round, Lesli Wood & the Spiceboys, Anthony Garcia & Los Diablos Tejanos, Dan West Band, and Beat Root Revival. Caldera, 2nd Chance, Bo DePena Band, Rivertown Folk, and The Rifters are scheduled for Sunday.
Golden Oldies Car Classic
NORTHGLENN — The 19th annual O'Meara Ford Golden Oldies Car Classic will be held Saturday at O'Meara Ford Center at I-25 and 104th. The car show is free to enter and free to attend, plus all makes and models are welcome. There will be live music by Van Jeffries and the first 250 cars will get a dash plaque and a shirt. To register your vehicle, visit OMearaFord.com.
Five Finger Death Punch
DENVER — Denver native and Cheyenne resident Ivan Moody brings his band Five Finger Death Punch to Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday. The concert, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, also features Marilyn Manson, Slaughter to Prevail, and The Funeral Portrait. Tickets are sold at Ticketmaster.com.
Grupo Firme
DENVER — Grupo Firme is on the road for a summer concert tour. The regional Mexican band will make a stop on the "La Ultima Peda Tour" at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday. Tickets for the concert, which begins at 8 p.m. Friday, are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Dave Matthews Band
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Dave Matthews Band will play concerts at Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village on Friday and Saturday. AXS.com is the place for tickets to the concerts. Dave Matthews Band has sold 38 million CDs and DVDs combined, as well as more than 25 million tickets since their inception, making them the second largest ticket-seller in history.
Walk to End Alzheimer's
STERLING — Held annually in towns across the country, the Alzheimer's Association's Walk to End Alzheimer's aims to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Another walk will be held at the Logan County Courthouse Square in Sterling on Saturday. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and the walk is at 10 a.m. Registration can be completed at Act.Alz.org.
6 Dot Dash 5K
LITTLETON — The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado 6 will host the 7th annual 6 Dot Dash 5K to raise awareness and funds for the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado/Colorado Center for the Blind. The walk is Saturday starting and finishing at the Colorado Center for the Blind.
Denver Parade of Homes
DENVER — The Denver Parade of Homes runs through Sunday. The largest showcase of the latest in architecture and home design along the Front Range, the show features new homes in neighborhoods throughout the Denver area. Attendees can see unique homes and floor plans, beautiful communities, the latest in interior design trends, home technology, exterior finishes, outdoor living and landscaping.
Denver Parade of Homes is free and open to the public. Attendees can tour when and where they with on-demand virtual tours or in-person tours on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Download directions to participating homes at ParadeOfHomesDenver.com or download a print map here.
Overland Expo Mountain West
LOVELAND — Overland Expo Mountain West is returning to The Ranch in Loveland from Friday to Sunday. The expo for do-it-yourself outdoor enthusiasts features hands-on training, classes and roundtable discussions. There will be gear venders, raffles, camping outfitters and more than 300 session-hours of education.
Water World
FEDERAL HEIGHTS — There are just two weekends left to visit the largest water park in Colorado. Water World is open this weekend and Labor Day weekend. Water World opens at 10 a.m. each day this weekend.
The Power of Poison
DENVER — A new temporary exhibition at Denver Museum of Nature and Science, "The Power of Poison" explores the captivating and often paradoxical world of nature's toxic arsenal. Through live performances and interactive dioramas, this exhibition will take you into familiar and novel tales of illness, enchantment and death by poison. Whether used as a defense against predators, a source of magical strength or a lifesaving medical treatment, "The Power of Poison" is sure to surprise.
The North Pole: Santa's Workshop
CASCADE — Colorado's favorite Christmas-themed amusement park is open 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.
Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park
DENVER — Four Mile Historic Park has transformed into a glowing landscape that immerses visitors with larger-than-life lantern installations that include a mythical dragon that blows smoke, Colorado wildlife and flowers, a crystal forest with unicorns, and creatures from Chinese mythology. The Bright Nights series will be open until Sept. 29. Proceeds from the installation go to help pay for animal care at the park, as well as maintain the historic museum, the oldest standing structure in Denver.
Wicked
DENVER — The stage musical adaption of "Wicked" is back in Colorado. "Wicked" has performances planned through Sunday at the Buell Theatre in Denver. Currently the 4th longest-running show in Broadway history, "Wicked" celebrated its 20th anniversary on Broadway last year. Tickets are available at DenverCenter.org.
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 is actually still growing with new shows being added in October and November. This summer looks to be one for the record books.
- Wednesday, Aug. 21 - Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
- Thursday, Aug. 22 - 1964 The Tribute
- Friday, Aug. 23 - Marco Antonio Solís
- Saturday, Aug. 24 - Reggae on the Rocks
- Sunday, Aug. 25 - Parker McCollum
- Monday, Aug. 26 - John Fogerty
New Movies this weekend
- The Crow
- Blink Twice
> Would you like to see your favorite Colorado festival, fair, expo, concert, drama, musical, ballet, run or event listed in 9Things? Send it to alexander.kirk@9news.com.
