KUSA — Colorado is known for terrific festivals, concerts, sporting events and the arts. Celebrate the season this weekend by experiencing the unique culture, food and geography that makes our state so special. Check out one of these fun events across Colorado:
Greeley Stampede — Greeley
Friday marks opening day of the 97th Annual Greeley Stampede. The 13-day event is full of big-name concert acts, daily carnivals, delicious funnel cakes, fireworks and professional rodeo. Country star Dustin Lynch begins the concert lineup Friday night, followed by Darius Rucker on Saturday night. Tickets and a full schedule are available online at GreeleyStampede.org.
READ MORE | 9Things to Do at the Greeley Stampede
The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb — Colorado Springs
The 96th running of the The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb officially kicks off Friday with Fan Fest in downtown Colorado Springs. Fan Fest begins at 5 p.m. and is a public event spanning seven blocks in the heart of the city. There will be freestyle motocross jumpers, a taste and vote for the best chili in a firefighter chili cook-off and much more. Sunday's Hill Climb race, also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an invitational automobile and motorcycle race to the summit of Pikes Peak. The race is 12.42 miles, with 156 turns and climbs 4,720 feet. Tickets and camping permits are available online at PPIHC.org.
9NEWS morning anchor Corey Rose’s 8th Annual Wishes and Heroes Benefit Concert is this Saturday in Downtown Denver. The event includes a big block party, three bands, dancing, yard games, beers from Breckenridge Brewery and burgers from Hard Rock Cafe. The concert will take up an entire block of Glenarm, from 15th St. to 16th St. All of the proceeds go to Make-A-Wish Colorado and the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation. Tickets are only $20 in advance or $25 at the door. You can buy tickets online at TicketWeb.com.
Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals — Pueblo
Over 2,000 street rods, customs, muscle cars and street machines will travel to the Colorado State Fairgrounds this weekend for the 34th Annual Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals. The car show is one of the largest in Colorado - taking up almost all the space at the fairgrounds - and is a unique mix of vintage and new automobiles of every description. The event, which also features automobile venders, tasty food and beer, runs from Friday to Sunday.
Kiowa Street Fair — Kiowa
The 11th Annual Kiowa Street Fair is at a new location this year at the Elbert County Fairgrounds. The Kiowa Street Fair will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The fair will feature more than 50 vendors of arts, crafts, food and more. There will also be an area for kids with free crafts and activities. The Cowboy Up in Kiowa Rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday nights as well.
Denver Taco Festival — Denver
The Denver Taco Festival is a full weekend of fun and food. In addition to featuring the best tacos in the city, the festival will have live music, Lucha Libre wrestling, high-speed daredevil Chihuahua racing, live game shows and much more. General admission tickets (which have sold out in previous years) as well as 'tequila and agave expo tasting' tickets, are available online. The Denver Taco Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Fox Street Compound near I-25 and 38th Ave.
Donkey Derby Days — Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek's most popular event returns this weekend for an 87th year. People from all over the world will descend on downtown Cripple Creek, drawn by a chance to watch a race inspired by the town's resident donkey herd, believed to be distant relatives of the original donkeys used in the town's Gold Rush days. A classic melodrama begins festivities Friday night followed by a packed Saturday and Sunday full of pancake breakfasts, a petting zoo, parade, a street dance, beer gardens, food vendors, dog show, kids activities, donkey photo-op and donkey races. Admission to Donkey Derby Days is free for all. To see a complete schedule, visit VisitCrippleCreek.com.
Colorado Tiny House Festival — Brighton
The 2nd Annual Colorado Tiny House Festival will run Friday to Sunday at the Adams County Fairgrounds. The festival has doubled in size this year and will feature a diverse assortment of small living structures from tiny houses on wheels to container homes, a semi-trailer conversion, schoolies, van conversions, teardrops, yurts and more. The Colorado Tiny House Festival blends the spirit of the tiny living movement, simplifying your life, minimalistic living and living greener. There will also be speaker presentations, hands-on workshops, a product marketplace and food and drink vendors. Single-day and three-day tickets are available online at ColoradoTinyHouseFestival.com.
Colorado Latino Festival — Boulder
Although program events for the 3rd Annual Colorado Latino Festival began earlier in the week, the main event takes place on Sunday at Boulder Central Park. Organizers say the festival will feature Latin music groups on two stages, food vendors, a car exhibit, hands-on activities, bouncing castles and more. Artists and vendors will be representing Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile and other Latin American countries and the U.S. The Colorado Latino Festival is free to attend and runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cherry Blossom Festival — Denver
Celebrate Japanese-American culture, food, music, crafts and dance at Denver’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, Saturday and Sunday. Free performances start each day at 11 a.m. and include martial arts, folk dancing, Japanese drumming, Japanese Enka (traditional) songs and lots more including booths with jewelry, anime, pottery, fine art and apparel. The marketplace will include informational booths representing Japanese and Japanese American organizations. The festival is staged between Lawrence & Larimer and 19th & 20th Streets in downtown Denver. This event was first published by MileHighontheCheap.com. For more local deals and discounts go to MileHighontheCheap.com.
Bacon and Bourbon Festival — Keystone
This weekend-long celebration of bacon is back in Keystone for an 8th year. Bacon enthusiasts will enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of thousands of pounds of bacon cuisine plus live music from Christof Brownell, Tiffany Christopher, Lez Zeppelin and Hell’s Belles. Free to all Bacon and Bourbon Festival attendees is the "Bacon Education Center" at Quaking Aspen Amphitheatre which provides instruction in bacon fellowship, bacon preparation, bacon processing and bourbon 101 taught from the top enthusiasts in the industry. This delicious festival runs Saturday and Sunday at River Run Village at Keystone Resort and tickets are available online.
Working ranch cowboys will compete for the title of Champion at the 17th Annual Colorado Championship Ranch Rodeo this weekend. The festivities begin Friday night with a team BBQ, trade show, calcutta of teams and a 6 p.m. rodeo performance. Saturday's RHAA Ranch Horse Show will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the trade show, Jeremiah Ward Memorial Open Ranch Bronc Riding, a chuck wagon cook-off and a second rodeo performance. Saturday night at 9 p.m. there will be live music at an outdoor dance. Tickets for the Colorado Championship Ranch Rodeo will be available at the gate of the Lincoln County Fairgrounds.
South Platte RiverFest — Denver
Denver's Confluence Park will host the 6th Annual South Platte RiverFest this Saturday. This free festival includes standup paddleboard demos, riverside activities, a kids zone, live music, beer, food vendors, water sport vendors and much more. Kids Activity Bands are $5 per child or $12 per family and allow unlimited access to all of the festival's activities. The South Platte RiverFest runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The festival benefits The Greenway Foundation which improves the South Platte River and its tributaries.
Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival — Cañon City
The 10th Annual Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival combines whitewater competitions with land-based events to promote the outdoors and an active lifestyle. The festival, which will be held on Friday and Saturday, features a raft rodeo, duckie dash and BYoB races, as well as food, drinks, vendors and live music from Ka'imi Hanano'eau, DOTSERO, Wrestle with Jimmy, 101st US Army Band, Chivalry, DJ Diablo, Adam Ashley and Kelli Said. Hot Diggity Weenie Dog Races are scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday. Most events are held at the pedestrian bridge near 4th Street at Cañon City's Centennial Park.
Colorado Brewers’ Festival — Fort Collins
Colorado's original craft beer festival returns to Downtown Fort Collins on Saturday and Sunday. Eight bands are scheduled to perform on the Choice Organics Stage at Fort Collins' Washington Park and more than 150 Colorado beers will be available from 40 Colorado Breweries. The Colorado Brewers' Festival is completely free and the festival is family-friendly. Other events scheduled are The Summit on Friday night at Washington Park and Breakfast & Brews on Saturday morning at Union Bar & Soda Fountain.
Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC — Commerce City
The Colorado Rapids are back in action Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. During the match against Minnesota United FC the Rapids will celebrate MLS WORKS Soccer for All Campaign which aims to end discrimination and drive positive social change. Special Pride Night tickets packages are available for the match which come with a limited edition scarf. Pride Night tickets are available here and other ticket packages are available at AltitudeTickets.com.
Westword Music Showcase — Denver
The Westword Music Showcase returns for a 24th year to the Golden Triangle on Saturday. Performers this year include Galantis, Bonobo (live), St. Lucia, The Front Bottoms, Joywave, Phantoms, Treepeople, MAGIC GIANT, Sunflower Bean and Tracksuit Wedding. The festival, which runs from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, is the largest single-day festival celebrating the Denver music scene with dozens of local performers scheduled on two outdoor stages. Tickets are available online. To see a complete schedule, visit WestwordShowcase.com.
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival — Estes Park
Estes Park welcomes summer this weekend with the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. The traditional Scandinavian festival celebrates the summer solstice with fun, lively dancing, exhibits, kids' activities and more. The celebration begins Friday at 4 p.m. with the opening of the beer garden. Saturday there will be a raising of the Maypole, followed by a Grand March entrance with costumed representatives carrying the flags of the five Scandinavian countries accompanied by their anthems. Other activities planned this weekend include a large craft fair, food vendors, art exhibitors, a Scandinavian (Saab and Volvo) auto show and a Viking reenactment. The festival will be held in downtown Estes Park though Sunday at the intersection of Elkhorn Ave. (US 34/36) and MacGregor Avenue.
Presenting Denver Dance Festival — Denver
The Presenting Denver Dance Festival will stage several performances this weekend beginning with an afternoon of free dance performances on the Boettcher Center Lawn Saturday afternoon. Colorado artists David Taylor’s Zikr Dance Ensemble, Mary Lynn Lewark, Maureen Breeze Dance Theater, Nile H. Russell, Nu-World Contemporary Danse Theatre, Parasol Arts, and Thomas Dance Project on the outdoor Public Stage in the "No Walls" concert. Presenting Denver will then hold two performances of "New & Now" at the The Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts' Byron Theatre. Performances are scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online.
Buffs4Life Family Fun Run — Boulder
Non-profit organization Buffs4Life will hold its 6th Annual Kyle MacIntosh Memorial Fun Run this Sunday. This year's run will start and finish at Folsom Field with games, past and present athletes and coaches, prizes and pancakes. The Buffs4Life Foundation raises money for families in the Buff community. Proceeds from Sunday's event will benefit former CU volleyball player Amber Sutherland who was hit by a drunk driver in December and is working to recover from her injuries while raising a young son. Registration for the Buffs4Life Family Fun Run is available online.
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival opens its second production of the 2018 summer season Friday night at University Theatre on the CU campus. The drama Richard III tells of Richard, Edward IV’s deformed and embittered younger brother, who will do anything to take the crown for himself. Shakespeare's most murderous, malicious and mesmerizing king will make his Colorado Shakespeare Festival debut with performances scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at CUPresents.org. Performances of Richard III will run through August 11.
Rocky Mountain Beer Festival — Louisville
Enjoy live music while tasting local and regional craft breweries at the 4th Annual Rocky Mountain Beer Festival Tour. The first date of the festival tour will be held Saturday at Louisville Community Park from 1 to 6 p.m. In addition to live music, there will be food vendors and lawn games, and $1 from every ticket sold will go to the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center in Longmont. Tickets for the Rocky Mountain Beer Festival are available online.
Bailey Day 2018 — Bailey
Saturday at 10 a.m. it's officially Bailey Day. This year's festival has three music stages, a 5K run, pancake breakfast, mini train rides, bounce houses, pie and watermelon eating contests, archery, potato sack races, petting zoo, treasure hunt and more. Mountain City, John Weeks Band, Canyon Creek and Big Green Carpet are all scheduled to perform.
Denver Tattoo Arts Convention — Denver
The Denver Tattoo Arts Convention takes over the Colorado Convention Center this weekend. Over a dozen big name tattoo artists will be on hand including stars of Tattoos After Dark, Best Ink and Ink Master's Jason Elliott, FAME, Mike Diaz, Gary Parisi, Linzy Michelle, Dane Smith, Anwon Boneface Johnson, Dtatstar, Dave Robinowitz, James Vaughn, Mark Longenecker and Ty’Esha Reels. The convention runs Friday to Sunday. Single-day or three-day tickets are available online at AXS.com.
Unicorn Festival — Littleton
Princesses, fairies, mermaids and, of course, real unicorns take over Littleton's Clement Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Activities like bounce castles, story telling, unicorn petting corral, meeting a mermaid, photos with a princess, bubble tower, 66-foot dragon slide, bungee trampoline and are all included with the price of admission. There will also be food trucks and vendors on hand selling treats. Tickets are available online at UnicornFestivalColorado.com. This event was first published by MileHighontheCheap.com. For more local deals and discounts go to MileHighontheCheap.com.
The first-ever Rugby League Football International Challenge is a double-header featuring No. 2 ranked New Zealand versus No. 3 ranked England. The historic event will be held at Broncos Stadium at Mile High and is the first step on the road to the 2025 Rugby League World Cup set to be held in the U.S. and Canada. The International Challenge is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com.
High Peaks Art Festival — Nederland
The High Peaks Art Festival is celebrating its 18th year with two days of arts, crafts, vendors and live music. The festival will have 43 artists in all forms of media including painting, photography, jewelry, fiber, body care, metal, wood and mixed media fine art. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Beautiful Mancos will be host of several races on Saturday including a half marathon, 5K and fun run. All races will start at the Mancos Public Library at 211. W. First Street. The half marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m., the 5K at 8 a.m. and fun run at 10:45 a.m. The Mancos Friends of the Library will be serving post-race food and drunks and kids participating in the fun run will each get a popsicle! Race registration is available online.
Highlands Ranch Music Arts Festival — Highlands Ranch
The Highlands Ranch Music Arts Festival will bring two days of music to Civic Green Park. The whole family will love the performances from music ensembles from around the metro area and the Highlands Ranch Concert Band. There will be music, arts and crafts by local vendors, and of course, food and drinks! To see a list of talent from around the Denver area who'll be performing, visit HRMAFestival.org.
Colorado Rockies vs. Miami Marlins — Denver
The Colorado Rockies are looking to climb back up the National League standings as they continue their homestand with a weekend series against the Miami Marlins. Saturday's game, which has an early first pitch of 1:10 p.m., is the Rockies' 25th Anniversary Celebration. Get to the ballpark as early as 10:30 a.m. for a photo opportunity with the Rockies' All-Time 25 players including Larry Walker, Todd Helton, Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook, Pedro Astacio, Huston Street, Yorvit Torrealba and more. The first 15,000 fans to Saturday's game will receive 25th Anniversary throwback replica jerseys. The first 15,000 fans to Sunday's game will receive Blake Street Bombers T-shirts. Tickets are available online at Rockies.com/Tickets.
Cover Rock Festival — Avon
The Cover Rock Festival is a two-day musical event featuring the best tribute bands in the country. The festival runs Friday and Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. at Nottingham Lake Pavilion at the base of Beaver Creek Ski Resort. This year's lineup includes tributes to Simon & Garfunkel, Aerosmith, The Doors, Tom Petty, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Allman Brothers. Single-day and two-day tickets are available online.
Sand in the City Beach Party — Arvada
There may not be much surf, but you’ll find tons and tons of sand at in Arvada on Saturday & Sunday. View giant sand sculptures built by locals in Ralston Park. Join in the chance to help break the world record for the world’s largest hula dance. Enjoy live music, craft beer from local breweries and local vendors offering tons of shopping, food, and beverages. A Beach Luau with full show is scheduled both days. And new for 2018 — Help break the world record for the World’s Largest Hula Dance at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Kids’ Zone features a giant sandbox, bounce castles, games, crafts and more. This event was first published by MileHighontheCheap.com. For more local deals and discounts go to MileHighontheCheap.com.
PurpleStride — Denver
PurpleStride's 2018 Colorado walk will be held Sunday at Denver's Washington Park. PurpleStride walk raises funds for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network which aims to end pancreatic cancer. Registration on-site will begin Sunday at 7 a.m. and opening ceremonies are scheduled for 8:10 a.m. The 5K Run/Walk will get underway at 8:30 a.m. Registration is available online at PanCan.org.
Red and Blue BBQ Cook-Off — Northglenn
Pitmasters and BBQ lovers are invited to the 1st Annual Red and Blue BBQ Cook-off. Saturday's cook-off will feature a friendly head-to-head pig roast battle between North Metro Fire Rescue District and the Northglenn Police Department, plus live music, fun festivities and support for local charities. All profits from the event will benefit the Coloardo Professional Firefighters Foundation and the Colorado C.O.P.S. charities. The BBQ cook-off will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Northglenn City Hall at I-25 and 120th Ave. Tickets include a sampling of ten BBQ meats from cook-off teams, plus access to all of the event festivities, and are available online.
I Love The 90's Tour — Greenwood Village
Oh snap! Vanilla Ice, Salt-N-Pepa, Montell Jordan, Biz Markie, Rob Base and DJ Kool will be performing at Denver's Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre on Saturday night. Tickets for the "I Love The 90's Tour" are available online at AXS.com.
Foothills Field Day with Jeffco Sheriff's Dept. — Littleton
Meet with local first responders at Foothills Field Day this Saturday. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will be on hand along with the West Metro Fire Department. There will be pizza, kick ball, hula hoops, football and more as deputies share information about what they do in the community.
Alamosa Round-UP — Alamosa
The 2018 Alamosa Round-UP is underway at the Alamosa Fairgrounds! Friday night there will be a PRCA rodeo with a demolition derby scheduled for Saturday night. Cowboy Church and the 1st Annual Bulls and Bandits 5K will be held on Sunday. Tickets are available online at AlamosaRoundup.com.
Do you know of a festival, concert, sporting event or celebration in Colorado that we should include in our 9Things guide? Send an email to alexander.kirk@9news.com with details. Have a great weekend!
