Your July Festival Bucket List Starts Here 🎨🍻🕺

Rodeos, wildflowers, bluegrass, art walks, and a beer rendezvous? Colorado’s July festivals are calling—and we’ve got your Top 10 picks.

Author

What's Happenin' Denver
July 04, 2025

Your July Festival Bucket List

Happy Friday, Denver!

Ready to max out your summer calendar? From rooftop rodeos and bluegrass blowouts to wildflower hikes and ballerinas in the mountains, July in Colorado is stacked with epic festivals. We’ve narrowed it down to 10 can’t-miss events that cover every vibe—whether you’re road tripping to Crested Butte or staying city-side for Cherry Creek Arts. Scroll down, map your weekend getaways, and let the summer magic begin.

⛰️ Mile High Trivia

How many lakes are in Rocky Mountain National Park?

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Answer in the outro 👇

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🍒 Denver Fun Fact: Cherry Creek’s Juicy Name Origin

Ever wonder why it’s called Cherry Creek? The name comes from the chokecherries that once grew wild along its banks, as named by the Arapaho people. Next time you’re strolling the trail or grabbing brunch nearby, just remember—it all started with some tart little berries.

🍕 Craving: The PZA

Denver’s pizza glow-up is real, and it’s happening on Santa Fe. The PZA is slinging crispy, chewy, flavor-packed pies that even native skeptics are calling the best in town. Pro tip: order the Killa Bee and thank us later. 🍯🔥

🎉 July’s Must-See Festivals in the Mile High and Beyond

From world-class music and juried art fairs to dog races and wildflower hikes, Colorado’s July festival lineup is peak summer fun. Whether you’re keeping it close to Denver or ready to road trip to mountain towns, here’s our curated list of the Top 10 Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss this month:

📍 Cherry Creek North, Denver 🗓 July 4–6

Stroll through 250+ booths from top-tier artists at Denver’s favorite outdoor art market. Expect live music, interactive zones, and tasty eats in every direction.

📍 Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder🗓 July 3–Aug. 3

Experience masterful classical music, from Beethoven’s greats to modern Grammy-winning pieces—all inside one of Boulder’s most historic venues.

📍 Estes Park🗓 July 5–10

This ain’t your average rodeo—it’s 7,522 feet up with pro bull riders, mutton bustin’ for the kids, and a backdrop worthy of a postcard.

📍 Crested Butte🗓 July 11–20

Known as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, this 10-day bloom-fest has guided hikes, photography workshops, writing sessions, and endless meadows in bloom.

📍 Salida🗓 July 12

Raise a glass to 65+ Colorado craft breweries gathered riverside for one day of sipping, sampling, and summertime cheers.

📍 River Run Village, Keystone🗓 July 12–13

Sip wines from around the world while grooving to funky jazz in this mountainside village. Bonus: food tastings and somm-led seminars.

📍 Boulder🗓 July 17–20

A celebration of storytelling and stewardship. Catch film screenings, live music, and thought-provoking panels in the heart of Boulder.

📍 Cañon City🗓 July 18–19

From paddleboard parades to kayak races and dog costume contests, this one’s got everything for thrill-seekers and festival fans alike.

📍 Golden🗓 July 25–27

Parades, live music, mutton bustin’, and Wild West spirit come together at this Golden classic. Don’t miss the pancake breakfast and crafts fair.

📍 Vail Valley🗓 July 25–Aug. 5

Catch 14 shows from the world’s leading ballet and modern dance companies in one of Colorado’s most scenic spots.

📅 Looking for more?

Check out bonus July fests like Mountain Fair (Carbondale), Art in the Park (Steamboat Springs), The Big Eat (Denver), and Telluride Reserve for even more ways to fill your calendar.

🧺 Cue the Road Trip Playlist

Whether you’re packing up for a mountain weekend or sticking to city streets, July’s festival season is ready to deliver live music, local art, and delicious vibes across the state. Tag us in your adventures—and bring sunscreen.

🌆 Mile High Happenings ☀️

Friday, July 4

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Free DJs @ Hapa Sushi📍 Hapa Sushi LoDo | ⏰ 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday & Saturday)

🧵 Happy Hour Gone to the Dogs📍 Spirit Hound Denver | ⏰ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday)

🧵 Poetry Open Mic📍 Mercury Cafe | ⏰ 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday)

🎟️ Ticketed Events

🎸 Blues Traveler with Gin Blossoms & Spin Doctors📍Red Rocks Amphitheatre | ⏰ 6:00 PM | 🎟️ $50+

🎤 Wu-Tang Clan with Run The Jewels📍Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ Ticketed

🎧 Deadbeats Backyard Jamboree: Zeds Dead & Friends📍Civic Center Park | ⏰ 3:00 PM | 🎟️ Ticketed

Saturday, July 5

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Free DJs @ Hapa Sushi📍 Hapa Sushi LoDo | ⏰ 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Friday & Saturday)

🧵 Small Batch Trivia📍 Tapville Social Denver | ⏰ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Saturday)

🧵 Guided Meditation📍 Great Dharma Chan Monastery | ⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Saturday)

PRIDE DJ Brunch 📍 The Original | ⏰ 11:00 AM | 🎟️ Free

🎟️ Ticketed Events

🎧 Eli Brown📍Civic Center Park | ⏰ 6:00 PM | 🎟️ $65+

🎷 Fiamoré (Live Jazz)📍Dazzle at the Arts Complex | ⏰ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | 🎟️ $15–$20

🎹 Vulfpeck with Arc De Soleil📍Red Rocks Amphitheatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $65+

Sunday, July 6

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Bingo @ Jagged Mountain📍 Jagged Mountain Brewery | ⏰ 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Sunday)

🧵 Jazz Sundays📍 Woods Boss Brewing | ⏰ 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Sunday)

🎟️ Ticketed Events

🎻 Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration📍Red Rocks Amphitheatre | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🎟️ Ticketed

🇯🇵 Japan Fest 2025: Takénobu📍Levitt Pavilion Denver | ⏰ 5:00 PM | 🆓 Free

📍Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre | ⏰ 4:00 PM | 🎟️ $35+

🌄 So Many Festivals, So Little July

That’s your cue to hit the road (or the light rail), soak in some sun, and enjoy Colorado’s summer at its peak. Whether you’re two-steppin’ in Golden, sipping wine in Keystone, or humming along to Beethoven in Boulder, July’s festival energy is unmatched. Don’t forget the sunscreen—and tag us if you find the best festival snack.

🧃🧠 Trivia Answer:  C. 147 lakes! RMNP also boasts 355 miles of hiking trails and 77 mountains over 12,000 feet—just a short drive away from the city.

Stay cool out there,

— The What’s Happenin’ Denver Team 🫶

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