You don’t have to succumb to those contradictory emotions of responsibility and opportunity. Planning ahead is always a good idea, especially if you’re looking for happy-fun, kid-friendly trips.
Plus, if you are planning to attend events in Denver, it’s the best time.
Just to help you, here is a list of some of the biggest festivals, street fairs, and other events celebrating art and culture that will be taking place in the Denver area.
List of Must attend events in Denver
> Fourth of June: Five Points Jazz Festival
An estimated 100,000 people are anticipated to attend this yearly celebration of jazz, soul, R&B, and funk. It is held rain or shine, is family-friendly, and, most importantly, is free along Welton Street in the historic Five Points neighborhood on 11 outdoor and indoor stages.
> June 5–August 7 – Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Visitors have plenty of opportunities to see recently staged productions of Shakespeare classics like “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” “All’s Well that Ends Well,” and “Coriolanus,” with all performances taking place at the University of Colorado Boulder. Purchase your tickets as soon as possible because there are already waiting lists for some performances. And if you love live music in Denver, this is the event for you.
> June 18–August 7 – Colorado Renaissance Festival
Got it? It’s a festival, not a fair. This season, along with the usual artisans, roasted meats, vibrant performances, themed vendors, and more, Larkspur is pushing a 16th-century medieval amusement park in a crowd-pleasing blend of cosplay (to be fair, they were doing it before it was called that) and lusty entertainment. coloradorenaissance.com
July 1–3: Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Along with a few thousand of our closest friends, this highly regarded, juried competition and art-sale extravaganza also includes food, drink, performances & live music in Denver, and the kinds of close-up encounters with art and culture that many of us have been longing for during the pandemic. Kid-friendly activities are available on Artivity Avenue, and there is almost always live music playing there as well as other entertainment options. cherrycreekartsfestival.org/stages
July 8–10 is the Colorado Black Arts Festival.
The 36th iteration of this vendor- and performance-driven celebration, which honors the state’s Black community and culture with music, art, and food, will take place on City Park West’s lush, shaded fields. Free admission. Along with a variety of civic clubs, youth organizations, churches, drill and drum corps, themed floats, and local celebrities, the July 9 Boogaloo Parade will also feature other participants. colbaf.org
September 3–5: Taste of Colorado
After a dispersed pandemic-era appearance, the long-running Taste of Colorado festival is back at Civic Center this year with 50 different food and drink vendors and live music, and expanded family-friendly activities in the Kids Zone. Free admission and a huge, diverse cross-section of the metro area’s population make it a great place to people-watch. The best local distillers, a category that hardly existed a few years ago and now competes on a global scale, will be the main attraction for some. atasteofcolorado.com
July 29–31: The Underground Music Showcase
You should definitely stop by this location if you’re looking for some of the best entertainment shows and events in Denver. This South by Southwest-style festival, which was founded by Denver Post music writers John Moore and Ricardo Baca, is held at various locations along South Broadway. With more than 150 independent acts in total, including both well-known national critics’ picks and local up-and-comers, it returns with what is arguably the best lineup in the area.
A new visit is definitely worth your time because it has a lot more variety in setup and style than in previous years. undergroundmusicshowcase.com
My Last Words
There are numerous other places and events in Denver that you can try with family and friends during your visit to the city. The only thing is you have to decide whether you want live music events or some fun & activity events.
