Ultimate Denver Summer Event Recommendations List

Hey readers, the City Cast Denver team is back with the second installment of our CCD Summer Entertainment Guide. (Missed the first one? Check it out here.)

For this episode, I rounded up 12 of the best, off-the-beaten-path, super epic, local summertime events — together with the rest of the City Cast Denver team, we narrowed it down to one ultimate event recommendation for your summer!

Below are all the events we talked about on the show. But you’ll have to listen to the episode to find out which one you just might see us at 😉

ARTS:

🤣 “Colorado Native”: A Native American Comedy Showcase
Thursday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m. | The Holiday Theater (Highlands) | $20
📷 REVEALED: John Fielder’s Favorite Place
Saturday, July 22 | History Colorado (Cap Hill) | GA $15; Members free
🌵 Grand Opening: “Desert Rider: Dreaming in Motion”
Sunday, July 9, 11am-4pm | Denver Art Museum (Civic Center) | Free

FOOD:

🍓 Strawberry Days Festival
June 16-18 | Glenwood Springs (3 hours from Denver) | Free
🌽 Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
Aug. 4-5 | Olathe, Colorado (5 hours from Denver) | Free; $30 for the concert
🍗 Blues and BBQ for Better Housing
Saturday, July 15, 10am-6pm | Edgewater | GA $10; VIP $100

MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE:

🌊 FIBArk Whitewater Festival
June 15-18 | Salida, Colorado (2.5 hours from Denver) | Free to be a spectator
🌻 Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
July 7-16 | Crested Butte (4.5 hours from Denver) | Varies by event ($50-$125)
🍄 Mushroom Identification Course
July 18-30 | Classes at St. Joseph’s Hospital (City Park West); Field trips TBD | $25.87 to become a member; an additional $50 for the course

GRAB-BAG SURPRISE:

🐝 Pollinator Palooza
Sunday, June 25, 10am-3pm | Butterfly Pavilion (Westminster) | Free; admission required for indoor exhibits (adults $15; kids $10)
🚂 Georgetown Loop Old West Days
Aug. 19-20, 26-27 | Georgetown (1 hour from Denver) | Free; Train rides $35 for adults, $29 for kids
⛰️ Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
June 23-25 | Estes Park (1.5 hours from Denver) | Free

But wait! There’s more! As mentioned in the show, I sifted through nearly 50(!) events to find our top 12 contenders. Check out the full list of events below, and may your summer be epic.