5 Can't Miss Colorado Summer Festivals
Summer festivals will be here before we know it, and the offerings in Summit County and Colorado's Rocky Mountains are worth marking on the calendar.
From spectacular visual performances to bacon and beer, there's a lot to celebrate, and the hardest part might be carving out the time for all of them. Here's a quick rundown of five can't-miss summer festivals in Summit County, along with a few other ones, big and small, across the Rocky Mountains.
WAVE: Light + Water + Sound (May)
Featuring four nights of illuminated sculptures, projections and digital art, the WAVE festival in Breckenridge serves as the official kickoff for the town's busy summer season. WAVE easily stands as one of the most visually appealing festivals in Colorado state and beyond.
The visual eye-candy — think lights and lasers set to music — take over the heart of downtown Breckenridge, in and around the Blue River Plaza from 3-11 p.m. each day of the festival, as WAVE transforms the river, bridges and waterfront areas into canvases, stages and exhibition spaces.
There are also musical performances, screenings, digital art and fun for the whole family to accompany the artistic WAVE displays.
The lineup of artists is impressive, with artists often coming from the U.S. and Colorado as well as from around the world. Numerous local groups also form part of the festival by hosting a variety of pop-up performances, artist talks, workshops and late-night experiments.
Launched by Breckenridge Creative Arts, WAVE organizers promise to spark imaginations and redefine the way people think about and experience art.
For more info visit BreckCreate.org
Bacon and Bourbon (June)
In Keystone, they love the bacon so much, they have no problem telling people exactly how to pronounce it — say "bey-kuhn" — for the Bacon and Bourbon Festival.
Thousands attend the festival each year and bacon lovers will be in hog heaven as thousands of pounds of America's favorite meat are salted, dried or smoked, sliced thin and fried to perfection for the weekend gathering.
In less than a decade, the Bacon and Bourbon Festival at Keystone has established itself as a "can't miss" event and stands as one of Keystone's biggest soirees of the year, not just the summer. Along with the cuisine, there is free live music, including different headliners each year.
According to organizers, the Bacon Bloody Mary's are always a hit, and the cucumber vodka lemonade isn't a bad second option. For multiple years the festival has also hosted the Jim Beam Bourbon Tour and the Bacon Education Center.
Festival proceeds support the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, a nonprofit organization that aims to ensure National Forest lands continue to be enjoyed by millions of people each year.
Other summertime events to keep an eye out for at Keystone include the Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival, River Run Village Art Festival, Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival, Mountain Town Music Festival, Keystone Oktoberfest, and Taste of Keystone.
For more info visit rockymountainevents.com
Breckenridge Music Festival (June)
The Breckenridge Music Festival lasts nearly two whole months, featuring a number of performances starting in late June and continuing through mid-August. The Breckenridge Music Festival schedule is released in April and tickets go on sale same day.
Included in the festival are many different musical styles — from intimate chamber performances and ballet to a night of Texas country and a Grammy-nominated jazz quartet — with classical music at the forefront of most of the programming.
For more info visit breckmusic.org
Summer Beer Festival (July)
At the Breckenridge Spring Beer Festival, you’ll find two stages of live music and have multiple open areas for tasting beers by more than 50 breweries — local, regional, national and international. By the end of the day, it is not uncommon to find that multiple people taste 20 or more beers by the end of the day.
The Summer Beer Festival draws thousands of beer aficionados to downtown Breckenridge in July and unlimited beer-tasting tickets typically start around $30. For ~$75, people can snag a VIP pass that allows them special entrance, a collector's mug, a catered lunch with snacks and a private tent with seating, a view of the stage and private bathrooms (offerings might year to year).
For more info visit Summer.BreckenridgeBeerFestival.com
Silverthorne Concert Series (July-August)
The town of Silverthorne offers a free concerts starting at 7pm every Saturday at Rainbow Park. The free concert series begins at the end of July and runs until the second week of August. These are always a big draw and one of Silverthorne's most popular summertime events.
For more info visit silverthorne.org/home#Calendar
More Colorado Festivals to Watch
Colorado Wine Festival (June)
Manitou Springs pays tribute to Colorado's wine industry with more than 30 local wineries participating in the city's annual wine festival. Admission is free and wine-tasting tickets are ~$35 per person.
For more info visit ManitouSprings.org
Fibark (June)
FIBArk stands for "First in Boating on the Arkansas" and the festival is a must-see for whitewater enthusiasts. In fact, it's billed as the "oldest and boldest" whitewater festival in the U.S. and is known for drawing kayakers, stand-up paddlers and rafters to compete and play in the Arkansas River, outside of Salida, which plays host to a variety of local color, live music, costumed bike competitors, a parade and foot races for the event.
For more info visit FIBArk.com
Frisco’s BBQ Challenge (June)
The first day serves as a kickoff event with a free concert and the meat hits the flames mid-June. With more than 70 barbecue teams, seven bands, pig races, children's activities and the annual Firefighters Cook Off, in addition to the Breckenridge Distillery Whiskey Tour, the Bacon Burner 6k run, there's a lot to go around. Plus, organizers are boasting the best BBQ available in Colorado this year.
For more info visit TownOfFrisco.com
Telluride Bluegrass Festival (June)
A truly international gathering of music lovers, the world-famous bluegrass festival in Telluride runs for four days and has featured big-name acts like Mumford and Sons in the past.
For more info visit BlueGrass.com/Telluride
Copper Country Music Festival (July)
Going into its third year, the Copper Mountain Music Fest features bluegrass and American artists from around the country. The weekend of free music comes with workshops, jam sessions and fireworks.
For more info visit coppercountryfest.com
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival (July)
The Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte, plays host to this annual event featuring guided wildflower hikes, four-wheeling tours, photography classes, gardening instruction and more.
For more info visit crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org
Denver Mac & Cheese Fest (July)
With the title of Best Mac & Cheese in Summit County, the two-day Mac & Cheese Fest at Copper Mountain includes an eating contest, activities for children and, of course, live music.
For more info visit denvermacandcheese.com
Vail Dance Festival (July-August)
A two-week celebration of dance in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
For more info visit vaildance.org