By The Thirst Team

Festival season is back in full swing … maybe more swinging than ever before. We’ve got your list of the best craft libations events all over Colorado this week.

Feast of St. Arnold

The 11th annual Feast of Saint Arnold IX comes to the Chapel of Our Savior in Colorado Springs from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. One of Colorado’s most family-friendly beer festivals, the event includes a kids’ play zone and raises money for Westside Cares and Chapel of Our Saviour.

Big Gay Beer festival and more

Call to Arms Brewing in Denver hosts the Big Gay Beer Day festival on Saturday (click here for details on the festival and other Pride Month events on the craft scene).

Cerebral Brewing also continues its Pride Month activities with Queer Beers Trivia on Friday night and a queer comedy showcase next Saturday. The brewery also released the All Hops No Hate IPA, with proceeds from cans and draft pours going to Envision:You, which supports and empowers members of the LGBTQ+ community living with mental health and substance use disorders.

Denver Beer Co. will close 17th Street on Saturday to host a pride party at its Platte St. taproom, with drag performances, ⁠doggie drag shows (sign up your pup here) and more.

BBQ & Beer Fest

The 11th annual BBQ & Beer Fest is coming to Lowry Beer Garden from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, with house-smoked barbecue, live surf rock and unlimited pours from eight Colorado breweries.

North Fork Uncorked

The wineries of the North Fork Valley host events Friday through Sunday in Paonia and Hotchkiss. The robust schedule includes culinary events, wine and cider, music, and barrel tastings to celebrate the beginning of the 2023 summer wine season. New releases of limited production wines will be available for tasting and purchase.

Pints for Pat

Resolute Brewing in Centennial hosts a fundraiser from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday for The Pat Tillman Foundation. Tillman scholars, staff and friends of the Pat Tillman Foundation will be at the event, raising money for the Tillman Scholars program, which provides scholarships and leadership development for remarkable military service members, veterans and spouses.

Sparge anniversary

Sparge Brewing in Wellington celebrates its 4th anniversary from 12 to 7 p.m. Saturday, with hourly games, prizes, food trucks and more.

Broken Compass anniversary

In Breckenridge, Broken Compass Brewing marks its 9th anniversary with live music, the debut of the 2023-2024 mug club, limited-edition beers and a host of local arts, crafts and gear vendors. The brewery also has new swag and an anniversary Klean Kanteen stainless pint glass, with artwork from John Fellows.

Copper Kettle anniversary

Southeast Denver’s Copper Kettle Brewing Co. celebrates its 12th anniversary all weekend. The event starts at 2 p.m. Friday with anniversary glassware and merch, and tappings of a rice lager and a hazy IPA.

Saturday brings a charity drag brunch and a staff beer showdown. Each staffer brewed a new recipe, and they will compete for the people’s choice prize.

On Sunday, Copper Kettle taps a watermelon sour and a peach blonde ale, and hosts an artisan market.

The brewery also hosts food trucks and live music all weekend as well.

Snowmass Rendezvous

The Snowmass Rendezvous is a craft libations festival that takes over Snowmass Mountain in Aspen from from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. At least 19 Colorado breweries and spirits makers will pour drinks, and tickets include unlimited samples. The event also includes DJs at each Rendezvous point, and live slopeside music from Goodnight, Texas and Extra Gold.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. And enjoy your Colorado craft libations responsibly.