Celebrate Colorado arts, wine, beer, corn and more this week

By Steve Graham

Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado, focusing outside of Denver, to help everyone enjoy the whole great state. For Denver happenings (and more), check out our events calendar.

This week brings a packed calendar of late summer events before the Labor Day weekend unofficially ends the season.

Evergreen Fine Arts Festival

The lake town of Evergreen is not only a great mountain escape close to Denver, it also inspires great art, and attracts other wonderful Colorado artists from around the state for its festival.

This juried fine art show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Buchanan Fields. The event is free, and also includes varied kids’ activities, live music and more.

Affordable Arts Festival

Littleton also hosts a major arts festival this weekend. Artists across the nation eagerly sign up to sell their work at a deep discount at this renowned and unique event at Arapahoe Community College.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, but be warned that the most coveted work sells out early, and patrons line up before doors open. Tickets cost $12.

For all the details and some perspective from the organizer and artists, read our preview story here.

Nederland Jazz & Wine Festival

Limited tickets are still available for a celebration of Colorado jazz and libations in a funky and accessible mountain town above Boulder. The Nederland festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Chipeta Park. General-admission tickets cost $60, including unlimited samples from 25 booths of spirits, cider, mead and the namesake wine.

For more information, read our preview story here.

Breckenridge Wine Classic

Further into the mountains, Breckenridge hosts its own celebration of wine. The three-day event runs from Thursday to Saturday, and brings live music, wine tastings, hikes with wine lunches, and pairings, including an exclusive Palisade peach wine pairing dinner Thursday night.

San Juan Brewfest

Across the state, Durango hosts a brewfest on Friday and Saturday. Discounted $40 tickets are available for the Friday session, and sales are limited to 500 tickets. The Saturday session costs $50.

Cheaper designated driver tickets also are available, and non-drinkers get free mocktails from four local businesses and a dedicated shaded seating area.

Overland Expo

The Overland Expo returns to Loveland. It’s billed as the world’s largest trade show, education fair and community event for overlanding motorcyclists, RVers, campers and more.

Camping is available at the event, which takes over The Ranch complex Friday through Sunday. Day passes start at $26.

Stone Canyon Fire Fundraiser

Spirit Hound Distillers and the Lyons Lions Club will host a fundraiser at 4 p.m. Saturday. Get a $25 plate of roasted pork and all the sides, and all the money goes to families affected by the Stone Canyon Fire.

Olathe Sweet Corn Festival

Palisade peaches get plenty of hype these days, but Olathe sweet corn is an underrated star of Colorado agriculture. The town celebrates its signature export with a daylong festival from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. The event includes a 5K run/walk, pageant, parade, music, karaoke and more.

Colorado State Fair

Finally, you know the Colorado State Fair rolls around every summer, but if you’re like me, the date sneaks up on you and you don’t make it to Pueblo. But 11 days of fun starts Friday and runs through Labor Day.

After 30 years in Colorado, I am finally going this year. Watch our Instagram feed for reels and pics of all the excitement.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar. And enjoy your Colorado craft libations responsibly.