Memorial Day weekend festivals abound, plus new whiskey and beer

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado. It’s going to be a fun and busy Memorial Day weekend all over Colorado, and we also are excited to welcome new craft libations.

For even more happenings, check out our events calendar.

Arts in Denver

The Denver Arts Festival returns to Conservatory Green in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood. The festival showcases Colorado artists and a select group of national artists. It also includes a kids’ art zone; a libations garden with Carboy Wines and Odell Beers; and live music from the Denver Concert Band, Pennies on the Track and Dotsero.

Eclectic fun in Boulder

The Boulder Creek Festival has long been considered the unofficial kickoff to summer with four days of events, activities, food and entertainment.

The festival is free, other than a ticketed beer festival with unlimited samples from at least 24 Colorado craft breweries.

Modern classics in Nederland

The Boulder Philharmonic is teaming up with Busey Brews for an evening of craft brews and brass. A quintet will play the music of The Beatles, Queen, Duke Ellington and more at 7 p.m. Saturday at Nederland’s Backdoor Theatre. Beer flights will be paired with the music. Tickets cost $25 for adults, and $10 for children and students.

Concert series starts in Avon

The SunsetLIVE concert series returns to the Terrace at Avon Pavilion on Sunday. The Sunsetters will play the first show, and concerts return most Sundays through Aug. 31, with an eclectic lineup of styles.

Music and cider in Mancos

Fenceline Cider in Mancos (west of Durango) hosts the second annual Montezuma Rising Festival this weekend.

Influsense, Little Brother, Mojobirds and Yope will perform on Saturday. Lavalanche, Thylan, Hotel Draw and Desert Child are on the bill for Sunday.

Old West entertainment in Craig

Jarrod Morris and Wordan Jilson headline Grand Old West Days in Craig on Saturday. The festival also includes rodeo events, a carnival, tractor pulls, food, crafts and more Friday through Monday.

Music, yoga and more in Colorado Springs

The MeadowGrass Music Festival returns to the LaForet Conference Center outside Colorado Springs Friday through Sunday. The festival brings bluegrass musicians from around the world, and also includes kids’ activities, guided hikes, workshops, yoga and more.

The weekend also brings a beer festival, and the fifth annual Steve Harris Songwriter of the Year Contest.

New spirits in Longmont

Valor Peak Distillery will officially open at 4 p.m. Saturday in Longmont, with cocktails, food trucks and live music from Richman Acoustic. Founder Nate Reed is a Navy veteran who decided to open a distillery while fishing on the Rio Grande. Head Distiller Collin Richardson is an Air Force veteran who crafts barrel-aged whiskey and sugar beet vodka.

New beer in Falcon

Just outside Colorado Springs, a new brewery also opens Saturday. Ascent Brewery in Falcon hosts its grand opening from noon to 9 p.m., with food and live music.

Owners Joe and Stephanie Prue got married in April at a soft opening for the brewery with family and friends. Springs Magazine reports they both worked in space operations for the U.S. military, and the brewery name honors that aerospace background.

Save the date: Taste of Arvada

More than 50 restaurants, craft breweries and distilleries, coffee shops and non-food vendors from across the Denver metro area offer samples at the Taste of Arvada festival on Thursday, July 10.

Restaurants and bars also vie for coveted prizes in their categories, with winners chosen by attendees.

Tickets are on sale now, and applications are still available for vendors and sponsors.

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.