Raise a toast to Colorado Day, and check out diverse festivals across the state

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.

Dacono Music and Spirits Festival

The 17th annual Dacono Music & Spirits Festival hits Centennial Field on Saturday. Head north of the metro area on I-25, and look for the Dacono water tower. In front of the tower, neo-swing founders Squirrel Nut Zippers will headline the festival, which also includes craft spirits, food, fireworks and family fun.

The lineup also includes bluesy rockers Mojomama & the DC Horns and Delta Sonics; Chicano fund band Los Mocochetes; soul group the Jacob Larson Band. Local Americana band Goatz! will open the show at 2 p.m.

The festival is free, and spirits tasting tickets cost $25.

Colorado Day whiskey

Aug. 1 marks the 149th anniversary of Colorado officially becoming the 38th state in the union (get ready for a big celebration next year). One fitting way to toast the big day is with State 38 Colorado Day Whiskey. The limited-edition whiskey, with a label by Golden artist Jesse Crock, will be released Friday at the Golden tasting room. The release party includes live music, vendors, games and food from El Jefe’s Smothered Brats and Tots.

Vino and Notes

The 17th annual Vino and Notes festival comes to Woodland Park on Saturday. In addition to top Colorado wineries, the festival includes music from Deryk Cunningham, Shakin’ Like Sammy and Tidal Breeze Jazz Arts

Moffat County Hot Air Balloon Festival

The town of Craig hosts the Moffat County Hot Air Balloon Festival Friday through Sunday at Loudy-Simpson Park. The event starts at 6 a.m. with a 5K fun run and hot air balloon launches, and ends at 8:30 p.m. with an evening balloon glow.

Events in between include tethered public balloon rides, a classic car show, duck races, cardboard regatta, live music and more.

Rhythms On The Rio music festival

The Rhythms On The Rio music festival returns to Del Norte Thursday through Sunday. This year’s headliners are Andy Frasco & the U.N., Kitchen Dwellers and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country. A long list of local and national artists round out the bill. There also will be yoga sessions each morning, and the Secret Circus Society will perform through the crowd.

The event is a fundraiser for the South Fork Music Association, which funds music programs for schools in southern Colorado.

Vail Dance Festival

The Vail Dance Festival runs through Tuesday. Remaining highlights include International Evenings of Dance showcases Friday through Sunday, and a night of debut works on Tuesday at the Gerald Ford Amphitheatre; and a festival debut from Kyle Abraham’s dance company on Monday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

Christmas in July party

Rook, a new rooftop in RiNo, hosts its first Christmas in July party on Thursday, with festive yuletide cocktails (but on ice), Christmas karaoke, cookie decorating and a tree-topping ceremony with a surprise guest.

Save the date: Highland Festival in Estes Park

The Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival (just call it Scotfest) is coming to Estes Park Sept 5-7. In addition to live music, dancing, clan celebrations and more, there are Scotch whiskey tasting seminars for beginning and master enthusiasts.

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.