Plus a few more events through the end of September

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our roundup of recommended events across Colorado for the next few weeks, in chronological order. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.

Yampa Valley Crane Festival

The 14th annual Yampa Valley Crane Festival runs Thursday through Sunday in Steamboat Springs, Hayden and Craig. The event includes guided crane viewings, bird walks, expert speakers, live raptors, films, family activities and more. The Keynote speaker is Dr. George Archibald, International Crane Foundation cofounder and senior conservationist.

Creede Salsa Fiesta and more

Creede packs a lot into Labor Day weekend. The Creede Musical Arts Collective hosts its Art of the Steel Festival Friday through Sunday. Creede Repertory Theatre also hosts a variety of performances through the weekend. Saturday begins with the Creede Mountain Run, which includes 2- 12- and 22-mile courses, as well as a grueling 50-kilometer course. All the events start on Main Street, and the longest runs peak on the Continental Divide.

The biggest event is the Salsa Fiesta, which starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. At least 15 chefs enter their salsas in a people’s choice contest with four categories: red, green, fruit and freestyle. The event also includes live music.

South Park Alder Ass Race

A weekend pack burro race starts at 10 a.m. Saturday in Brown’s Park in South Park. The race is sanctioned by the Western Pack Burro Racing Association, and includes three courses.

“Burro” is a Spanish term for a small donkey, but many different sized donkeys can compete in a pack burro race. Donkeys are defined by having chestnuts on only the front legs, while mules and horses typically have chestnuts on all four legs. As the organizers say “only a burro or donkey is allowed to run in a pack burro race as we do nothing half-assed.”

Colorado Rockies Brew Fest

It can take a couple of beers to soften the blow of the Colorado Rockies’ losing season. On Saturday, Coors Field hosts a beer festival before the baseball game. The 12th annual Brew Fest at Coors Field starts at 4 p.m. (before first pitch at 6:10). Local and regional breweries will pour samples and compete to earn a tap in the rooftop bar for April 2026 Rockies games.

Flapjack Day in Berthoud

Labor Day means free flapjacks, classic cars, live music and more in Berthoud. Flapjack Day started in 1948 in the northern Colorado town. City Star Brewing launched the current incarnation in 2015.

This year’s 1950s-themed event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, and includes a flight of breakfast-themed beers. At 1:30 p.m., ladies will compete to be Flapjack Queen by finishing five flapjacks first. Lynsey Morgan has won the crown the past five years, setting a 32-second record in 2018.

Denver Food and Wine Festival

The Colorado Restaurant Foundation hosts four days of fine food, wines and spirits, educational tasting seminars and more next Wednesday through Saturday.

The main event is the grand tasting on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Auraria campus. The other fan favorite is the Shake + Brake Showdown at Auraria on Thursday night, with some of Denver’s best food trucks and bartenders competing for prizes.

More September highlights

Highland Festival Sept. 5-7: The Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival (aka Scotfest) is in Estes Park, with live music, dancing, clan celebrations, Scotch whiskey tastings and more.

Aspen FilmFest Sept 16 to 21: The renowned 46th festival comes to the Aspen Film Isis Theatre, with world premieres and award-winning films from other global festivals.

Blues on the Mesa Sept 26: Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster headlines the festival at Gold Hill Mesa in Colorado Springs. The lineup also includes Mike Zito, Eden Brent, Jack Hadley and Grant Sabin.

Save the date: Hallowine Festival

The second annual Hallowine Festival is coming to Thompson River Ranch in Johnstown on Saturday, Oct. 11. Tickets include unlimited tastings, a Halloween costume contest, live music, vendors and food trucks.

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.