From Frozen Dead Guys Days to Collaboration Fest, here’s your guide to can’t-miss events across Colorado through April

By the Thirst Team

Welcome to our roundup of the best events across Colorado for the next couple of weeks. Check out our March performing arts preview here, and read on for festivals, sporting contests and other happenings. For more, check out our events calendar.

Women’s expo coming Thursday

The SuperiHER Women in Business Conference & Expo will bring prominent speakers and business leaders to the Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield for a full day.

Freedom concert coming to Denver Friday and Saturday

The Denver Gay Men’s Chorus will present “The Pursuit of Happiness: Warding The Freedoms of America,” a concert celebrating the advancements of the LGBTQIA+ community over the last 250 years. The concerts at the Elaine Wolf Theatre in Denver will honor trailblazers like James Baldwin, Bayard Rustin, Harvey Milk and Julian Rush.

Celtic festival in Durango Friday and Saturday

Live Celtic music and dance return to the Community Concert Hall at Durango’s Fort Lewis College. Acclaimed Nova Scotian sisters Cassie & Maggie headline Friday. Saturday’s headliner is Runa, a Celtic-American supergroup celebrating 14 years together as a band. The festival also includes Ireland’s Caroline & Tom, Durango’s own Bowmaneers, Forest Thump and Kitchen Jam Band, as well as workshops, dancing and late-night jam sessions.

Frozen Dead Guys Days returns to Estes Friday to Sunday

The annual celebration of Boulder County’s famous frozen dead guy, Grandpa Bredo, returns to its new home in Estes Park on Saturday. This year’s edition includes concerts by Andy Frasco & The U.N., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Gasoline Lollipops. Other events through the weekend include coffin races, a polar plunge, the frostbite fashion show and the Bands and Bloodys Sunday Brunch.

Bike races and Maverick Beer Festival in Grand Junction Saturday

The Colorado Mesa University Cycling Team, defending national champions, will host a criterium race in Grand Junction on Saturday, followed by a showcase of western Colorado beer at the Maverick Beer Festival. The beer festival opens at 2 p.m. The festival area is open to the public, but a $40 ticket is required for tastings.

Brewski in Silverton Saturday

Silverton Mountain hosts a full day of skiing that includes an afternoon of beer tasting with at least six Colorado breweries. A $20 pass includes a pint glass, tastings and entry fee. A day package includes lift ticket and Brewski admission.

Freeski championships open Saturday

Copper Mountain Resort will host the USA Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) National Championships, the largest snowboard and freeskiing event on earth, starting Saturday, and running through April 8.

The USASA includes more than 10,000 athletes, coaches, judges and parents, and hosts more than 500 competitions for skiers and snowboarders each season, ending with Nationals at Copper.

Food and drink festival in Boulder Sunday

The Taste of Pearl is a downtown Boulder event showcasing art, food and drinks. Attendees can wander through galleries and boutiques while tasting libations and bites from Boulder restaurants and Colorado beverage crafters. The event runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, with early entry for VIP ticketholders and an afterparty at the Velvet Elk Lounge.

Botanic Gardens documentary debuts April 1

“Drops of Life” is the first feature-length Denver Botanic Gardens film production. The 64-minute documentary is about access to water around the world. Daily screenings begin on Wednesday, April 1, in the Gardens’ Sturm Family Auditorium and are included with general admission.

“As access to water grows ever scarcer, I find it troubling that many people assume their water supply is guaranteed,” director Billy Kanaly said. “I hope this film opens doors of dialogue and action on how we think about and use this precious natural resource.”

Boulder Arts Week coming April 3-12

For 10 days, Boulder is filled with exhibitions, performances, workshops, pop-ups and other events.

One highlight is the Street Wise Arts Eco-Mural Bike Tour on Saturday, April 11. The leisurely ride travels Boulder's greenways and bike paths, and spotlights environmentally-themed murals created by local and national artists. Registration is required and limited to 16 riders. Street Wise also offers downtown mural walking tours at 10 a.m. every first Saturday of the month.

Collaboration Fest returns to Westminster April 4

Colorado has plenty of beer festivals, but only one that is all about community and exclusive brews. More than 160 breweries worked together on beers, most of which will only be poured at CollabFest. Put creative brewers together and you get everything from a Watergate Salad Dessert Sour (New Terrain and Seedstock) to a Veggie Casserole Pale Ale (Grossen Bart and Mountain Merman).

Easter with alpacas in Franktown April 4-5

Kids can hunt for Easter eggs in a private pasture at Crazy Hair Alpacas in Franktown. Eggs are stuffed with small toys, stickers, chewy candy and chocolate. The farm is open Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., with appointments available every 20 minutes. Cost is $40 for a family with one child, and $10 for each additional child. A ranch store also is open, with both locally crafted and imported alpaca products.

Tico Time Festival season starts in April

The Tico Time River Resort in Aztec, N.M., is so close to Durango and so cool that we are calling it an honorary Colorado music venue.

The festival season kicks off April 25 and 26 with the Under One Moon Festival, bringing together music, dance, theater, and visual art. The Hydrophonic Festival May 7-10 brings four stages of electronic music and arts, headlined by Sun Talker, a supergroup with members of Primus, String Cheese Incident and STS9.

Old Crow Medicine Show headlines the Tico Time Bluegrass Festival May 15-17. The Rise & Vibes roots and reggae festival closes out May. Yoga and country music festivals are scheduled for June.

All season, the resort offers tent and RV camping, glamping, tubing, paddleboarding, disc golf, beach volleyball and other activities.

Save the Date: Denver Arts Festival May 23-24

The Denver Arts Festival is a free event with more than 150 Colorado and national artists showcasing their work at Central Park’s Conservatory Green on Memorial Day Weekend. The festival also includes live music, a kids’ art zone and wine, beer and food.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in this events roundup, we will add them to our events calendar.