Music, film and libations festivals, and a saucy book fair coming to Colorado this month

By the Thirst Team

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

Bob James comes to the Newman Center Thursday night as part of Denver Jazz Fest. | Photo provided

Denver Jazz Fest continues through Sunday

The second annual Denver Jazz Fest is currently underway at 15 venues across the metro area. Performers include Bob James, Branford Marsalis, Fred Hersch Trio, Emmaline and Hazel Miller; and there will be tributes to Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Boulder Arts Week continues through Sunday

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.

Boulder International Film Festival Thursday through Sunday

Boulder also hosts a film festival this weekend. The 22nd annual event opens with “Tuner,” directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Daniel Roher. The CineCHEF dinner event also is slated for Thursday, and other parties and live music events will take place through the weekend. If you can’t make it to Boulder, the festival also hosts virtual screenings of many films.

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown Friday to Sunday

The 30th Durango Bluegrass Meltdown starts Friday with a free concert at 11th Street Station and a free contra dance at the American Legion. It continues through the weekend with concerts all day at the Durango Arts Center, Animas City Theatre, General Palmer Hotel and Wild Horse Saloon. Headliners include Shelby Means, Tray Wellington Band and Caroline Owens.

Wandering Book Co. is a creative mobile bookstore parking at New Terrain Brewing in Golden on Sunday. | Photo provided

Book Fair for Adults in Golden Sunday

This is not your kids’ Scholastic Book Fair. New Terrain Brewing in Golden hosts a book fair for grownups from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Local authors will appear alongside offerings from Boulder’s romance book specialists Sugar & Spice Books, as well as the Wandering Book Co, a mobile library, and a mix of indie booksellers, artists and makers.

Barrel into Spring in Palisade April 17 and 18

Barrel into Spring returns to seven Palisade wineries on April 17 and 18. This self-guided experience includes curated food and wine samples, and exclusive discounts on wine and other products

Guests who complete all the winery check-ins by the end of the weekend will be entered into a drawing to win a free case of Colorado wine.

Denver Ramen Fest April 18

Asian food fans can get unlimited samples of ramen, boba, sake and more on April 18 at Denargo Market. Chefs and restaurants will serve everything from traditional tonkotsu to exclusive fusion creations.

The festival also includes DJs, cultural performances and a car show.

Tico Time Festival season starts April 25

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. Music festivals continue through the summer and fall. All season, the resort offers tent and RV camping, glamping, tubing, paddleboarding, disc golf, beach volleyball and other activities.

Blanchard Family Wines in downtown Denver hosts the Colorado Wine Walk on April 26. | Photo provided

Colorado Wine Walk in Denver April 26

The first Colorado Wine Walk of 2026 is on Sunday, April 26, at the Dairy Block in downtown Denver. Tickets include unlimited samples of a wide variety of Colorado wines, a commemorative wine glass, wine tote, opportunities for wine purchases, and conversations with winemakers. VIP tickets also include a seminar about wine tasting etiquette.

Tickets for two sessions at the April event are now on sale. General admission is $50, and VIP tickets are available for $90, including a VIP lounge, live music and discounted purchases.

Save the Date: June Beer Festivals

After a stunningly warm winter, it could be really hot by June. We might need beer to cool off. Thankfully, three great beer festivals are scheduled between June 6 and 13:

The Lafayette Brew Fest runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 6
The Lander Brewfest takes over Lander City Park in Wyoming June 12 and 13
The Feast of Saint Arnold comes to Colorado Springs June 13

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.