Head out across the state for craft drinks, film, music, traditional Western fun, stargazing and other events

By the Thirst Team

Welcome to our roundup of the best events across Colorado through the end of June. Check out our June performing arts preview here, and read on for other happenings all over the state. For more, check out our events calendar.

Mountainside Music Festival in Snowmass Thursday to Saturday

The Fanny Hill Stage hosts a new, three-day festival. The free shows include American Authors and Tristan Trincado on Thursday; Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners and Mark Nussmeier on Friday; and Pecos & The Rooftops, The Talbott Brothers and Kenny Wayne and The Companions on Saturday.

Crawford Pioneer Days Thursday to Saturday

The 2026 theme of Crawford’s annual town celebration is “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.” The event includes a parade, live music and theater, the Black Mesa Cattlewomen cookoff, fireworks and more.

Lake City Star Fest Friday and Saturday

The Lake City area has some of the darkest skies in the continental U.S., and will host a free community celestial celebration. The event opens Friday with Arts & Atmosphere gallery socials and guided painting. Saturday’s focus is the physics of the universe with interactive scholar-led workshops.

Lander Brewfest in Wyoming Friday and Saturday

There is always plenty to do in Colorado, but our neighboring states can be pretty cool, too. For example, Lander is a beautiful town just east of the Wind River Range in Wyoming, and not far from the Colorado border. The town hosts the Lander Brewfest Friday and Saturday.

In addition to unlimited samples from regional breweries and distilleries, the festival also includes food trucks and live music. John Roberts y Pan Blanco play on Friday, and Tris Munsick and the Innocents is on tap for Saturday.

Feast of Saint Arnold beer festival in Colorado Springs Saturday

The Feast of Saint Arnold returns to the Chapel of Our Savior in Colorado Springs. The event includes live music, craft drinks and more, all in honor of the patron saint of beer, who said “from man’s sweat and God’s love, beer came into the world.” Amen to that.

It's also a fundraiser for Westside CARES.

Vail Craft Beer Classic Friday and Saturday

Breweries from across Colorado will pour samples at the 10th Vail Craft Beer Classic in Vail Village. An all-inclusive tasting of beer, seltzers and spirits will be accompanied by food trucks and live music. And attendees can vote and crown the ‘Best Beer of Summer’ winners.

Aurora Fest Saturday

The 13th Aurora Fest is a showcase of the city’s diverse international cultures. The family-friendly event includes a parade of nations, two stages of music, fashion and dance performances, food trucks and an international marketplace.

Lake Dillon Beer Festival Saturday

The Colorado Brewers Guild starts the summer season in Dillon by inviting more than 30 Colorado breweries to the beautiful shores of Lake Dillon. The event also includes live music and food.

Winter Park concert series starts Saturday

There are upsides to the unseasonably warm weather this year. It allowed Cooper Creek Square to start its Saturday Music Series one week early. Joe R & The Icebox Sound play from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday to kick off the series. The Leafy Greens Band plays on June 20, and Circus Mutt performs June 27.

Our friends at Big Trout Brewing also host live music and sling pizzas every Sunday afternoon.

Lakewood concert series starts Wednesday, June 17

The Sounds Exciting concert series returns to Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park with beloved Colorado bluegrass group High Lonesome on June 17, with opener Aubrey Dale. Upcoming shows include Macon Music Revue on June 24, Walden on July 8, Hazel Miller on July 15 and Chatham Rabbits on July 22.

Ouray Film Festival June 18-20

The Ouray Film Festival includes jury-selected shorts and feature films, as well as panel discussions, parties and other events. Highlights include a conversation with the screenwriter of “10 Things I Hate About You” and a world premiere short followed by a Q&A and dance performance.

FIBArK Whitewater Festival in Salida June 18-21

America’s longest-running whitewater festival includes races both wacky and serious, a carnival and live music along the Arkansas River in Salda. A perennial highlight is the Hooligan Race, where participants can float the river on any homemade craft (as long as it’s not a boat).
Kremmling Days June 19-20

Kremmling Town Square hosts live music by the Troy Harris Band, free kids’ games and activities, a beer garden, vendors, food trucks and more on Friday. On Saturday, there is also a parade, golf tournament, firefighter games and performances by Luck Hickam and Neon Sky Band.

Edgewater Music Festival June 20

The Edgewater Music Festival (formerly known as Blues & BBQ for Better Housing) brings live music, BBQ food trucks, a kids zone, 20-plus art and craft vendors and more to Citizen’s Park in Edgewater.

This year, the festival has two stages and more music than ever. Performers include Wild Love Tigress, Velvet Daydream, The Duke Street Kings, Los Mocochetes and Native Space.

Juneteenth Music Festival in Denver June 20

Denver’s Five Points neighborhood honors the day when the last U.S. slaves learned of their freedom. This year’s headliner is SiR, and the festival also includes an opening parade, a diverse array of other performers, 100-plus vendors and more.

Durango Playfest June 23-28

The Durango PlayFest is a week of staged readings, workshops and special events focused on new theatrical works. The festival brings playwrights, actors and directors together to develop original productions while giving audiences an early look at plays that may go on to wider productions.

Fairplay concert series starts June 26

A Brother’s Fountain opens Fairplay’s summer concert series on June 26. The free monthly shows are on Fifth Street. The second show is Hazel Miller and the Collective on July 24, followed by Chris Daniels and the Kings on Aug. 28.

Blues from the Top Festival in Winter Park June 26-28

The Blues from the Top Music Festival returns to the Rendezvous Event Center in Winter Park. Headliners include the Wood Brothers, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Los Lobos. The Grand County Blues Society, which hosts the event, is a nonprofit that promotes blues and roots music through live performances, music outreach and education. The group also supports hospital music therapy departments, and has donated more than 800 instruments to children with life-threatening health issues.

Tico Time Country Festival outside Durango June 26-28

Robert Holmes, owner of Tico Time River Resort, said he started planning a country music festival quickly after news spread that the long-running Country Jam festival in Grand Junction would not happen this year. The festival headliners are Paul Cauthen, Randy Rogers Band and Larry Fleet, with a packed weekend of supporting acts.

Tico Time River Resort has become an emerging music festival destination in the Four Corners region, hosting multiple events each year that bring together music, camping, art and community along the riverside property near the Colorado–New Mexico border.

Lavender festival in Palisade June 27

The Colorado Lavender Festival event celebrates its 15th anniversary June 26 to 28 in Palisade. Lavender is a beautiful landscape addition and budding Colorado cash crop perfectly suited to Colorado’s high-desert climate.

Festival director Olivia Coe said this year’s “15 Years of Loving Lavender” edition will focus on the history of lavender in Colorado and beyond. It includes private farm tours, a large vendor fair, art classes and free educational lectures and workshops.

Salida Wine Fest June 27

The Salida Wine Festival Wine returns after a seven-year hiatus with tastings from more than 20 Colorado wineries, plus live music, food and gift vendors.

Tribute band showdown in Longmont June 27

Left Hand Brewing in Longmont hosts its annual Leftapalooza music festival. The event is a competition among some of the area’s best tribute bands. Last year’s winner, Van Zeppelin (covering Van Halen and Led Zeppelin, obviously), will return as this year’s headliner at 7:30 p.m. The music begins at 11:30 a.m., with tributes to Pink Floyd, Shinedown, the Offspring, Fleetwood Mac, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath on tap.

Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival June 27-28

Well-crafted bacon and bourbon are two of life’s decadent and delicious delights. Both are plentiful at this festival, where attendees sample Colorado whiskies, bacon and bacon-inspired cuisine. Families are welcome, with live music, competitions and Camp Bacon activities and classes for kids.

Save the Date: Drinks festivals Aug. 1-2

The first weekend of August will be wonderfully soaked in craft beverages, from the Colorado mountains to the Wyoming plains.

The Dacono Music and Spirits Festival brings national talents and local libations to the north Front Range on Aug.1
Keystone Bluegrass and Beer brings top-notch bluegrass music alongside Colorado drink samples in Summit County Aug. 1 and 2.
Finally the Steinley Cup Brewfest brings live music and regional beers to an island park in Saratoga, Wyoming, Aug. 2.

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.