Head out across the state for music, film and drinks festivals, and a whitewater celebration

By the Thirst Team

Welcome to our roundup of the best events across Colorado through early July. 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.

Lakewood concert series starts today

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 Thursday to Saturday

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 Thursday to Sunday

America’s longest-running whitewater festival includes races both wacky and serious, a carnival and live music along the Arkansas River in Salida. 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 Friday and Saturday

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 Saturday

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 Saturday

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.

Fort Collins Beer Week June 22-28

After a hiatus, 20 Fort Collins breweries will unite for a week of collaborations, education, events and specials. The centerpiece is a beer festival from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at the Drake Center. There also will be seminars and events about beer history, growing local hops, homebrewing and fermentation science.

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.

Salida Chalk Festival June 27

The Town of Salida also hosts its third annual chalk festival, with temporary murals across downtown by more than 25 professional and emerging artists. Community members also can create art and register in adult and youth contests.

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.

Snowmass Rendezvous June 27

The 10th Snowmass Rendezvous brings unlimited samples of beer, spirits, ciders, seltzers wines and more, as well as vendors and live music, in Snowmass Village, near Aspen.

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.

Keystone Stars and Guitars Festival July 2-4

Keystone follows up the bacon extravaganza with three days of music and star-spangled fun. Groove in Motion and The Goonies will play cover songs alongside the Salida circus and an artisan market before the Stories in the Sky drone show.

Breckenridge Wildflower Week July 2-12

The first Breckenridge Wildflower Week is timed to coincide with peak bloom season. Highlights include guided hikes and tours, sustainability education, a community yoga class, crafts and workshops, botanically inspired menus and cocktails, art vendors, live music and plein air painting.

Cherry Days in Paonia July 3-4

Paonia celebrates both Independence Day and its favorite local fruit during Cherry Days. Cherry-themed activities include a bakeoff and a pit-spitting contest. There also will be a parade, dance performances, a wood splitting contest and cornhole tournament.

South Park Bluegrass Festival July 3-4

Alma Town Park hosts two days of bluegrass artists including Kyle Tuttle, Jake Wolf, Mark Morris and Friends, Alex Thoele, Coral Creek, Half Pelican (featuring Joy Adams of Big Richard) and Taylor and Bonnie Sims (also of Big Richard).

Taste of Arvada July 10

More than 50 restaurants, craft breweries and distilleries, coffee shops and non-food vendors from across the Denver metro area offer samples at the Taste of Arvada festival on Thursday, July 10.

Restaurants and bars also vie for coveted prizes in their categories, with winners chosen by attendees.

Tickets are on sale now, and applications are still available for vendors and sponsors.

Save the date: Lafayette Peach Festival Aug. 16

Lafayette hosts a peak season celebration of Palisade peaches. Peach pies and peach cobbler are the stars of the event, which also includes artists, vendors, kids’ activities and other attractions.

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.