Head out across the state for celebrations of Colorado music, wine, art, flowers and burros

By the Thirst Team

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

Wine & Jazz Festival in Keystone Saturday and Sunday

Fifteen jazz acts, hundreds of wines and gourmet food fill River Run Village during this annual festival. The schedule also includes a “White Lotus”-themed wine seminar led by Grappolo Food & Wine School. Dotsero headlines, with a diverse lineup of supporting acts.

Winter Park Jazz Festival Saturday and Sunday

The Winter Park Jazz Festival returns to Rendezvous Event Center for two days of contemporary jazz, R&B and soul performances. Saturday’s performers include Patti LaBelle, Damien Escobar and Najee. Sunday’s sets include Brian Culbertson, After 7, Kim and Kayla Waters, and Nelson Rangell.

Lavender festival in Littleton Saturday and Sunday

The Lavender Festival returns to Chatfield Farms with garden tours, artisan vendors, live music and family activities. Visitors can explore blooming lavender fields, watch demonstrations and browse locally made products. Local musicians also will perform, including Denver Dolls, Chris Daniels and the Kings, Before The Sun and Biff Gore Band.

Summerfest Art & Music in Evergreen Saturday and Sunday

The Center for the Arts Evergreen will host the 46th Annual Summerfest Art & Music Festival at Buchanan Park in Evergreen. Admission is $5 at the door, and children 10 and under are admitted free. The music lineup includes Dan the Piper, Lakeside Effects and Joe Bye & Friends at Large on Saturday, and Colorado Floyd and Rio Rosa on Sunday.

Fairplay concert series returns July 24

Fairplay hosts a free summer concert series on Fifth Street. The second show is by local blues legends Hazel Miller and the Collective on July 24, followed by the aforementioned blues-rockers Chris Daniels and the Kings on Aug. 28.

Revel in the Park in Winter Park July 24 and 25

Revel in the Park is two days of live music and outdoor activities in Winter Park.

Bonfire Dub will play a free pre-show on Thursday, and a Saturday set. Dogs In A Pile and the Fretliners will perform on Friday. Shadowgrass and Madeline Hawthorne will play on Saturday, and Kitchen Dwellers are slated for both nights.

Fairplay Burro Days July 24 and 25

For more than 75 years, the central Colorado town of Fairplay has celebrated the role of burros in Colorado’s mining heritage. Athletes compete to “Get Yur Ass Up the Pass” in the 29-mile World Championship Pack Burro Races. Meanwhile, festivalgoers in town enjoy a parade, outhouse races, art, activities, cowboy church and live music.

Crested Butte Arts Festival July 31 to Aug. 2

The first Crested Butte Arts Fair in 1971 was a small platform for local artists to share their work, earn money and knit together a small, rural town. The show has since evolved into one of the most respected and competitive juried fine art shows in the region. The festival also includes live local music, a craft tent and the Flags of Intention collaborative art project. Participants can add ink block print images and positive words of intention onto a string of prayer flags.

Dacono Music and Spirits Festival Aug. 1

The Dacono Music and Spirits Festival brings national talents and local libations to the north Front Range on Aug.1. Texas country singer William Clark Green, of “She Likes the Beatles” fame, headlines the show. The rest of the lineup is from Colorado: Country band Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts, tribute band Creedence Colorado Revival, Latin ska group Roka Hueka, blues group The Delta Sonics and folk-rockers David Lawrence & the Spoonful.

United We Rock Festival in Colorado Springs Aug. 1

Rock Ledge Ranch at Garden of The Gods will celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood with a Western-style festival. The music lineup ranges from jazz and Americana to bluegrass and dance music, with Tony Exum, Jr., Tiny Pockets, Rafiel and the Roomshakers, WireWood Station, Grass It Up and Collective Groove all on tap.

History will come alive with old-fashioned games and western activities like calf roping, stilts, hoop games and corn hole. The event also includes arts and crafts vendors, beer and whiskey tastings and food trucks.

Vino and Notes Festival in Woodland Park Aug. 1

The 18th annual jazz, food and wine festival comes to Memorial Park in Woodland Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Colorado Day. At least 23 Colorado wineries will participate, and musical artists include Manitou Strings, Shakin’ Like Sammy and Tidal Breeze Jazz Arts. Advance tickets are $40, increasing to $50 at the door. VIP tickets also are available for $60.

Bluegrass & Beer Festival in Keystone Aug. 1-2

One of Colorado’s longest-running beer festivals combines craft brews, bluegrass bands and mountain Cider and seltzer also will be flowing. Headliners include the Brothers Comatose on Saturday and Silas Herman & The Tone Unit on Sunday. The lineup also includes Rebecca Frazier, Buffalo Galaxy, Second Gear, Drunken Heart String Band and many more.

Steinley Cup Brewfest in Wyoming Aug. 2

Every summer should include a jaunt into Wyoming for some Western heritage, open spaces and … beer? The Steinley Cup Microbrew Festival and Competition comes to a fun island in Saratoga, Wyoming, on Saturday, Aug. 2. And it’s OK to spend some money on gas because tickets are only $30 for a day of live music and sampling beers from the Rocky Mountain region and beyond.

Save the date: Nederland Jazz & Wine Aug. 22

The fifth annual festival includes samples from 27 of Colorado's finest wineries, breweries, distilleries, and non-alcoholic artisans. Another 18 artisan and food vendors also will be at the festival.

This year’s music lineup includes Gabriel Santiago Trio, JoFoKe & Same Cloth and River Eckert & Friends.

Proceeds support Teens Inc. outdoor leadership programs.

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.