Head out across the state for charity comedy and art, food and drinks festivals

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.

Breckenridge Wildflower Week continues through Sunday

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. Events are ongoing through the weekend.

Green Box Arts Festival ongoing through July 19

Green Mountain Falls in south Colorado is in the middle of two weeks of performances, exhibitions, workshops and community events. The diverse and creative festival blends dance, music, visual art and outdoor experiences, drawing nationally recognized artists. Upcoming highlights include a guided art walk and Oklahoma City Ballet performances.

Taste of Arvada Thursday

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 at the Apex Center on Thursday.

Restaurants and bars also vie for coveted prizes in their categories, with winners chosen by attendees. Limited tickets are still available.

Fundraising comedy show for animal rescues Thursday

Comedy to the Rescue is Clay Foley’s stand-up comedy tour benefitting local animal shelters and rescues. He will bring the show to the Denver Comedy Lounge on Thursday, July 9, to raise money for Animal Rescue of the Rockies. Denver comedian Sam Ellefson opens the show. Tickets cost $65, including dinner.

Bobstock Music Festival in Fort Morgan Friday and Saturday

The free Bobstock Music Festival returns to Glenn Miller Park in Fort Morgan. More than 20 bands will play on five stages. New jack swing pioneers Color Me Badd headline on Friday. Classic rock legends Night Ranger headline on Saturday.

Brewers Rendezvous in Salida Saturday

The 30th Brewers Rendezvous will bring together more than 60 Colorado craft breweries against the backdrop of the Collegiate Peaks and the Arkansas River. In addition to sampling beers, it is a great opportunity to meet brewers and brewery owners, as the event also serves as an annual meeting for the Colorado Brewers Guild.

Homegrown beer festival in Craig Saturday

Homemade Homegrown celebrates both craft breweries and local homebrew in downtown Craig. There are also local food and artisan vendors. The event features a homebrew competition, beer tastings, lawn games and live entertainment.

Colorado Craft Walk in Denver Sunday

Blanchard Family Wines brings the Colorado Craft Walk back to Denver’s Dairy Block. The event includes spirits and beer, in addition to the wines that make Blanchard’s wine walks so popular. Taste unlimited samples, and meet creative and fun Colorado craft libations producers. Thirst Colorado will have a booth at the event as well, so stop by to meet the team and enter a ticket giveaway.

Wine & Jazz Festival in Keystone July 18 and 19

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 July 18 and 19

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 July 18 and 19

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.

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 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.

Save the date: Crafts, Cocktails, & Corks in Winter Park Aug. 15

Crafts, Cocktails & Corks brings wineries, breweries and distilleries together at Winter Park's Rendezvous Event Center for an afternoon of tastings, live music and local food. The annual fundraiser also features artisan vendors and a friendly "Best Of" competition, with proceeds supporting youth programs in Grand County.

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.