Enjoy cider and wine parties, comedy for a cause, a new songwriters’ festival and many more events

By the Thirst Team

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

THIS WEEK

Inaugural songwriters’ festival in Durango Thursday to Sunday

Hall of fame songwriters, Nashville hitmakers and rising artists will offer live music and storytelling at the inaugural San Juan Songwriters Festival in Durango. Headline shows will be at the local Harley-Davidson dealership. Other performances will be at intimate local venues, including the Four Leaves Winery, Diamond Belle Saloon and Lola’s Place.

Dead Man’s Brewfest in Colorado Springs Friday

The Halloween season starts early this year with a wide variety of beer, liquor and wine at the Dead Man’s Brew Fest at Weidner Field, home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks professional soccer team. Tickets are available now, including VIP passes with food and an extra hour of tastings.

Fruita Fall Festival Friday and Saturday

This year’s free event in downtown Fruita has the theme of “Roots & Revelry,” and includes an outhouse race, beard rally, parade and pet show, as well as live music and vendors.

Mountain Harvest Festival | Photo provided

La Junta Tarantula Festival Friday and Saturday

The southeastern Colorado town of La Junta celebrates the fall migration of Oklahoma brown tarantulas in the Comanche National Grassland. Guided tours are sold out, but there is still an educational pavilion, live performances, food vendors, merchandise and a parade.

Mountain Harvest Festival in Paonia Friday to Sunday

The 25th annual Mountain Harvest Festival is a free celebration of Paonia-area growers, makers, performers, wineries and small businesses. Friday night opens with a downtown block party and art walk.

On Saturday and Sunday, Paonia Town Park hosts live music, food trucks and art vendors. There also will be a chili cook-off, heirloom pepper and tomato tasting, farmers market, art demonstrations and pie contest.

Classic cars and more in Telluride Friday to Sunday

The 10th Telluride Autumn Classic takes place all weekend at the Mountain Village. The family-friendly festival is a showcase of exotic and vintage cars, motorcycles, aircraft and more, with art and live music.

Smalltown Gathering in Salida Friday to Sunday

The former Campout for the Cause returned after a hiatus as the rebranded Smalltown Gathering. This three-day yoga and music festival returns to Salida, with performances by the California Honeydrops, Fruition, Moontricks, Lindsay Lou, Magoo, Daniel Rodriguez and at least 11 other acts.

Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival | Photo provided

Books in Aspen Friday to Sunday

Aspen Words hosts the second Aspen Literary Festival, starting Sept. 25. The three-day event brings authors for lectures, panel discussions, parties and more. Prominent writers include Tayari Jones, Veronica Roth, Peter H. Reynolds, Robert Kolker and Ruth Ozeki.

Paid tickets are required for some events.

Beer festival in Manitou Springs Saturday

The 11th Annual Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival opens at 11:30 a.m. (for VIP ticket holders) at Fields Park. Tickets include unlimited beer tastings plus live music and food vendors. The festival is a fundraiser for the Heritage Museum, and will help keep the museum free.

Mountain Chile Cha Cha in Pagosa Springs Saturday

The 20th annual celebration of the Southwest green chile harvest includes a green chile cook-off and tasting. There also will be live music, a margarita contest, food vendors, kids’ activities and other fun at Yamaguchi Park.

Mountain Chile Cha Cha | Photos by Pagosa Photography

Colorado Highland Games | Photo provided

Colorado Highland Games in Sedalia Saturday and Sunday

The 62nd annual Colorado Highland Games comes to the Denver Polo Club in Sedalia. This celebration of Scotland’s traditions, music, and history includes traditional Highland sports, pipe and drum competitions, dance performances, whisky tastings, haggis, clan information, a car show, dogs and Highland cows.

PLAN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

Aspen Filmfest Sept. 29 to Oct. 4

Tickets are now on sale for the 47th Aspen Filmfest, showcasing thought-provoking and unique films from around the world.

The event opens Tuesday with “Cheyenne,” a documentary about women on the rodeo circuit, followed by a Q and A with director Taimi Arvidson. It closes Sunday with a Chilean animated adventure. The films in between include scripted features and documentaries about Carl Sagan, Billy Jean King, Jean-Michel Basquiat and bears.

Durango Cowboy Gathering Sept. 30 to Oct. 3

The annual celebration of the American West returns to downtown Durango for a 37th year. The festival includes music, poetry, storytelling and horse events. Featured performers include the Bar-D Wranglers, Dave Stamey and Andy Nelson.

Cedaredge Applefest Oct. 2 to 4

The Western Slope farming town of Cedaredge hosts its annual commemoration of harvest season and agriculture, with live music, art, crafts and food vendors, golf tournament, antique vehicle shows and a 5K run.

Bluegrass festival near Manitou Oct. 2 to 4

The Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort is a unique lodging option between Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs that aims to foster community and excitement around cycling.

The hotel will host the Buffalo Grass festival, including live music, group bike rides, yoga, vendors, bluegrass circles and more.

Performers include Big Hooray, Stillhouse Junkies and the PickPockets.

Cider Days in Lakewood Oct. 3 and 4

A large family event celebrates Lakewood’s agricultural heritage with cider pressing and harvest treats. Entertainment throughout the Heritage Lakewood park includes a goat walkabout, wagon rides, barrel train, magicians, line dancing, tractor pull and a trick pig show.

Art, beer and music festivals in Grand Junction Oct. 2 and 3

The 11th annual Downtown Art Festival will take over the Downtown Grand Junction Creative District, starting with a First Friday gallery walk. On Saturday, an artists’ expo on Main Street includes live artist demos, performances and local artist booths, as well as the unveiling of new Art on the Corner installations.

Also, on Saturday, the Friends of the West Invitational Beer Fest is coming to Ramblebine Brewing and Base Camp Beer Works. The lager-focused festival benefits the Avalon Foundation and the Colorado Brewers Guild.

After the beer fest, Porchella brings live music to porches across downtown Grand Junction neighborhoods.

Southwest Fresh Fest Oct. 3

Billy Goat Hop Farm in Montrose hosts the fifth annual Southwest Fresh Fest on Sept. 20. Attendees can sample fresh hop and seasonal beers from across the region. The event also includes live music, local food trucks, farm tours and games. This year’s performers include Jesse Meade and Mojo Birds.

Photo by Bri Long / Provided by Riverside Colorado

Fall festival in Bellvue Oct. 3

Riverside Colorado is a camping and glamping resort in the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins. It hosts its second annual fall festival from 2 to 8 p.m., with live music by Lid Dixon and a screening of “Beetlejuice,” as well as arts, crafts and games.

Celebrating elk in Estes Park Oct 3 and 4

Estes Park celebrates its most famous fall visitors at the Estes Park Elk Fest in Bond Park. Weekend events include bugling demonstrations, educational presentations, live music, Native American storytelling and more.

Elk will also wander through and around town, but be warned that elk can be aggressive, especially during the rut, or mating season.

Steamboat Springs Restaurant Week Oct. 3-10

Steamboat’s walkable, diverse and gourmet dining scene will be on full display. Participating restaurants will offer two specials: a curated chef’s choice signature dish or a hometown favorite or go‑to dish. One or both options will be available at most downtown restaurants.

Mural festival in Superior Oct. 4

Street Wise Arts and the Town of Superior will co-host the new Superior Mural Festival, with workshops, panel discussions and unveiling of new public art installations. Street Wise Arts has produced seven mural festivals and installed more than 170 murals in Boulder County. For more details, read our preview story.

Balistreri Vineyards Harvest Party in Denver Oct. 4

The 24th annual harvest party is coming to Balistreri Vineyards. Partygoers can sip on 20 new sneak-peek wines, listen to live music and enjoy plenty of artisan food. And kids can enjoy the Little Feet Grape Stomping at 2 p.m. Parents can also pre-purchase bottles of kid-stomped wine.

Big B’s Ciderfest in Hotchkiss Oct. 9 to 11

Hot Buttered Rum will headline CiderFest on Saturday night at Big B's Delicious Orchards in Hotchkiss. Sway Wild and Floodgate Operators also play on Saturday. Alysha Brilla headlines on Friday, and Boomroots close out the festival on Sunday. The festival brings three days of free live music, cider tastings, vendors and local beer. Camping is available for a fee.

Standup comedy fundraiser in Lakewood Oct. 15

The 2nd Annual Stand-Up for Hope is coming to the Three Leaches Theater in Lakewood. It is a night of comedy and poetry in support of Art from Ashes creative empowerment programs for youth. The emcee and headliner is Ren Q. Dawe, a nationally recognized comedian, trans activist, and community leader. The event raises money for Art From Ashes, which “exists to empower struggling youth by providing creative programs that facilitate health and hope through expression, connection, and transformation.”

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.