Colorado.com Staff Writer

DFP Leaderboard: Article

<p>June marks the start to Colorado’s one-of-a-kind summer festival season.</p>


11 Quintessential Summer Festivals in Colorado

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Whitewater kayaking contest at the FIBark festival in Salida, CO

Telluride Bluegrass Festival performance

Night falls on the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, CO

Cult performs at the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase in 2013

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<p>With mild temperatures and gorgeous blue-sky days, summer celebrations don’t get better than this. We’ve outlined a few of the finest Colorado summer festivals to help you get started on planning the ideal summer vacation.</p>
<p>For even more festivals, visit our <a href="/events">Colorado events calendar</a>.</p>
<h2>1. Telluride Bluegrass Festival</h2>
<p>Each June, music lovers from around the globe come together at the world-renowned <a href="http://www.bluegrass.com/telluride/">Telluride Bluegrass Festival</a> in <a href="/cities-and-towns/Telluride">Telluride</a> for four days of toe-tapping, carefree-dancing and music-loving fun. Past performers include John Butler Trio, Mumford &amp; Sons, Elvis Costello, Telluride House Band, Trampled by Turbles, Kacey Musgraves and Yonder Mountain String Band, just to name a few.</p>
<h2>2. FIBArk</h2>
<p>If rivers are your passion, <a href="https://www.fibark.com/">FIBArk</a> (First in Boating on the Arkansas) is a must. “America’s oldest and boldest whitewater festival” draws kayakers, stand-up paddlers and rafters to compete (and play) in the mighty Arkansas River in early June. While whitewater is the draw, the city of <a href="/cities-and-towns/Salida">Salida</a> also showcases a variety of local color with live music, carnival rides, a parade and foot races.</p>
<h2>3. Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival</h2>
<p>Get right down to the local flavors with this <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/manitou-springs">Manitou Springs</a> homage to Colorado's burgeoning wine-making industry highlighting the best from more than 30 local wineries. Sip wine, sample food and indulge in the mountain scenery surrounding Manitou’s idyllic downtown each June at the <a href="https://manitousprings.org/manitou-springs-colorado-wine-festival/">Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival</a>.</p>
<h2>4. Greeley Stampede</h2>
<p>Dust off your cowboy boots for one of Colorado’s largest summer festivals and rodeos, the <a href="http://www.greeleystampede.org/default.aspx">Greeley Stampede</a>, held late June through early July annually. Dating back to the 1800s, <a href="/cities-and-towns/greeley">Greeley</a>’s Fourth of July celebration puts the “Yeehaw!” in Colorado’s Western culture.</p>
<h2>5. Taste of Fort Collins</h2>
<p>Savor all of <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/fort-collins">Fort Collins</a>' flavors at June's <a href="https://tasteoffortcollins.com/">Taste of Fort Collins</a> near the city's Old Town. From Mexican and macarons to pizza and paella — and, of course, barbecue — this festival is a foodie's delight. Dance to live music as you digest, and make sure you sample some of Colorado's finest craft brews while you're in this beer-lovers' hoppy haven.</p>
<h2>6. Crested Butte Wildflower Festival</h2>
<p>As the official Wildflower Capital of Colorado, <a href="/cities-and-towns/crested-butte">Crested Butte</a> is the obvious place to host the <a href="https://crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org/">Crested Butte Wildflower Festival</a> each July, packed with guided wildflower hikes, 4x4 tours, photography classes, gardening instruction and much more.</p>


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<h2>7. Denver Underground Music Showcase</h2>
<p>July's <a href="http://www.theums.com/">Denver Underground Music Showcase</a> is the perfect place to witness Colorado and The Mile High City's exploding music scene. This annual bonanza in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/denver">Denver</a> is a must for music-lovers. Every space viable for an intimate jam session opens its doors for those looking to discover the next Billboard-topping band.</p>
<h2>8. Vail Dance Festival</h2>
<p>Pirouettes, dips, leaps and headspins sweep through <a href="/cities-and-towns/Vail">Vail</a> during the prestigious <a href="https://vaildance.org/">Vail Dance Festival</a> late July through early August. Moves from "Dancing with the Stars" are so much more exciting in the flesh — not to mention in Vail’s scenic outdoor venues.</p>
<h2>9. Moffat County Balloon Festival</h2>
<p>Colored globes filling the cornflower-blue sky creating are a sight to see in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/craig">Craig</a> at the <a href="https://mcballoonfestival.com/">Moffat County Balloon Festival</a> each August. With a massive colorful ascension scheduled for each morning, balloons dip and soar over lakes with craggy mountains in the background. Saturday boasts a full day of entertainment and activities in Loudy-Simpson Park. </p>
<h2>10. Colorado State Fair</h2>
<p>The <a href="/articles/favorite-colorado-event-colorado-state-fair">Colorado State Fair</a> in <a href="/cities-and-towns/Pueblo">Pueblo</a> expertly combines lively entertainment, thrilling competitions, intriguing vendor booths and old-fashioned family fun late August through early September. Serving fair fare such as Pueblo green chiles, funnel cakes, deep-fried Snickers and other hearty treats, you’ll want to be sure to bring your appetite.</p>
<h2>11. A Taste of Colorado</h2>
<p>Food booths, artisan vendors, entertainment and lots of Colorado fans converge in the heart of downtown <a href="/cities-and-towns/Denver">Denver</a> at Civic Center Park for a lively celebration of Colorado’s food and culture. <a href="http://atasteofcolorado.com/">A Taste of Colorado</a> is held in conjunction with <a href="https://www.vivastreetsdenver.com/">¡Viva! Streets Denver</a> — when streets throughout the city close to motor vehicles and become pathways for pedestrians, cyclists and scooter-ers on select dates in summer.  </p>
<h2>Want More?</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/amazing-colorado-music-fests-sounds-summer">Amazing Colorado Music Fests</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/summer-food-wine-festivals-colorado">Summer Food &amp; Wine Festivals in Colorado </a></li>
<li><a href="/articles/beyond-national-western-stock-show-rodeos-colorado">Summer and Fall Colorado Rodeos</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/8-ways-love-colorado-summer">8 Ways to Love Summer in Colorado</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/summer-colorado-ski-towns">Summer in Colorado Ski Towns</a></li>
</ul><p><a href="http://www.colorado.com/events">Find more events in Colorado</a></p>
