- Out and About -
Colorado

SILVERTON – Events:
Silverton Barbershop Music Festival, Jul 17. Location: Kendall Mountain Recreation Area.

Hardrockers Holidays, Aug 13-15. Location: Kendall Mountain Recreation Area.

Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band Festival, Aug 20-22. Location: Kendall Mountain Recreation Area.

Railfest, Aug 20-24. Originates in Durango.

Colorfest Quilt Show, Sep 11-12. Location: Kendall Mountain Recreation Area DSNGRR Fall

Photographer’s Weekend, Sep 25-26. Originates in Durango.

Bordello Ball and A Theatre Group’s Crawl to the Ball, Oct. 2 Location: Grand Imperial Hotel and various restaurants.
800-752-4494
www.silvertoncolorado.com

SOUTH FORK – Events:
Logger Days Festival, Jul 16-18. Come Celebrate South Fork’s history in the Timber Industry, with an arts and craft Fair, logging competitions including axe throw, speed cuts, and accuracy fall. Daily events also include live music, kids games, and a barbecue cook-off on July 17. This great one-of-a-kind family event is nestled in the Colorado Mountains.
800-571-0881
www.southfork.org

Mushroom Foray, Aug 14-15. Join Roger Dawson on a journey through the beautiful and fungus filled Rio Grande National Forest, where you will learn how to collect, find and identify a variety of mushrooms species, classes are limited and fees apply.
800-571-0881
www.southfork.org

Fun Valley Arts & Crafts Show,
Aug 16-22.

Rhythms on the Rio, Aug 21-22. This great family event offers a wide variety of music from country, bluegrass, to orchestra and rock. Live music, vendors and more along the banks of the Rio Grande River. 719-588-9394

Silver Thread Artist Studio Tour, Sep 11. Artists found along Hwy 149, from South Fork to Lake City, known as the Silver Thread Scenic Byway open their studios for the day, and invite guests in to watch them work. Artists include weavers, painters, potters and more.

Mining for Treasures Quilt Show, Sep 17-19.

Chili & Salsa Cookoff, Oct 15. The Town of South Fork invites cooks to come and compete with red or green chili and or salsa to see who has the best recipes.
800-571-0881
www.southfork.org
South Fork Event Info:
719-873-5512

FORT COLLINS – Events:
The French Nest Open-Air Market, Jul 17, Aug 21, Sep 18. An outdoor market with homemade crafts, antiques and food. Location: Civic Center Park. Hours:
9am-3pm.
www.thefrenchnestmarket.com

Budweiser Clydesdale Camera Day, Aug 7, Sep 4 and Oct 2. Get your picture taken with the world famous Clydesdales horses. Location: Anheuser Busch Brewery.
970-490-4691

Larimer County Fair and Rodeo, Aug 6-10. This 130-year-old tradition offers numerous exhibits, amazing attractions, live entertainment, a carnival and the PRCA Rodeo. Location: Held at the Larimer County Fairgrounds.
www.larimer.org

Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest, Aug 21-22. This free weekend is Fort Collins’ largest community festival with food, crafts and entertainment. Location: downtown.
970-484-6500
www.downtownfortcollins.com

5th Annual Northern Colorado Greek Festival, Aug 27-28. Location: Old Town Square.
970-420-3439

3rd Annual Irish Festival, Aug 27-29. Location: The Ranch.
www.fortcollinsirishfestival.com

ALAMOSA – Area events:
Manassa Pioneer Days, Jul 23-24. Two days of parades, horse races, rodeo, fireworks, entertainment and barbecues, as well as a 5k run and demolition derby – it all happens in Manassa.
719-843-5207

Ski Hi Stampede Rodeo, Jul 29-Aug 1. The town of Monte Vista offers Colorado’s oldest pro rodeo, parades, chuck wagon dinners, dances, concerts, carnival and great rodeo action. 
www.skihistampede.com

Colorado Gators Annual Gatorfest, Aug 7-8. Watch as foolish daredevils compete in an alligator-wrestling rodeo. Location: Mosca, Co.
719-378-2612

Crestone Music Fest, Aug 6-8.
719-256-4533
www.crestfest.org

Early Iron Festival, Sep 4-5. One of Colorado’s largest vintage car shows music and food is offered along the banks of the Rio Grande in Alamosa.
888-589-9170
www.earlyironclub.com

Monte Vista Potato Festival, Sep 11. Monte Vista’s Potato Festival includes potato games, food, craft and activity vendors and potato recipe cook-off.
719-852-2692

GUNNISON/CRESTED BUTTE – Area events:
Free Concerts in Gunnison’s Jorgensen Park, Sundays Jun 6-Aug 1. Enjoy the summer evenings with free concerts in Legion Park (along Highway 50) at 7pm. Bring picnic, lawn chairs and blankets.
970-641-4029
www.gunnisonartscenter.org

Crested Butte Music Festival, Jul 3-Aug 5. Hear performers from all over the world, including a new bluegrass festival. There’s something for everyone, from opera, symphony and chamber music, to jazz and dance performances.
970-349-0619
www.crestedbuttemusicfestival.com

23rd Annual Gunnison Car Show, Aug 20-22. Events include a cruise-in and free outdoor concert on Gunnison’s Main Street, an open car show, poker run, and breakfast cruise to Crested Butte. Free admission.Location: Jorgensen Park.
www.gunnisoncarclub.com

Fall Festival of Beers & Chili Cook-Off, Sep 11. Sample great chili from noon-2pm, and then cool off with beers poured from noon-4pm by several microbreweries. Live music is on hand all afternoon. The Fun Run starts at 11am.
970-349-6438
www.cbchamber.com

Gunnison Western Heritage Festival, Sep 18-19. This celebration of Gunnison’s Western American lifestyle takes place outdoors at Jorgensen Park and the park’s covered ice rink, except the ranch rodeo will take place at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center. Attractions include a ranch rodeo, expo, petting zoo, kids’ rodeo, chuck wagon-style barbecue and lots of entertainment. Chuck wagon breakfast is held on Sunday morning. Many events are free.
970-901-6215

MANCOS – Events: Mancos Days, Jul 23-25. This wonderful small town celebration includes a parade down historic Grand Avenue and music, games and fun on the streets. 
www.mancosvalley.com

Mancos Renaissance Faire, Aug 21-22. Party like it’s 1599! Arts, crafts, delicious food, page school, gypsy camp and chivalry. 
970-533-7600
www.mancosrenaissance.com

Sugar Pine Ranch Motorcycle Rally, Sep 2-6. Come camp, enjoy live music and fun galore. Located on a spectacular mountain view ranch. s
970-799-0933
sugarpineranchrally.com

Mancos Valley Balloon and Arts Festival, Sep 24-26. Mass ascensions and nightglows, art and live music in the historic downtown gallery district. 
970-533-9707
mesaverdecountry.com
 
BUENA VISTA – Events:
Collegiate Peaks Music Festival, Jul 23-24. The kick off event takes place Friday at 6pm, and the festival offers various performers, vendors, a beer garden, pancake breakfast and activities for all ages. Location: McPhelemy Park.
www.collegiatepeaksmusicfestival.com

Balloona Vista on the East end of Main Street, Jul 23-25. Balloon Glow takes place Saturday night at dusk. Balloons fly at dawn Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.

Contin-Tail Rock and Gem Show Collectors Paradise, Aug 12-15. Event features more than 100 booths to sell, swap and show rocks, minerals, gems, sculptured artwork and fine jewelry. Location: Rodeo Grounds.
303-833-2939

Madams of Central Colorado, Aug 14, Sep 11. This acclaimed fundraiser for Buena Vista Heritage invites you to come sit in the parlor and hear about the life and times of these racy madams. Cost: $15. Time: 7pm. Location: Buena Vista Court House. Event not suitable for children under 13. Reservations:
719-395-8458
www.buenavistaheritage.org

Gold Rush Days, Aug 14-15. Step back in time to the Colorado Gold Rush and try gold panning, watch mountain men/blacksmiths and listen to music. There is a costume parade, and the Triple Crown Burro Race has athletes running beside a burro equipped with mining tools. Try running with a burro in the citizen’s race or participate in the Toilet Seat Race! There are vendors, children’s rides, food and more.
719-395-6612

Apple Fest, Sep 11. This old time country fair is held at the historic Turner Farm. Enjoy the apple pie contest, entertainment, tractor rides, apple press demonstration, apple picking, butter making, pony rides and more.
www.buenavistaheritage.org

ATV Historical Color Tour, Sep 21-25. Bring your own ATV and ride various trails and visit historic areas in the midst of autumn’s grand colors. Register online at
www.coloradoatvtour.org

Buena Vista event info:
719-395-6612
www.buenavistacolorado.org

DEL NORTE –
Covered Wagon Days, Aug 6-8. Del Norte Colorado is located in the San Luis Valley region of Southern Colorado. Once a supply stop for the miners heading off to get rich on the gold and silver deposits in the mountains surrounding the valley, it is now a quaint little mountain town that celebrates its history each summer during the annual Covered Wagon Days event. Del Norte offers many opportunities for fun, including the area’s trail system, fishing in gold medal waters along the Rio Grande River, visiting the Summitville Gold mine and camping in private and forest service campgrounds.
719-657-2845
www.delnortechamber.org

CASTLE ROCK –
7th Annual Castle Rock WineFest, Jul 24. A tasting of Colorado Wines, seminars, concerts and activities. Location: The Grange in the Meadows.
303-688-4597
www.castlerockwinefest.com

Douglas County Fair and Rodeo, Jul 31-Aug 8. Location: Douglas County
Fairgrounds.
720-733-6900
www.douglas.co.us/eventscenter/index.html

Oktoberfest, Oct 2. A full day of fun with an authentic German band, lots of food, vendors and crafts in downtown Castle Rock.
www.downtowncastlerock.com

Colorado | Idaho
- NEVADA REGIONS -
Reno Tahoe Territory | Cowboy Country | Pony Express Territory
Silver Trails Territory | Las Vegas Territory

New Mexico | Oregon | Utah | Washington

Home | Table of Contents | Out & About | Features | Departments | Free Camping | Subscribe Now | About Us | Questions/Comments | Site Map