Denver Events

As one of the country’s top pride events, Denver’s PrideFest features a parade, as well as a number of stages for different kinds of entertainment. There’s a dance stage with DJs performing, a country stage for line-dancing lessons, a Latino stage with folk dancers, and the main stage where the live entertainment is. The streets are lined with arts, crafts and food vendors. The whole event is produced by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Centre of Colorado.

Including an artistic mix of exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops, the annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival sees over 200 artists descend on Denver to showcase their works. Around 350,000 visitors attend the celebration of visual, culinary and performing arts of this three-day event, which is one of the most significant cultural events in Denver, as well as a nationally top-ranked art show. The festival spans six streets, which are lined with a diverse group of vendors. There are activities for children, as well as musical performances that carry on into the night.

The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is more than dragon boat racing; it's a celebration of the local Asian community complete with performing arts, Asian marketplace and village, Taste of Asia food court and, of course, the spectacular races, in both competitive and community categories. The Asian marketplace has over 75 arts and crafts vendors and the performing arts stage features both traditional and contemporary Asian and Asian-American performers of martial arts, traditional dances and rock and blues music. The village showcases the cultures of different Asian Pacific communities each year and includes the intimate demonstration area, Gateway to Asia. Kids can be entertained (and educated, but don't tell them that) in the Dragonland section, where there are lots of cultural projects to take part in. A special Dragon Spirit-Awakening ceremony and a traditional Eye-Dotting ceremony awaken the dragon boats and kick off the festivities.

Though the fairgrounds are located outside of Denver, the Colorado State Fair is worth the trip to Pueblo. It’s a lively celebration of the make up of Colorado - its people, agriculture, art, music, natural resources and industries. There are different kinds of entertainment featured at the fair, including a rodeo and musical performances.

This Labor Day festival marks the end of summer with offerings from more than 50 food establishments, 270 marketplace artisans and vendors, six entertainment stages and educational programmes. You’ll be able to enjoy full-sized starters, main courses and desserts to share with friends, or choose small portions to have all to yourself.

Join the party in the celebration of all things German (and in particular its beer) during the annual Denver Oktoberfest. Celebrated over two consecutive weekends in September, the city comes alive with live music, costumed dancers, cultural performances, gallons of beer and thousands upon thousands of traditional German sausages. Modelled on the famous Munich Oktoberfest in Germany, Denver's Larimer Square is the scene of the celebrations for this fun event which also has plenty of entertainment and attractions for younger visitors.

Nearly 30,000 people attend the Great American Beer Festival in Denver each year. The festival is one of the American brewing industry's top public tasting and competition. Tasting sessions offer visitors the opportunity to tour America's brewing landscape by sampling more than 1,600 different beers from over 300 of the country's finest breweries.

Over a 10-day period, the prestigious Starz Denver Film Festival presents a programme of approximately 175 films including features, shorts, documentaries, animations and other experimental works. Each year, a particular actor or filmmaker is honoured with the ‘Mayor's Lifetime Achievement Award’, with past recipients including such leading luminaries as Francis Ford Coppola, Morgan Freeman and Ang Lee. There is also a special programme of screenings for children.

Featuring a lively procession of floats, marching bands, dance troupes and all manner of costumed characters, the annual Denver Parade of Lights has been a popular Christmas tradition since 1975. Over 350,000 spectators line the length of the 3km (2-mile) parade route which snakes its way through downtown Denver to the City and County Building where there is the ticket-only Grandstand seating area. Marching bands are competing to be crowned winner in a number of categories including 'Best Music and Marching Performance' and 'Best Lighting and Overall Performance'.

After more than 100 years in existence, the National Western Stock Show is sure to be a good time for anyone. There are more than 15,000 animals in attendance, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, bison, yak and more. There are different events daily consisting of everything from horse shows to fiddle championships to tractor races. Don’t dare to miss the professional rodeo.

From traditional Indian jewellery and pottery to paintings and sculptures, the annual Colorado Indian Market and Southwest Showcase is the place to find all manner of things relating to Indian culture and heritage. Throughout the three-day event, a number of live music and dance performances take place on the festival's main stage. There are also special attractions such as the wild bird show 'Hawkquest', art and craft demonstrations, Native American and southwest cooking demonstrations and stalls, as well as celebrities from the worlds of music, TV and films. For children, there are balloon artists, face painters, magic shows, cowboy tricks and much more.

Beginning and ending at Coors Field, the annual St Patrick's Day Parade follows a circular route through the heart of Denver. The route is lined with revellers who cheer on the floats, marching bands, pipe bands and dancers as the procession makes its way through the city.

A celebration of Denver's diverse urban community, the Capitol Hill People's Fair is a great weekend of entertainment with events, activities and attractions suitable for all the family. As one of the leading arts and crafts events in the region, visitors have the opportunity to buy all manner of wonderful creations, from homemade cakes and jams to individually designed jewellery or one-off paintings. There's also a full entertainment programme which includes live music, street theatre, children's acts and other attractions.

The March Pow Wow is a unique occasion where American Indian peoples have the opportunity to come together to sing and dance in celebration of the heritage that’s been passed down through their ancestors for years and years. There are more than 700 dancers and musicians involved in the Pow Wow in Denver, who hail from 70 different tribes. The Storytelling Room, samples of Native American food and hundreds of arts and crafts stalls all give visitors opportunities to learn more about the culture and Native American people.

The Cinco de Mayo Festival in Denver is a celebration of Hispanic food and culture. It started out as a local street fair in 1987, but has grown over the years to become the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the USA. The celebrations commemorate the Mexican Army's defeat of the invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Mariachi bands, Mexican cultured arts and crafts, folkloric dancers, Mexican Latino entertainment and a variety of Mexican culinary delights are all a part of the fun.