Colorado Food & DRINK Festivals

April

Taste Of Vail

Wednesday-Saturday, April 5-8, 230 S. Frontage Road West, Vail Wine seminars, a rosé debut event featuring 80 varieties and a Niman Ranch-mountaintop tasting are just a few of the opportunities taking place at this fest in the heart of Vail Valley.

First Sip

Wednesday-Sunday, April 26-30, various locations, Boulder

The team that brings you First Bite is back for its second annual beverage-focused weekend. First Sip offers drink specials, tastings and cocktail classes across Boulder’s exceptional beverage scene. Last year’s event included more than 30 local businesses.

May

Northglenn Food Truck Carnival

Friday-Sunday, May 19-21, E.B. Rains Jr Memorial Park, 11800 Community Center Drive, Denver

The Denver suburb of Northglenn is hosting the sixth annual celebration of America’s rich and growing food truck scene. Not hungry? There’s even some non-food trucks: Got a dog? Take ’em over to the Bone Apatreat! truck. Need a new read? Anythink Bookmobile has shelves of novels and more.

Boulder Creek Festival

Friday-Monday, May 26-29, Boulder Creek Path, 1212 Canyon Blvd., Boulder Get wet, get wild, and indulge in this summer kickoff, complete with a slew of local grub, as well as the Creekside Beer Fest, taking place Saturday and Sunday on-site.

June

Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival

Saturday, June 3, Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs

There’s a good reason the organizers call this the “Colorado” wine festival: Each and every wine featured at this one-day event is made in the state of Colorado. Celebrate local wine, mead and glögg in one of the state’s coolest mountain towns.

Colorado Bbq Challenge At Copper Mountain

Thursday-Saturday, June 15-17, Center Village, 509 Copper Road, Frisco Go-karts, the Rocky Mountain Coaster, a climbing wall, mountain biking, bumper boats, live music, yoga, the Bacon Burner 5K, a Father’s Day brunch, and, of course, mountains of barbecue. What’s not to love?

FOOD & WINE CLASSIC IN ASPEN

Friday-Sunday, June 16-18, Wagner Park, 350 E. Durant Ave., Aspen

Once annually, some of the world’s most accomplished celebrity chefs and winemakers converge at the foot of Aspen Mountain for a breathtaking weekend of passion for all things food and wine. More than 300 vintners will be in attendance.

Strawberry Days Festival

Friday-Sunday, June 16-18, Two Rivers Park, 740 Devereux Road, Glenwood Springs Glenwood Springs’ celebration of the strawberry is entering its 126th year, making it one of the Centennial State’s longest-running festivals.

Vail Craft Beer Classic

Friday-Saturday, June 16-17, Lionshead Village, 521 E. Lionshead Circle, Vail Pair brew with adventure at “Colorado’s highest altitude beer tasting.” A wide variety of craft beers, ciders and seltzers feature in this weekend-long celebration, as well as a chance to meet the brewers.

Highlands Street Fair

Saturday, June 24, Highland Square, W. 32nd Ave., Denver

The creators behind this one-day event like to think of it as a “block party.” For the 40th year, the Highlands community welcomes all for fun in the sun as well as more than 100 vendors.

KEYSTONE BACON & BOURBON FESTIVAL

Saturday-Sunday, June 24-25, River Run Village, 100 Dercum Square, Keystone

Two of life’s greatest pleasures, bacon and bourbon, are front and center in Keystone this summer. And bring your kids: Camp Bacon features pig crafts, a festival scavenger hunt, face painting, the “Cave of Confusion” and more.

JULY

Breckenridge Food And Wine Festival

Friday-Sunday, July 28-30, 505 S. Main St., Breckenridge

In the center of Breckenridge at Station Plaza and The Village, the town “transforms into a mountainside vineyard,” allowing for tastings and showcases by top wineries.

Heritage Fire Snowmass

Saturday, July 29, Snowmass Base Village, 84 Carriage Way, Snowmass Village

Is there any preparation better than food over an open flame? Classic, rich in flavor, and easy — Heritage

Fire in Snowmass celebrates 20 participants, all of whose cuisine you can indulge in, and at the end of it all, “Best Bite of the Day” is crowned.

Colorado Vegfest

Saturday-Sunday, July 29-30, Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus, 1000 Larimer St., Denver

Colorado’s premier festival dedicated to the vegan lifestyle is back, and all are welcome. Whether you’re a lifelong vegan, or just beginning to get curious about veganism, VegFest has what you need: plenty of talks, and plenty of food.

August

Olathe Sweet Corn Festival

Saturday, Aug. 6, Downtown Olathe

Prepare yourself for the 30th annual celebration of sweet corn in downtown Olathe, featuring games, food and family fun. A parade kicks off the day-long event, and from there it’s a whole bunch of sweet, sweet corn.

Palisade Peach Festival

Friday-Saturday, Aug. 18-19, Riverbend Park, 451 Pendleton St., Palisade

Each year, the town of Palisade shares its harvest with all who want to indulge in the famous, fuzzy fruit. For the 55th year, a car show, parade, tons of peach cuisine, barbecue, a peach-eating contest and, of course, the biggest peach competition are part of the weekend slate of events.

Boulder Taco Fest

Saturday, Aug. 26, Boulder Civic Area and Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder Tacos, tequila and craft beer — the holy trinity of a good time. This “fun-for-all-ages” festival features all three, and on top of that, live music and a roster of luchadores.

September A Taste Of Colorado

Friday-Sunday, Sept. 1-3, Civic Center Park, 101 14th Ave., Denver Denver’s “farewell to summer” party, held annually over Labor Day weekend, celebrates the city’s love of food and music before things get cold. Five stages are set up for free concerts around the park, and food vendors line the city’s center.

DENVER FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL

September 2023 (dates TBA)

Awarded chefs, mixologists and numerous professionals bring out their very best for a grand tasting that spotlights our state’s food and beverage scene.

Great American Beer Festival

Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-23, Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver

For the 41st year, the Academy Awards of beer is coming to the Colorado Convention Center. Sweet, sour, light, dark, hoppy, funky, you name it, this massive event has got it.

PUEBLO CHILE & FRIJOLES FESTIVAL

Friday-Sunday, Sept. 22-24, Historic Downtown Pueblo/Union Avenue, Pueblo

Pueblo, Colorado, takes a whole lot of pride in its delicious chiles. Created in the mid-’90s to “promote Pueblo’s rich agriculture,” as well as to encourage local spending, street vendors, cooking competitions and buckets of chilies will be on display.

October Applefest

Friday-Sunday, Oct. 6-8, Town of Cedaredge, 235 W. Main St., Cedaredge

“Life is Sweeter” at the Cedaredge Applefest, and this year, this little Colorado town invites you to get in on the action. Besides the apple vendors, the weekend is full with a golf tournament, a pinup competition, a 5K run, car, tractor and motorcycle competitions, as well as a “five-alarm” chili cookoff.

First Bite

Oct. 20-29, various locations, Boulder Boulder’s landmark local food celebration highlights the very best in our city’s dining. Featuring myriad restaurants in the Boulder scene, everything from “best-kept secrets to fine-dining stars” will showcase what they can do with the season’s best.