Ready, Set, Festival

All summer, Telluride and Mountain Village hum to the beat of live music, glow in the flickering lights of film projectors and play host to celebrations of everything from balloons to yoga.

JUNE - JULY

MOUNTAINFILM MAY 26-30

online May 31-June 7

Utterly fascinating and unique, since 1978 Mountainfilm has featured the best films about mountains and mountain culture in the world, widening its scope over the years to include social, cultural and environmental issues. This year’s festival promises a program where descriptors like “mind-blowing”, “life-changing” and “exhilarating” don’t seem like hyperbole.

BALLOON FEST JUNE 3-5

The event draws hot-air balloons and balloonists to the box canyon for a truly unforgettable sight as the colorful orbs are launched mornings from Town Park to float serenely above the valley. On Saturday evening, balloons are fired up on main street for the exquisite Balloon Glow.

WILD WEST FEST JUNE 6-11

The Sheridan Arts Foundation invites underserved youth from the West End and Boys and Girls Clubs around the country to gather, at no cost, in Telluride for an empowering week of mentorship programs and esteem-building activities that celebrate Western arts, culture and custom. To support this special initiative, visit sheridanoperahouse. com/wild-west-fest.

BLUEGRASS JUNE 16-19

The preeminent Americana roots music festival, this summer Bluegrass celebrates its 49th annual event with four

days of music over the traditional Solstice weekend. As well as performances on the iconic Town Park stage, (where the 2022 headliners include Tenacious D, the Sam Bush Band, Tyler Childers, Bela Fleck, Phil Lesh & Friends and the Turnpike Troubadours), the festival weekend also includes workshops, a songwriting/band contest and musical collaborations galore. Expect a very special experience.

YOGA FESTIVAL JUNE 23-26

A four-day yoga and wellness gathering that manages to be both intimate and world class, this inspirational festival offers yoga, meditation, hiking, music, wellness workshops, outdoor adventures and more. The 14th annual event promises an unforgettable weekend of connection and inspiration from its new campus in Mountain Village.

WINE FEST JUNE 23-26

For more than 40 years, oenophiles and foodies have flocked to the box canyon for a celebration of wines and cuisine with reserve and grand tastings, cooking demonstrations and seminars, along with the popular Toast of Telluride and Main Street brunch. Unmissable.

CHAMBER MUSIC JUNE 25-JULY 3

Chamber music comes to Telluride with intimate concerts in unique settings.

PLEIN AIR JUNE 28-JULY 4

For its largest summer fundraiser, the Sheridan Arts Foundation brings renowned artists from around the country to paint the charming architecture of Telluride and surrounding natural beauty. The festival includes a quick-draw competition, artist choice cocktail party and three-day exhibition and sale, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit that owns and operates the historic and wonderful Sheridan Opera House.

RIDE FESTIVAL JULY 6-10

Oh yeah. This celebration of all things rock ‘n’ roll, draws indie acts, emerging musicians and big names to town for a rollicking, memorable experience. This year’s headliners include Arc Angels, Black Pistol Fire, North Mississippi Allstars and more, with five nights of intimate shows in unique venues including the Sheridan Opera House, Transfer Warehouse and O’Bannon’s, as well as the free Ride Lounge in the historic Roma building.

JULY - OCTOBER

Merrick Chase

ART + ARCHITECTURE WEEK JULY 11-17

Celebrate the art and design talent that thrives in our community. The weekend offers the ultimate tour of the region’s varied art and architecture scene, featuring the works of local architects, designers, artists and chefs as they exhibit their best designs, performances and creations.

AMERICANA MUSIC JULY 14-17

American songwriters and acoustic music are in the spotlight at this wondrous festival, which has partnered with eminent singer-songwriter Jack Ingram and his partners, Jennifer Stevens and Kevin Howard. The trio will be curating the music and coordinating VIP experiences with artists throughout the weekend. A highlight is Sunday’s concert, a benefit for the venerable Sheridan Opera House.

JAZZ FESTIVAL AUGUST 12-14

Since 1977, the true American art form has been celebrated in Telluride with the goal of community engagement and student education. The event brings together acclaimed jazz, funk, soul, folk and gospel artists, Grammy winners, legends, up-and-comers and the best student bands in the country for a transformative experience. The Jazz After Dark series and a New Orleans Second Line Parade round out the weekend.

MUSHROOM AUGUST 17-21

Presented by the Telluride Institute, the Telluride Mushroom Festival brings together fungi fanatics, culinary experts, myco-artists and scientists who lecture, provide workshops and forays to attendees over the course of five days. For more than 40 years, the festival has dives into edible, toxic, psychoactive fungi and more. This quirky, thoughtful gathering is much loved by locals and visitors alike. A highlight is its mushroom-themed main street parade and drumming party. Hands down a local favorite.

FILM FEST SEPTEMBER 2-5

A film lover’s fest, the Telluride Film Festival is both esoteric and relevant. The laidback event showcases the best in film with screenings, retrospectives, tributes, Q&As, and get-togethers like the Opening Night Feed and Labor Day Picnic.

BLUES & BREWS SEPTEMBER 16-18

Telluride’s feisty farewell kiss to festival season is this lively event that features a Brewers Showcase, a lineup of world-class blues, funk, indie, rock, jam-band, gospel and soul and other activities, including family-friendly fun and free morning yoga. When the sun goes down, the lights go up in the Juke Joints, cozy late-night club shows. This year’s headliners will delight: Buddy Guy, Government Mule, Ceelo Green as Soul Brotha #100 (a James Brown Tribute), John Hiatt & The Goners, The War and Treaty and Tab Benoit. Wow.

AUTUMN CLASSIC SEPTEMBER 23-25

Formerly Cars and Colors, the Telluride Autumn Classic remains a celebration of automobiles and colorful fall foliage, but now includes excellence in craftsmanship and engineering.

ORIGINAL THINKERS SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 2

At the intersection between story and idea is Original Thinkers. Telluride’s ideas festival, the event gathers us under fall’s glowing aspens for an immersive and intimate experience featuring thought-provoking speakers, film and art that tell stories from all walks of life. Programming encourages engagement, will inspire (but not overwhelm) and provide time to connect with the ideas and stunning landscape. Go.

HORROR SHOW OCTOBER 14-16

It isn’t just that it’s Colorado’s longest-running horror film festival, or that its Instagram feed gives us sweaty palms, or even that MovieMaker named it one of the coolest film festivals. No, what makes this one of our faves is its passionate fans, who descend on our town for a mix of horror, suspense, fantasy and dark comedy. Watching their enthusiasm makes us feel warm and fuzzy, until the theater lights go down and our spines begin to tingle.

Autumn Classic