.
Festivals & Seasonal Events
In Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
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Related sections: -------
- Argus Human Rights Festival <ArgusFest.org> -
mission statement provided: "The Argus Human Rights Festival (Argusfest) is a multi-day music, arts and film festival formed in 2001 by Jason Bosch in Denver, CO. Its mission is to raise awareness of human rights and celebrate indiviuals and organizations working in related fields. The festival has worked with such artists as the Samples and is partnered with several organizations including Human Rights Watch and Peter Gabriel's "Witness" <Witness.org>"
1685 S. Colorado Blvd., Unit S Box 149 Denver, CO 80222-4040
(720) 314-3785
- Aspen Filmfest <AspenFilm.org> -
Multiple events at various times of the year including a short film festival which started in 1992 and is estimated to draw three thousand people.
110 E. Hallam St., Suite 102, Aspen, Co 81611
(970) 920-5770; also: 925-6882; fax: 970-925-1967
- Aspen Comedy Festival
(See: U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.)
- Aspen Music Festival
est.circa 1949
(970) 925-9042
(970) 925-3254
- Beaver Creek Arts festival <ArtFestival.com> -
featuring national and local artists and live music. Free admission.
location: Beaver Creek resort
normal season: mid-August
founded: 1988
promoter: Howard Alan Events, Ltd.
(970) 845-9090
- Black Arts Festival
(See: Denver Black Arts Festival)
- Boardfest <Pulpmagazine.com/html/boardfest> -
To have a registration form mailed to you send email with your name and address or contact:
Colleen Young (303) 830-7857.
- Boulder Bach Festival <Aescon.com/music/bbf> -
inception: 1982; attendance: approx 500 people per night
location: Boulder usually at CU Grusin Hall and one event in Denver at St. John's Cathedral on Capitol Hill.
Will feature the Saint John Passion. Ida Kavafian will perform solo violin. Boulder Bach Festival (the organization) also produces other concerts throughout the calendar year.
Contact: Boulder Bach Festival, P.O. Box 1896 , Boulder, CO 80306
(303) 494-3159
- tel. survey 98Mr20Fr Cheryl Staats, exec. dir.
- Boulder Creek Festival <http://bcn.boulder.co.us/bcf> -
(Web site is sub-site on Bpulder Community Network)
location: Boulder Creek Path from 9th to 14th between Arapahoe and Canyon
inception: 1984; attendance: 130,000
Free admittance to 25 fun filled, family-oriented events and activities including creek and community clean up, fishing derby, amusement rides, gourmet restaurants, five stages of free entertainment and demonstrations, art show, outdoor Boulder sports expo, EarthKeeping, etc. Nearly $200,000 has been raised for over 50 nonprofit organizations throughout Boulder County during the past 6 years.
contact: Boulder Creek Festival Office, 1634 Walnut St, Suite 101, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 449-3825 (449-DUCK); fax: 449-2437
- tel survey 98Mr20Fr Aneka, assist. dir. Bio paraphrased from web site and from tel survey edit by Aneka.
- Boulder Folk and Bluegrass Festival -
(303) 443-5858
- Boulder Gay & Lesbian Film Festival <BoulderFilms.org> - annual in September since 1998
2118 14th Street, Boulder, CO, USA 80302-4808
(303) 494-1518
- Boulder International Fringe Festival <BoulderFringe.com> -
mission excerpts: "an annual 12-day festival of live performances including theatre, music, film, storytelling, digital media, spoken word, dance, circus arts and visual arts....... in conjunction with the worldwide fringe festival network.....Festival runs mid-late August"
(720) 563-9950
- ref. email 20060111 Alana Eve Burman
- BuskerFest <DenverFestivals.com/busker> -
On 16th Street Mall (Curtis to Larimer St.) Denver
sponsors: US West; Downtown Denver Partnership; producer: Performance International
est attendance: 150,000; est. 1993
The "US West Buskerfest" offers free entertainment in the form of mimes, clowns, stiltwalkers, jugglers, acrobats, puppeteers, and downright zany performance artists.
contact: Downtown Denver Partnership
(303) 571-8223
- Capitol Hill People's Fair <PeoplesFair.com> -

'Stretch' Bill Coleman
does the People's Fair
(See his site) |
Usually in Civic Center Park, Denver
inception: 1972
attendance: 300,000
The Peoples' Fair started as a neighborhood festival and has become a major urban rite of Spring. Tom Knorr reports they host about 130 bands on five stages. Festival revenues are used to fund the Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN) grant program. In 1996 the program gave away over $42,000 to nonprofit organizations on Capitol Hill and in the Denver area. They report that 83% of their trash goes into a recycling program. At the hands-on level the festival is run mainly by volunteers. It should be noted that CHUN is possibly the most active political force in the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill and that some of its principals have been it's largest and wealthiest liquor mass merchants there for decades.
contact: CHUN, 1490 Lafayette St., suite 401, (4th floor),
Denver, CO 80218
office: (303) 830-1651; festival hotline 517-3247
- tel.survey: Tom Knorr, exec. dir of fair & CHUN 97My10Sa. |
- Celebrate Colorado Artists Festival <CelebrateColoradoArtists.com> - annual art marketplace est. 1999
(303) 480-0457
- Chautauqua Summer Festival <Chatauqua.com> -
inception: 1898 1898 -1930s reborne 1981, 97th is 99th year for auditorium
attendance: 50,000 per year
Features a wide variety of musical events ranging from Colorado Music Festival to a nine week silent film series with live music, in the historic wooden auditorium built in 1898. Chautauqua auditorium was judged to be one of the ten best acoustic music venues in the United States by Performance Magazine, circa 93.
contact: Chautauqua Assn, 900 Baseline Rd., Boulder, CO 80302
tix: (303) 440-7666; Chautauqua Assn: 442-3282; fax 449-0790
- tel.survey: Leslie, exec dir. -97My12Mo
Footnote for another section: Chautauqua Assn. is a year round education cultural & arts nonprofit organization with 100 historic homes available for rent and a turn of the century dining hall open in summer. The Association offers classes, small lectures and community discussions on social topics.
- Cherry Creek Arts Festival <CherryCreekArtsFest.org> -
also at: <CherryArts.org>
location: Cherry Creek North business district in Denver
attendance: 300,000 - 350,000
inception: 1991
admission: free
The Cherry Creek Arts Fest is mainly a visual arts event but also features live national and local music and dance performances.
address: P.O. Box 6265, Denver, CO 80206
office: 2 Steele St., Suite B100, Denver, CO 80206
(303) 355-ARTS (355-2787); fax: 355-2788
- tel.survey: M. Storey, gen. mgr. 97Je12Th; updated tel. survey, Laurie Cowan 99My13Th
- Cinco de Mayo <NEWSED.org> - The Cinco de Mayo festival is Denver's most popular Latin American event, celebrating Mexican Independence Day and Mexican American pride. It began in 1988.
location: Civic Center Park, Denver
Sponsored by NEWSED Community Development Corp. and Santa Fe Drive Redevelopment Corp.
NEWSED Community Development Corp.,
1029 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80204
(303) 534-8342
- City Park Festival of the Arts <CityParkFestival.org> - "showcasing artists within our neighborhood" at the Pavilion (annual since year 2001). Produced by City Park West Neighborhood Association.
2145 York St., Denver, CO 80205
(303) 333-6063
- Colorado Dance Festival -
(mainly at: Dance wing of the University Theater Building at CU
inception: 1983
attendance: typically over 1,000
"Performances, classes & lectures demonstrating popular dance traditions from African, Latin American & Carribean as well as the legacy of modern and postmodern dance." CDF is a nonprofit org.
contact: CDF, POB 356, Boulder, 80306
442-7666; fax: 449-7732
- tel.survey: Deanna at CDF 97My11Mo
footnote: Extensive administrative data on CDF (and many other local and national nonprofits can be found on GuideStar <Guidestar.org> "a Database of over 40,000 American Nonprofit Organizations"
- Colorado Festival of World Theatre <CFWT.org> - annually in September at "various location in Colorado Springs", founded in 2003
(303) 475-1737
- ref. email Coleen Ubbing, 2007Je20We
- Colorado Medieval Festival <ColoradoCastle.com> - (details later)
Fort Collins, CO
- Colorado Music Festival <ColoradoMusicFest.org> -
web site excerpts: "Founded in 1976, the Colorado Music Festival presents a summer season of classical music concerts performed by professional musicians from around the world at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium...."
900 Baseline Road, Cottage 100 (at Chautauqua),
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Click for Map
(303) 449-1397
- ref. email Holly Hickman 2004Fe17Tu
- Colorado Renaissance Festival <ColoradoRenaissance.com> -
(official web site)
- Colorado Renaissance Festival <ColoradoRenaissance.com> - a weekend festival occuring for eight weeks each summer.
In Larkspur; inception: 1977
Contact: Colorado Renaissance Festival, 409 South Wilcox,
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
(303) 688-6010
- Colorado Shakespeare Festival <ColoradoShakes.org> -
web site excerpts: "The CSF draws over 40,000 audience members each season, 10% of whom come from outside the state of Colorado, with many performances sold out. The annual budget for the CSF is over $1,000,000, 78% of which is earned through box office receipts and other sales revenues. The remainder of the budget is subsidized by corporate partnerships, foundations, university and government grants as well as individual contributions. CSF also offers several other programs to accompany the Festival, such as Shakespeare in Production, a sequence of courses that deals with all aspects of producing Shakespeares plays, greenshow activities including free music and dance performances, a free Sunday night lecture series, school outreach programs." (founded 1958)
CSF Box Office, 277 UCB, Boulder CO 80309-0277
(303) 492-0554
- Colorado Women Playwrights Festival <http://members.tripod.com/womenfestival> -
- Comedy GayLa
(303) 830-8497
- unk. source 97Ja23
- CultureFest
(aka: Norwest CultureFest)
inception: ???
On DU lawn at S. University Blvd and E. Iliff in Denver
This fest reportedly features over 50 performers from dozens of ethnic groups and cultures. Sponsored by Norwest and The Humanities Institute at DU
(303) 871-4626
- Denver Black Arts Festival -
location: Denver City Park
inception: 1987
progenitor: Perry Ayers
office: 2801 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO
mail address: P.O. Box 300-577, Denver, CO 80203
(303) 331-1795; fax: 331-9774
- Denver Blues Festival <DenverFestivals.com> -
location: ???
co-produced by Performance International and Maven.
- Denver International Film Festival <DenverFilm.org> -
Denver Film Society
web site excerpts: "The Denver Film Society is a nonprofit cultural arts institution which presents year-round film related events including the award-winning Denver International Film Festival annually in October, the Denver Jewish Film Festival in August, the KidsFilmFest in the summer and other special events for its supporting membership and the general public."
1430 Larimer Square, Suite 201, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 595-film (595-3456); fax: 595-0956
- Denver Jazz on Film Festival <JazzFilmFestival.org> -
location: Cameron Church on South Pearl St. at Iowa Ave. in Denver
inception: 97
directoror: Thomas Goldsmith, "jazz fan & film buff"
activities: films exhibited and live jazz performances
major sponsors: Gift of Jazz; Colo. Endowment for the Humanities; KUVO
2 Acoma St., unit 10, Denver, CO 80223
(303) (303).871.1950
- tel.survey 97My23Fr Jerry Fredericks at Gift of Jazz. and TomGoldsmith 2kMy04
- Denver Powwow
inception: 1975; attendance: 55,000
Admission is only $5 per day or $10 for all three days.
At Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St. (at I-25)
Features over 1,500 native American dancers and singers, 69 drum groups, storytelling, 72 tribes from 33 states and five Canadian provinces, 160 booths selling arts and crafts. Powwow was created by the Plains Indians. Many of the dances recreate brave deeds of warriors.
(303) 377-3724
- info from RM News 98Mr12Th, pg 50A
- Denver Rock n' Rhythm-Billy Weekend <BigK.com> -
(aka: "The Weekender")
excerpts: "The weekend will include top bands, DJs, a vintage fashion show, on-site barbers, record stalls, and tattoo artists, a dance contest, a vintage car display, even a talent show!"
inception: 1996
For Information or to Order your tickets contact:
Contact: Big K Productions, LLC, 3339 W. Moncrieff Pl., Denver, CO 80221 USA
ph. (303) 455-8408; fax (303) 458-1672
(See also: Big K Productions in the Promoter section.)
- info source: Kurt Ohlen phone survey & web site 97My02Fr; preliminary info from Rex Moser 97Ap28Mo
- Denver Underground Film Festival <Angelfire.com/co/cineduff> -
A yearly showcase for film and video makers from Colorado and beyond. Now accepting entries in VHS and 16mm film.
mail: 1365 Corona St., #12, Denver CO 80218
(303) 392-0808
ref: e-mail from Eduardo Mendez, Director 98Mr09Mo
- Denver 'Zine Fest <DenverZineFest.com> -
Steven Prothero, PO Box 1905, Boulder, Colorado 80306
- Dreamtime Festival <DreamTheFuture.org> - dedicated to "ecologically balanced living..... Dreamtime events include live music, dancing, learning, creative expression, fire performances, theatre, multimedia, fashion shows, DJ's, movement classes, art installations, educational workshops, and more." (annual, held in August)
festival location: The North Fork Valley, near Paonia
mail: Dreamtime, 3820 O35DR, Hotchkiss, CO 81419
- ref. email: Eli Wolcott, 2003 July 20.
- Durango Film Festival <DurangoFilmFestival.com> - (See Film section or visit thier web site for details.)
- Durango Independent Film Festival <DurangoFilm.org> - (See Film section or visit thier web site for details.)
- Festival of Mountain and Plain
(No data available)
- Genuine Jazz in July <GenuineJazz.com> -
location: Breckenridge
web site excerpts: "This unique festival combines nighttime jam sessions with daytime
concerts on a floating stage at the base of the picturesque Rocky
Mountains. This weekend festival, known for its laid-back atmosphere,
showcases groups with styles ranging from New Age and fusion to
mainstream, and delights"
- initial info from Mike Orlowski e-mail 99Je18Fr
- Gospel Grass Festival <GospelGrass.com> - an annual gospel bluegrass festival in Elizabeth, Colorado (15 miles east of Castle Rock) usu. in July. (established year 2000). Many bands.
P.O. Box 215, Louviers, CO 80131-0215
(303) 471-6282
- ref. email Suzie Solomon 2002 June 03 Mo,
- Greek Festival <AssumptionCathedral.org/festival> - The Greek Festival has featured some interesting near eastern entertainment, lots of Greek food, a few small carnival rides for the kiddies and a raffle for a round trip Grecian vacation. The annual festival is reportedly a benefit for the Hellenic Community Center of Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Sponsored by the Cathedral itself with help from Greek business community, inception: 1966
Assumption Cathedral, 4610 E. Alameda Ave., Denver, CO 80222-1301
(303) 388-9314 (gen. info.)
- tel.survey: Tom Harris 97My28We; preliminary info from Dometrias, 97 c. Ap.
- Jazz Aspen at Snowmass <JazzAspen.com> -
(Details on promoters, history and event itself will be requested soon)
- Jazz on Film Festival <JazzFilmFestival.org> -
est. 1997, This festival of hepness, bebop, big bands and jive has been cited by the Denver daily papers as a world class event featuring rare and magnificient jazz films. It was declared a "major festival" by the National Endowment for the Humanities for "creat[ing] a greater awareness of the lasting influences of jazz and its historical foundation in contemporary music." Leading sponsors have been local public funding agencies including SCFD.
festival location: Cameron Church on South Pearl St. at Iowa Ave., Denver
office address: Denver Jazz on Film Festival, Inc., 2 Acoma St., unit 10, Denver, CO 80223
(303) 871.1950
- info per Tom Goldsmith, director by e-mail 2kMay04Th and web site (contents paraphrased here)
- Juneteenth Celebration
on Welton Street at 26th Ave in Five Points District
inception: 1967*
attendance: 80,000
Juneteenth features live entertainment including jazz, blues, dance, rap and gospel. There are fair booths, a parade down Welton Street and pageants. Juneteenth celebrates the Texas version of Abe Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. Slaves in Texas were kept uninformed of the historic liberation until 1865 when General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston to enforce the law declaring all Black people to be free.
contact: Juneteenth, c/o Five Points Business Assn., 2444 Washington St., Suite 300, Denver, CO 80105
(303) 832-3770 (Five Point Business Assn.); fax: 832-0922
- tel. survey, Marva Coleman at FPBA and callback survey, Isaac (ent.cmte.) 97Je12Th
- Kinetic Sculpture Challenge
attendance 20,000
location: Boulder Reservoir
inception: 1980
Kinetics is an annual rite of Spring where contestants enter and race in absurd eclectic homemade mechanical floating devices. At least a couple national bands are featured. The event is modeled after a similar event which previously existed in California. KBCO reports they own and operate the event.
contact: Kinetics, c/o KBCO, 2500 Pearl St., Suite 315,
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 415-9447; 444-KBCO (444-5226) (info hotline)
Kinetics info available from KBCO web site:
- KMGH TV 7
7 Performing Arts Festival <TheDenverChannel.com> -
"The Festival ....... showcases professional artists from around the state of Colorado. Interest is in site specific performances and/or participatory activities. All performers are paid. The festival is produced by the Foundation for the Denver Performing Arts Complex in cooperation with the City of Denver. For an application contact 7 Performing Arts Festival, c/o Mayor's Office of Art, Culture and Film, 280 14th St., Denver, CO 80202."
- above info from CCA:
- Lodo Music Festival <Denverfestivals.com> -
Lodo Music Festival is produced by Performance International.
mail: P.O. Box 6304, Denver, CO 80206
(303) 888-LODO (888-5636)
- Loveland Sculpture Invitational <LovelandSculptureGroup.org> - held annually in August, "the largest outdoor sculpture show in America, hundreds of artists. "Proceeds from the Invitational are used to purchase and present sculpture to the City of Loveland for public art display..... and are also used to support art education in Loveland area schools. Sponsored by Loveland Sculpture Group, a non-profit corporation.
Loveland Sculpture Group, P.O. Box 7675, Loveland, CO 80537-0675
(970) 663-7467
- Luminarias de Santa Fe <NEWSED.org> -
Sponsored by NEWSED Community Development Corp
web site excerpts: "Luminarias de Santa Fe.....markets Old Town Santa Fe, now becoming the premiere Latino arts district in Denver. Luminarias (Decorative Candle Lights in paper bags) de Santa Fe create a festive holiday atmosphere for visitors and residents to stroll along Santa Fe Drive. Trees are lit. Visitors enjoy some traditional Mexican music, browse in shops, galleries, and studios, do some holiday gift shopping, and dine in one of Santa Fe Drives authentic Mexican restaurants. There is always a free bilingual puppet show followed by the traditional Las Posadas (a traditional Mexican holiday procession). Both evenings, enjoy all the holiday sights, sounds, and tastes."
NEWSED Community Development Corp.,
1029 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80204
(303) 534-8342
- Performance International <Denverfestivals.com> -
Produces some of Denver's leading festivals.
(See Promoter section for details.)
- The Performing Arts Festival -
This one has been billed as "the state's largest free performing arts festival."
(303) 640-2758 (festival hotline)
(303) 640-2629 (TDD)
- Pow Wow
- Pridefest <ColoradoGLBT.org> -
This annual festival is Colorado's leading Gay Pride day event. The parade always begins on a Sunday morning in JuneParade starts at Cheesman Park (10am) followed by a rally & festival at Civic Center Park (noon til late afternoon). Pridefest is the largest gay event in the Rocky Mountain region. It includes a lot of entertainment from bands to stage drag and informal floats in the long slow parade from Cheeseman to Civic Center Park. More details are available on the GLBCSCC web site.
1050 Broadway, Denver, CO 802xx
(303) 733-7743
- Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival <Bluegrass.com> -
aka: "RockyGrass Festival"
Contact: Planet Bluegrass, Box 769, Lyons, CO 80540
Office: 500 W. Main St., Lyons, CO 80540
(303) 449-6007 and (800) 624-2422
- Rocky Mountain Folks Festival <Bluegrass.com> -
Contact: Planet Bluegrass, Box 769, Lyons, CO 80540
Office: 500 W. Main St., Lyons, CO 80540
(303) 449-6007 and (800) 624-2422
- Rocky Mountain Ragtime Festival
(303) 499-9918
- Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival <SantaFeChamberMusic.org> -
PO Box 2227, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2227
239 Johnson Street, STE B, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 983-2075
- Sculpture in the Park <SculptureInThePark.org> - annual event in August, "bronze, stone, metal, wood, glass, modern, traditional and abstract" sculpture
location: Benson Sculpture Garden, 29th & Aspen Dr., Loveland, CO
(970) 663-2940
(since 1983)
- Sparrows Poetry Festival <SparrowsPoetry.com> - annual
Sparrows, P.O. Box 231, Salida, Colorado 81201
(719) 539-2068 (Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce)
- ref: email Lynda La Rocca 2006Fe06.
- Sugar Beet Days <SugarBeetDays.com> - annual fair each September featuring over 200 craft vendors, and two days of entertainment in Sterling.
info: P.O. Box 605, Sterling, CO 80751
- ref: email Cyndi Vandenbark 2003Se11Th.
- Sundance Film Festival (Utah) <Sundancefilm.com> -
See also: Sundance Channel <SundanceChannel.com> -
Official web site of the film festival and its cable TV channel.
- Telluride Bluegrass Festival <Bluegrass.com> -
Contact: Planet Bluegrass, Box 769, Lyons, CO 80540
Office: 500 W. Main St., Lyons, CO 80540
(303) 449-6007 and (800) 624-2422
- Telluride Film Festival <TellurideFilmFestival.com> -
Inception: circa 1973
Contact: Telluride Film Festival,
379 State Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
603 422-9202
- ref. e-mail 2kOct19 Jeanne Gottschalk
- Telluride Jazz Celebration
location: Telluride
(970) 728-7009
- Telluride Jazz Festival
(Don't know if this long time event has been renamed Telluride Jazz Celebration (above). Have no details yet.)
- Treble Fest
(No data available)
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Introduction - Festivals
Leading festivals may be listed at discretion of editor. Please supply domain web address (preferred), local and toll-free phone numbers, year festival was founded, the usual annual date (eg "usually mid-August"), the usual specific location and the latest attendance figures plus any other statistics in brief. Due to workload, Colorado Arts Net is no longer posting a calendar showing the dates of these events. Please contact festival organizers for schedules. Some of the major web sites linked in the Colorado Arts Net Media section (such as Westword) also provide exhaustive event listings.
- The Festivals directory section was started Oct. 17, 1996.