End summer with a bang: 50+ Denver’s best family events in August and September

CAN’T-MISS EVENTS

FRIDAY NIGHT BAZAAR  

WHEN: Thru Aug. 27, 2021; Fridays
WHERE: Friday Night BAZAAR
Enjoy an evening of shopping, sipping and mingling in the RiNo Art District! The Friday Night BAZAAR features more than 40 local vendors, food trucks, craft beer and cocktails and live music. Entry is free and everyone is welcome! 

DENVER DAY OF ROCK   

WHEN: Aug. 28, 2021
WHERE: 16th Street Mall
This free event features five stages of live music along the 16th Street Mall. Denver Day of Rock unites the community through music and family-friendly entertainment while also raising funds to help Amp the Cause, which supports local non-profits.

SMASH FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 

WHEN: Aug. 28–29, 2021
WHERE: Cherry Creek North – Fillmore Plaza
This outdoor fine arts festival features top-shelf artists (painting, photography, mixed media, wood, metal, jewelry) plus fine catering and live violin and piano music. 

FIREFLY HANDMADE SUMMER MARKET 

WHEN: Aug. 28–29, 2021
WHERE: Washington Park
Firefly Handmade Summer Market is Colorado’s premier artisan market featuring local, high-caliber, handmade and ethically sourced products. Grab a drink from one of the outdoor bars and discover unique handmade home goods, jewelry and accessories, adult and children’s fashion, skincare, ceramics, art, artisanal food, paper goods, pet products and so much more.

COLORADO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL CENTENNIAL 

WHEN: Aug. 28–29, 2021
WHERE: Centennial Center Park, Centennial
Enjoy live music, contemporary art displays, a classic car show, a custom motorcycle show and fun attractions at the Colorado Music & Arts Festival Centennial. Hungry? visit the Food Garden, which offers delicious cuisine and cold domestic and craft beers.

AFFORDABLE ARTS FESTIVAL 

WHEN: Aug. 29, 2021
WHERE: Arapahoe Community College, Littleton
Now one of the top 25 art shows in the nation, the Affordable Arts Festival is considered the ‘Black Friday’ of art festivals! Find valuable art from more than 160 artists priced at $100 or less for this one day only. Proceeds from the $12 entrance fee go to fund scholarships for students at Arapahoe Community College.

BELGIAN BREW FEST 

WHEN: Sept. 4, 2021
WHERE: Bruz Beers
With four food trucks, two bands and more than 10 local breweries, you won’t want to miss this celebration of Belgian brewing. Bruz Beers only invites a select few breweries that best represent true Belgian-style beers, including Thirsty Monk Brewery, Woods Boss Brewing Company  and more. 

TRUCKS & TUNES OUTLAW WEEKEND 

WHEN: Sept. 3–6, 2021
WHERE: Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain
Arrive for the weekend in your truck and challenge your friends — or the clock — to all-day, 1/8-mile drag strip runs. Enter the burnout corral to burn some asphalt, make a smoke show and let your horses run. Show whose drive train is boss and compete in the Truck Tug-o-War. Whether you’re rockin’ a late-model, super stock, or old-school ride, make sure to enter the Outlaw Weekend Truck Show for all to enjoy. After each day of track play, back into the tailgate viewing area to enjoy nightly concerts from the bed of your truck. The lineup includes shows by Rodney Atkins, Adam Calhoun, Dylan Scott, Caylee Hammock, Nappy Roots, Justin Champagne and more!

SUMMERFEST 2021 

WHEN: Sept. 4–5, 2021
WHERE: Buchanan Recreational Park, Evergreen
Summerfest, now in its 41st year, features a fabulous selection of gallery-quality fine art and fine crafts chosen by a jury process. Live music, a children’s craft area, fresh food and a micro-brew beer festival round out a spectacular entertainment experience in the pristine foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

CHERRY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL 

WHEN: Sept. 4–6, 2021
WHERE: Cherry Creek North
The 30th anniversary Cherry Creek Arts Festival will transform the streets of Cherry Creek North into an innovative outdoor fine art show. Enjoy free parking and admission to see 265 national juried artists selling incredible original artworks. And don’t miss a full block of family-friendly activities on “ARTivity Avenue,” live music and more. 

A TASTE OF COLORADO 

WHEN: Sept. 4–6, 2021
WHERE: Downtown Denver
This year’s A Taste of Colorado event will take place throughout the streets of Downtown Denver over Labor Day weekend to celebrate our city and diverse food, music and culture.

COLORADO SPRINGS LABOR DAY LIFT OFF 2021 

WHEN: Sept. 4–6, 2021
WHERE: Memorial Park, Colorado Springs
It’s the most colorful (and free) weekend of the year! You won’t want to miss the early morning hot air balloon launches that fill the city skyline and the Saturday evening balloon glows. 

BUSKERFEST 

WHEN: Sept. 10–12, 2021
WHERE: Denver Union Station
For one weekend, Wynkoop Plaza in front of Denver’s historic Union Station is transformed into a public theater and art space where you’ll be amazed by comedy, circus and music shows from a curated cast of world-touring street performers. Watch larger-than-life puppets, stilt walkers and living statues parade through the fountains under the incredible facade of Union Station. There is no fee for entry and everyone is welcome, but the artists do rely on donations from the audience to support their work and travels. 

COLORADO FESTIVAL OF HORROR 

WHEN: Sept. 10–12, 2021
WHERE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Central Park
The Colorado Festival of Horror is an intimate fan experience and convention for all things horror, featuring celebrity guests, artists, writers, vendors, performers and more. 

FALL MARKET WITH THE DOWNTOWN BOULDER FALL FEST 

WHEN: Sept. 10–12, 2021
WHERE: Pearl Street Mall, Boulder
Firefly Handmade is beyond excited to once again join this cherished Boulder tradition! Browse goods from more than 100 fabulous Firefly Handmade artisans, enjoy live music and sip drinks at the beer/wine/margarita garden. Admission is free.

LONGS PEAK SCOTTISH-IRISH HIGHLAND FESTIVAL 

WHEN: Sept. 10–12, 2021
WHERE: Estes Park Events Center, Estes Park
Celebrate at one of the largest Celtic festivals in the nation. Entertainment includes bagpipe bands, Irish dancing, folk music, merchant tents and professional Scottish athletes competing in stone-put, hammer toss and caber toss.

OFF-GRID EXPO 

WHEN: Sept. 10–12, 2021
WHERE: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center, Aurora
The Off-Grid Expo is a three-day, family-friendly and pet-friendly event bringing the best and most innovative products in the outdoor, off-grid and adventure industries together. 

DENVER BEER WEEK 

WHEN: Sept. 10–18, 2021
WHERE: Throughout Denver
Enjoy nine days of all things beer during Denver Beer Week, with tons of beer-related events. Head to The Mile High City for tap takeovers, rare beer tappings, firkin nights, meet-the-brewer events, beer and food pairings and much, much more.

TGTHR UNDER THE STARS 

WHEN: Sept. 11, 2021
WHERE: Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder
TGTHR Under the Stars will feature a program highlighting young people at TGTHR, casino games, dancing, Hazel Miller Band, games, silent and live auctions and more to benefit young people facing homelessness.

1840 RENDEZVOUS & SPANISH COLONIAL ART MARKET 

WHEN: Sept. 11–12, 2021
WHERE: The Fort Restaurant, Morrison
Return to the past at the 1840 Rendezvous & Spanish Colonial Art Market! Spend a day in the early West, with engaging and immersive fun for the whole family. Highly trained historic interpreters will show guests day-to-day skills from the 1840s, such as horse and mule packing; fire-starting; beadwork; sign language; blacksmithing; moccasin-making; arrow-making; wool processing and more. Authentic Spanish Colonial artists demonstrate and sell their creations, including retablos, santos, jewelry, wheat applique, metalwork, weaving and furniture. Additional activities include demonstrations with birds of prey, including the bald eagle, provided by Hawkquest; storytelling, live music and other performances.

SECOND SATURDAYS IN DOWNTOWN LITTLETON  

WHEN: Thru Oct. 9, 2021; Second Saturday of the month
WHERE: Historic Downtown Littleton
Join the Littleton community every second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and stroll streets lined with artisan vendors, food stalls and more.

​CMC PRESENTS: BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR  

WHEN: Thru Oct. 24, 2021
WHERE: Virtual/Online
Get stoked for the 2021 presentation of the most outrageous, adventure-packed films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Follow along as some of the world’s best adventurers and filmmakers hike tough trails, paddle wild waters and ski steep slopes. 

MUSIC, MOVIES & PERFORMING ARTS

RED ROCKS PARK & AMPHITHEATRE CONCERTS 

End the summer with a show (or two!) at the awe-inspiring Red Rocks Amphitheatre, just 15 miles from downtown Denver. More than 70 million years in the making, the 9,450-seat venue is flanked by enormous 300-foot red sandstone rock formations and always boasts a star-studded musical schedule.

• Aug. 26–27, 2021: Louis the Child with What So Not, Elderbrook and Goth Babe
• Aug. 28, 2021: Atmosphere & Cypress Hill with special guest Z-Trip
• Aug. 29–30, 2021: The Black Crowes
• Sept. 1, 2021: Wiz Khalifa x Method Man & Redman x Busta Rhymes
• Sept. 2–3, 2021: Rezz
• Sept. 4, 2021: Said the Sky
• Sept. 5, 2021: Jonas Brothers with Kelsea Ballerini
• Sept. 6, 2021: GRiZ
• Sept. 7, 2021: Jimmy Buffet and The Coral Reefer Band
• Sept. 8, 2021: Bert Kreischer: ReTox at Red Rocks
• Sept. 9, 2021: Jimmy Buffet and The Coral Reefer Band
• Sept. 10, 2021: NEEDTOBREATHE with Switchfoot & The New Respects
• Sept. 11–12, 2021: Brandi Carlile with the Colorado Symphony with Tanya Tucker

PHISH 

WHEN: Sept. 3–5, 2021
WHERE: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Jam band darlings Phish return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for their annual three-day Labor Day weekend concert. 

FIDDLER’S GREEN AMPHITHEATRE CONCERTS

Grab a blanket and take a seat on the lawn or buy a reserved seat at this beautiful venue just south of Denver in Greenwood Village.

• Sept. 4, 2021: Summer Jam – DaBaby with Jack Harlow, Saweetie, Prof, Kiana Ledé, 2KBABY, Clever, Pressa, AP ft DJ Squizzy
• Sept. 12, 2021: Big Gig – Cage the Elephant with Rise Against, grandson, Half Alive, iDKHOW

MILE HIGH MUSIC SERIES AT MILE HIGH STATION

Mile High Station is bringing The Mile High City their Mile High Music Series yet again. Enjoy live outdoor music performances, drink specials, food from  Scratch Catering’s mobile kitchen and an unforgettable night under the lights. Reservations required! $5 of every ticket sold goes directly to a non-profit partner of the week.

• Aug. 27, 2021: Chris Daniels & the Kings
• Sept. 2, 2021: David Tamkin & Co
• Sept. 9, 2021: TBA 

LEVITT PAVILION CONCERTS

The Levitt Pavilion is a state-of-the-art amphitheater in Ruby Hill Park that was created as a gift to the community. This outdoor venue hosts a slew of free concerts every summer, and a few ticketed events, too. Bring a blanket and a picnic, kick back on the lawn and enjoy artists from a wide range of genres.

• Aug. 28, 2021: Metalachi (FREE)
• Aug. 29, 2021: Sammy Rae & The Friends (with The Burroughs) (FREE)
• Aug. 31, 2021: Coheed and Cambria & The Used 2021 (with Meet Me @ The Altar) (TICKETED)
• Sept. 8, 2021: Pink Martini Featuring China Forbes (TICKETED)

ARVADA CENTER OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER & FRONT PORCH CONCERTS

The Arvada Center’s outdoor amphitheater offers exceptional acoustics in an intimate setting perfect for enjoying live music featuring national and local artists. The amphitheater features a weather-friendly covered seating area with close-up views of the stage and delicious concessions including burgers, sandwiches, beer and wine. And on Wednesday evenings from July to September, the Front Porch Series presents local solo and duet musical acts, food and brews in a shady, beer-garden setting on the front plaza. 

• Aug. 28, 2021: An Evening Under the Stars with the Colorado Ballet
• Sept. 1, 2021: Colin Hay
• Sept. 1, 2021: Nelson Rangell (Front Porch Series)
• Sept. 8, 2021: Dream Ensemble (Front Porch Series)

SUMMER NIGHTS OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES AT IRONTON DISTILLERY  

Join Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse for an outdoor summer movie series in their new backyard space. This year, it’s a Sandler Summer, screening Adam Sandler’s greatest hits all summer long! Enjoy themed cocktails and nibbles at each show. Seating begins at 7:30 pm, movies will begin at dusk. A portion of the ticket sales goes to Big City Mountaineers, a local organization dedicated to improving the lives of under-resourced kids by getting them outdoors on wilderness expeditions. Advanced tickets are required.

• Sept. 8, 2021: Big Daddy
• Sept. 22, 2021: The Waterboy

AVANTI PRESENTS: SUMMER MOVIE SERIES  

Join the film buffs at Avanti F and B every Thursday during the summer! Watch the movie from the patio and stadium seats, or bring your own lawn chair and enjoy from the park. The first 20 people to bring their own lawn chair get a free beer from New Belgium Brewing Company! Movies start at 9 p.m., but come early for movie-themed drink specials, trivia, music and more.

• Aug. 26, 2021: The Big Lebowski

MONDAY MOVIE MADNESS AT INFINITY PARK

Enjoy free flicks in Glendale this summer during Monday Movie Madness atInfinity Park  . As has become tradition, viewers have voted on and chosen the movies that will be shown this year, and it’s a mix of recent box office hits combined with several classic favorites. Best of all, it’s free! Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; movie starts at 7:30 p.m. 

• Aug. 30, 2021: The Croods – A New Age
• Sept. 13, 2021: Disney Pixar’s Soul

BACKCOUNTRY OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES IN LITTLETON

Movies are best watched from a camp chair or picnic blanket under the night sky! The Backcountry Outdoor Movie Series brings cinema favorites onto the giant screen in the Backcountry Base Camp’s dark, open-air theater in Littleton. Grab dinner from the food truck and bring your favorite movie snacks! Only 45 car tickets are available each evening. Tickets are $25 for general admission shows and $30 for 21+ shows (food truck dinner and two Living the Dream Brewing Co. beers) and all proceeds benefit the Backcountry Conservation and Education Fund. Gates open at 7:15 p.m. in June and July and 6:45 p.m. in August and September.

• Aug. 27, 2021: Small Foot
• Aug. 28, 2021: E.T. 
• Sept. 3, 2021: Moana
• Sept. 4, 2021: The Goonies

DISTORTIONS MONSTER WORLD  

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2021
WHERE: Denver Pavilions
Ready to get up close and personal with the things that go bump in the night? Come to Distortions Monster World (if you dare), where surprises will greet you around every corner on an out-of-this-world interactive adventure. This series of cinematic environments featuring immersive installations and infamous creatures and characters will truly transport you to another place!

‘UNTIL THE FLOOD’ 

WHEN: Thru July 12, 2023
WHERE: Virtual/Online
After the death of Michael Brown, The Ferguson Unrest shook the nation to its core and put a spotlight on police brutality and discrimination. Using extensive interviews she conducted herself, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award winner Dael Orlandersmith created eight fictional characters to represent the broad spectrum of perspectives that continue to define and divide our country at large.

URBAN ADVENTURE

STREET ART

Denver street artists have been busy brightening (and enlightening) the urban landscape for decades by making canvases of the city’s alleyways, building exteriors, warehouses, garage doors and storefronts. Grab your camera and take a stroll past some of the city’s favorite murals. 

OUTDOOR AND PATIO DINING

There’s no better way to soak up summer than on one of The Mile High City’s splendid patios. From skyward rooftop terraces to lushly landscaped gardens, these are the ultimate spots to eat and drink alfresco in Denver.

DENVER BEER TRAIL

Denver is a mecca for craft beer. But with 100 brewpubs, breweries and tap rooms in the metro area, where do you begin? Let the Denver Beer Trail be your guide with this sampling and interactive map.

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

DENVER BRONCOS V. LOS ANGELES RAMS  

WHEN: Aug. 28, 2021
WHERE: Empower Field at Mile High
The Denver Broncos take on the LA Rams at Empower Field at Mile High for a preseason game.

COLORADO ROCKIES V. ATLANTA BRAVES  

WHEN: Sept. 2–5, 2021
WHERE: Coors Field – Home of the Colorado Rockies
Spend Labor Day weekend cheering on the Colorado Rockies as they take on the Atlanta Braves. 

COLORADO ROCKIES V. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 

WHEN: Sept. 6–8, 2021
WHERE: Coors Field – Home of the Colorado Rockies
Wrap up Labor Day weekend with the Colorado Rockies as they take on the San Francisco Giants. 

COLORADO RAPIDS V. LA GALAXY 

WHEN: Sept. 11, 2021
WHERE: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Soccer fans will want to head to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to watch the Colorado Rapids battle the LA Galaxy. 

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BUFFS V. TEXAS A&M AGGIES >

WHEN: Sept. 11, 2021
WHERE: Empower Field at Mile High
College football in a pro stadium? We love it! Cheer on your CU Buffs at Empower Field at Mile High. 

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

SIMPHIWE NDZUBE: ORACLES OF THE PINK UNIVERSE 

WHEN: Thru Sept. 12, 2021
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
A genre first conceptualized in Latin America, magical realism infuses reality with elements of the fantastical. In the first U.S. solo museum exhibition for South African contemporary artist Simphiwe Ndzube, Oracles of the Pink Universe presents seven new immersive works exploring the interplay between magical realism and history. 

ALL THE COSMOS A CANVAS 

WHEN: Thru Sept. 15, 2021
WHERE: Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
Drift deep into space and experience the majesty and wonder of our universe purely through images in this contemplative, aesthetic and introspective exhibition. 

LOOKING FORWARD/LOOKING BACK  

WHEN: Thru Sept. 19, 2021
WHERE: Molly Brown House Museum
Celebrate Historic Denver’s 50th anniversary! Looking Forward/Looking Back relives the early days as Historic Denver began restoring the home of the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown and the beginnings of the Molly Brown House Museum, which for the first time allowed the public to enter Brown’s Denver residence and learn about the mark she left on the world. 

NUMBERS IN NATURE: A MIRROR MAZE 

WHEN: Thru Sept. 19, 2021
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS)
This immersive experience is hardly by the numbers. It beautifully illustrates how patterns surround us in nature, from the veins in a leaf, to the spiral of a nautilus, to the spots on a giraffe. Enjoy, fun hands-on activities to spot patterns in music, art, architecture and even your own body. 

JESS T. DUGAN: C.A.R.S ONLINE 

WHEN: Thru Sept. 30, 2021
WHERE: Virtual/Online
The artist-curated C.A.R.S. Online series features past participants in the long-running Critic & Artist Residency Series at Colorado State University. In this virtual exhibition, Jess T. Dugan explores issues of identity through photographic portraiture. 

STORIES WE TELL: THE COLLECTION TWO WAYS 

WHEN: Thru Oct. 10, 2021
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
This exhibition digs deep into the vaults to present the collection in two complementary but alternate ways as a means to understand how artworks and their meaning can change based upon curatorial strategy. It begins with a new chronological presentation in the first five galleries. In the remaining four rooms, the artworks are grouped into specific thematic categories regardless of their chronology. 

THE CIVIL WAR MONUMENT “ON GUARD” 

WHEN: Thru Oct. 15, 2021
WHERE: History Colorado Center
This monument stood in front of Colorado’s State Capitol until it was toppled in June 2020 during protests for Black lives. Installed in 1909 to memorialize Colorado’s role in the Civil War, the monument holds multiple meanings for viewers today: a tribute to those who’ve served and sacrificed in the nation’s armed forces, a reminder of atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples, a symbol of white supremacy and injustice, a casualty of destructive lawlessness, and more. Lonnie Bunch, the first African American and first historian to serve as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, said, “what you really want to do is use the statues as teachable moments. Some of these need to go. But others need to be taken into a park, into a museum, into a warehouse, and interpreted for people, because they’re part of our history.”

OF SKY AND GROUND: YOSHITOMO SAITO 

WHEN: July 24–Nov. 28, 2021
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Yoshitomo Saito’s cast-bronze works capture and celebrate the elegant lines and subtle details of nature. From smaller seed pods to the arch of a branch, his compositions reinterpret organic forms to encourage contemplation.

SHIKI DREAMS BY PRISMAJIC 

WHEN: Thru Dec. 19, 2021
WHERE: Prismajic
Shiki Dreams is the latest immersive adventure from the creators of 2019’s smash hit Natura Obscura. The multi-sensory immersive experience leads guests on a fun and mystical journey of exploration and discovery that combines art and technology in beautiful and amazing ways.

FORTY YEARS ON THE ’FAX 

WHEN: Thru Dec. 31, 2021
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Take a nostalgic ride down Colfax, with stops at the quirky and memorable places that gave the street its worldwide reputation.

MUSEUM FOR BLACK GIRLS 

Thru Dec. 31, 2021
“Black Girl Magic” is more than a buzzword or trend. It’s the essence of Black women. The Museum for Black Girls is a space to celebrate this essence, as well as educate about the journey to our present state and liberation. Finally and most importantly, our museum serves as a love letter to Black women and our experience. This interactive pop-up gallery features multiple, vibrant exhibits. Visit at 1421 26th Street in Denver. 

BLACK IN DENVER 

WHEN: Thru Mar. 5, 2022
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Narkita Gold is a Denver-based artist who’s been honing her skills in digital photography since 2009. Her exhibition Black in Denver is a portrait and interview series that takes delves into Black life in Denver.

EARTH ILLUMINATED 

Thru Dec. 31, 2021
Earth Illuminated is an immersive experience where the natural world and digital media merge to take you on an ethereal journey. Wander through a 13,000-square-foot space showcasing our planet’s beauty from air, land and sea. Explore a series of immersive environments and large-scale interactive art installations that change the way you experience art and nature at Denver Pavilions.

STATE HISTORICAL FUND RETROSPECTIVE 

WHEN: Thru Apr. 30, 2022
WHERE: History Colorado Center
This exhibit explores the rich contributions of History Colorado’s State Historical Fund. Through the preservation of the built environment, the SHF has enhanced vibrant communities across the state for more than three decades.

SCULPTURE ON THE GREEN II: FEATURING ROBERT MANGOLD

WHEN: Thru May 2022
WHERE: Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
MOA presents Sculpture on the Green II, the second installation of an ongoing, annual, rotating exhibition. This year features Colorado sculptor Robert Mangold. The sculptures are made from industrial steel piping. Some are painted a brilliant red, while others are simply polished, allowing for the beauty in the raw material to be revealed.

MEMORY MIRROR 

WHEN: Thru Mar. 5, 2023
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Lares Feliciano’s Memory Mirror is an immersive installation that invites visitors to explore their relationship with memory through animation, dioramas and interactive storytelling. Designed to evoke the memory of a relative’s living room, this exhibition will transform the museum’s Precourt Family Discovery Hall into a surreal domestic den that is both familiar and fantastic.

NIGHT LIGHTS DENVER 

WHEN: Permanent installation
WHERE: Daniels & Fisher Tower
Night Lights Denver features rotating content designed by local artists and the community and projected on the Arapahoe Street side of the Daniels & Fisher Tower every Thursday through Saturday evening.