The Best Summer Festivals in Denver: A 2025 Guide

Festivals are one of the most fun ways to enjoy summer in Denver. Below, we've compiled a list of the best summer festivals in Denver, including cultural events, live music festivals, and family-friendly activities. 

Learn important event details, including dates, times, pricing, and more, so you can experience the best of Denver’s summer season.

Denver Chalk Art Festival

June 7th & 8th, 2025

The Denver Chalk Art Festival is Denver's most colorful events in the Golden Triangle Creative District near popular art galleries and museums. Over 200 artists will participate in this iconic street painting festival using the streets as a canvas to create vibrant art. Street paintings will range from original artwork to classic recreations. There will also be 3D drawings, a Kids Corner for children to create their own masterpieces, food vendors, and live music.

Event details:

• Free admission
• 10 AM to 8 PM both days
• Parking available in garages, lots, and metered street parking

Cherry Blossom Festival

June 21st & 22nd, 2025

Celebrate Japanese culture at the 50th annual Denver Cherry Blossom Festival in Downtown Denver at Sakura Square. Enjoy live entertainment, delicious food and drinks, shopping, and exhibits inspired by Japanese heritage.

Event details:

• Free admission
• Saturday’s event is from 11 AM - 6 PM
• Sunday’s event is from 11 AM - 4 PM
• Street parking and public lots are available throughout Downtown
• You may also use public transportation or rideshare services
• Bringing pets is highly discouraged

Denver PrideFest

June 28th & 29th, 2025

Denver PrideFest is one of the oldest summer festivals in Denver and the largest pride festival in the Rocky Mountain region. This two-day festival brings over 500,000 people together at Civic Center Park to celebrate love, diversity, and equality. Enjoy over 250 exhibitors, 30 food vendors, and fun live performances.

Event details:

• Free entry
• Saturday’s event is from 11 AM - 7 PM
• Sunday’s event is from 10 AM - 6 PM
• Coolers, outside alcohol, bikes, and pets aren’t permitted into the park
• Portable toilets and water fountains are available at the event
• Rideshare, public transportation, or car parking reservations are recommended
• Bike parking is available on the street around the park

Fan Expo Denver

July 3rd - 6th, 2025

Fan Expo Denver at the Colorado Convention Center offers the ultimate playground for Comics, Sci-Fi, Horror, Anime, and Gaming. Over three days, you can experience events across the city, family-friendly attractions, and world-renowned celebrities.

Show tickets start at $25 and times are:

• Thursday 12 to 8 PM
• Friday 10 AM to 7 PM
• Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM
• Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

July 4th - 6th, 2025

Cherry Creek Arts Festival is one of the best Denver summer festivals for celebrating local artists. It’s organized by CherryArts, a local non-profit celebrating art and culture. There will be over 250 exhibitors, adult and kid-friendly crafts, an art auction, food and drinks, and more.

Event details:

• Free admission
• Friday & Saturday events are from 10 AM - 8 PM
• Sunday’s event is from 10 AM - 6 PM
• The Cherry Creek Shopping Center offers paid parking, and there are other parking garages in the area
• Bringing pets is discouraged
• Outside alcohol, coolers, skateboards, scooters, and bikes are prohibited from entering the festival
• Restrooms are available in the alleys throughout Cherry Creek North

Colorado Black Arts Festival

July 11th - 13th, 2025

Celebrate African America art and culture at the Colorado Black Arts Festival. Live music, art shows, a marketplace, and food court will be set up all weekend in the City Park West neighborhood. There will be over 80 local artists, creatives, and Black-owned businesses.

Event details:

• Free entry
• Parking is available around the West end of City Park and at East High School athletic lot
• Three main gates are at 21st and York, off 17th Ave Park roadway, and next to the MLK Jr monument
• Public transportation is encouraged
• Drinks in glass or bottles, cooler, smoking, drones, and alcoholic beverages aren't allowed into the park
• Only qualified service dogs are allowed into the festival

Bastille Day French Fest 2025

July 11th - 13th, 2025

Bastille Day French Fest is the largest French Festival in Colorado. The three-day festival, which takes place at Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek, celebrates culture, gastronomy, and art. At the festival, you can appreciate authentic French cuisine, French artists, and local and French artisan vendors.

Event details:

• Free entry
• Paid parking is available throughout Cherry Creek
• Pets are discouraged

Underground Music Showcase

July 25th - 27th, 2025

Underground Music Showcase is Denver’s longest-running and largest music festival and the perfect event if you enjoy live music. Spend three days in Denver’s South Broadway neighborhood listening to live music across 4 stages and 12 venues with over 200 national and local bands.

Weekend passes start at $130.

Beethoven and Brews

September 6th, 2025

Enjoy Denver’s beer scene at Beethoven and Brews this summer at The Denver Performing Arts Complex. This is one of the best summer festivals in Denver for beer lovers, as you’ll enjoy a performance by the Colorado Symphony paired with brews and light hors d’oeuvres. 

Beethoven and Brews is an afternoon and evening event that follows the schedule below:

• 4 PM - Beer festival at Sculpture Park next to the concert hall 
• 6 PM - Act 1 performance at the concert hall
• 6:40 PM - Intermission/Beer Fest in the park
• 7:40 PM - Act 2 performance at the concert hall
• 8:15 PM - Event ends

Standard tickets are $102.40, which includes unlimited beer sample pours and standard seating. Alcohol-free tickets are $64, which includes full access to the festival, all-access seating, and shaded park seating.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival

September 6th & 7th, 2025

One of the most unique Denver summer events is the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, the largest in the United States. Experience Colorado’s Asian and Asian American heritage at Sloan’s Lake Park and watch nearly 50 teams competing in the dragon boat race.

There will also be food vendors, an area for children, and live performances.

Event details:

• Free entry
• The race starts at 8 AM both days
• Saturday’s festival is from 10 AM - 7 PM
• Sunday’s festival is from 10 AM - 5 PM
• Pets, smoking, skateboards, bicycles, and outside alcohol aren’t allowed inside the event
• There’s no onsite parking, but there are free shuttles from the Auraria Campus from 6:30 AM - 4 PM every half-hour
• The Sheridan RTD Light Rail is a 25-minute walk, and rideshare dropoff is at the corner of Sheridan Blvd and W Byron Pl.
• Bicycle locks are available at the event
• Contact [email protected] for onsite ADA parking 

Summer Festivals in Denver: FAQs

Get answers to common questions below so you can make the most of your festival experiences this summer in Denver.

How hot is Denver during summer?

During the summer in Denver, temperatures are around the upper 80s during the day. The humidity is low, so the warm temperatures are a dry heat. It cools down at night, with low temperatures around the upper 50s.

How do you get around Denver?

You can get around Denver by car, public transportation, and rideshare. Many areas are also walkable.

If you’re attending an event, it's best to use Lyft, Uber, or public transportation because parking can be limited.

Where to stay in Denver?

If you’re visiting Denver for a summer vacation, there are many hotels and Airbnbs throughout the city. It might be best to stay near the event you want to attend so you can walk but expect higher prices. 

Some of our favorite areas to stay are Downtown, Cherry Creek, River North Arts District (RiNo), and the Sunnyside neighborhood. The Crawford Hotel and Halcyon are excellent hotel options.  

Summer Festivals in Denver: Conclusion

We hope you found this article helpful and are excited about experiencing fun local events this summer in Denver.

Don’t forget to unwind while enjoying the festivities, too! Plan for relaxation and visit Oakwell Beer Spa, conveniently located in Denver’s Five Point Neighborhood. Book your spa day online to enjoy rejuvenating treatments in a cozy, luxurious atmosphere.