The Best Denver Summer Festivals: A 2024 Guide

Are you excited to enjoy Denver this summer? In this article, we’ll discuss the best Denver summer festivals, 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 BAZAAR: Larimer Square

June - October 2024, every second Sunday of the month

Denver BAZAAR is a pop-up market and family-friendly event in Larimer Square. Enjoy a fun day of exploring over 40 craft vendors, fashion and food trucks, and street food vendors.

Event details:

• 12 - 5 PM
• Free entry
• Street parking and paid parking lot at 1450 Larimer St.
• Use Lyft or Uber if you’re planning to drink at the event
• Public restrooms available
• Leashed pets are welcome
• Rain or shine event unless there’s extreme weather

Summer Brew Fest

June 15th, 2024

Summer Brew Fest at Mile High Station is an indoor and outdoor event where you can sample delicious beers. Spend the day drinking and enjoying live music and food trucks. This is also a fun way to celebrate Father’s Day in Denver!

Event details:

• The daytime session is 12 - 3 PM, and tickets start at $49.95
• The evening session is 6 - 9 PM, and tickets start at $54.95
• Linger: a tribute to The Cranberries performs during the day, and Grunge Lite performs in the evening
• Tickets include unlimited beer tastings, a souvenir glass, and musical entertainment
• Parking is limited, and public transportation or ride share is strongly encouraged

Denver PrideFest

June 22nd & 23rd, 2024

Denver PrideFest is one of the oldest Denver summer festivals 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

Cherry Blossom Festival

June 22nd & 23rd, 2024

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

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

July 5th, 6th, & 7th, 2024

Cherry Creek Arts Festival is one of the best Denver summer events 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

Bastille Day French Fest 2024

July 12th - 14th, 2024

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

Beethoven and Brews

July 13th, 2024

Enjoy Denver’s beer scene at Beethoven and Brews this summer at The Denver Performing Arts Complex. This is one of the best Denver summer festivals 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

There are three ticket options from $50 - $160:

• Standard - Unlimited beer sample pours and standard seating
• VIP - Unlimited beer sample pours, including limited-release beers, premium seating, souvenir badge and lanyard, and shaded seating in the park
• Alcohol-free - Full access to the festival, all-access seating, and shaded park seating

Underground Music Showcase

July 26th - 28th, 2024

Underground Music Showcase is Denver’s longest-running and largest music festival. Spend three days in Denver’s South Broadway neighborhood listening to live music across multiple outdoor stages and indoor music venues.

Various tickets are available starting at $90, depending on how many shows you want to see. For example, there’s a weekend pass available for one show and a 4-pack weekend pass to attend four shows.

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival

July 27th & July 28th, 2024

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 

Denver Summer Festivals: FAQs

Get answers to common questions below so you can make the most of your 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.  

Denver Summer Festivals: 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.