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20 Colorado Art Festivals to Catch this Summer

Submitted by alison on Fri, 04/18/2014 - 2:59pm

While many visitors associate summer in Colorado with a host of outdoor activities, there’s no shortage of cultural options throughout the state. Whether you prefer dance and live performances or perusing museums, you’ll find plenty of cultural fare in both the large cities and the small mountain towns. Fans of fine art are especially in luck during the summer months as art festivals and events can be found no matter where in Colorado you’re headed. Here are 20 options from May to September.

1. Downtown Grand Junction Art & Music Festival

Where: Grand Junction
When: May 9-11
What: Art and music on Main Street Grand Junction. Performances of jazz, blues, swing and other musical styles plus art displays and performances.
Website

2. 16th Annual Downtown Denver Arts Festival

Where: Denver
When: May 23-25
What: One of the top art festivals in the country, featuring over a hundred of the best Colorado artists plus select national artists. Over 125,000 visitors are expected.
Website

3. Taste of Creede Fine Arts Festival

Where: Creede
When: May 24-25
What: A combination of “Fine Arts and Fine Dining” the festival includes live music, chef competitions, artist demonstrations, and more.
Website

4. Mesa Verde Country Indian Arts & Culture Festival

Where: Cortez
When: May 24-25
What: A celebration of Native American culture with an Indian Art Market, Native dance performances, archaeological tours, and a concert.
Website

5. Meekerpalooza Arts & Music Festival

Where: Meeker
When: June 7
What: Dance, music, visual arts and culinary arts showcased in live performances and demonstrations and hosted by the Meeker Arts and Cultural Council.
Website

6. Summer Art Market

Where: Denver
When: June 7-8
What: Held yearly by the Art Students League of Denver, the Summer Art Market includes a range of artwork as well as live music and demonstrations by artists.
Website

7. Salida Art Walk

Where: Salida
When: June 27-29
What: Salida showcases its abundance of art galleries as well as local businesses and restaurants with events, demonstrations, and music in addition to tons of artwork.
Website

8. Pikes Peak Art Fest

Where: Colorado Springs
When: July 4-6
What: Over a hundred national and local artists display their work, plus live music and events provide additional fun at the 10th anniversary of this free event.
Website

9. Breckenridge July Art Festival

Where: Breckenridge
When: July 4-6
What: Considered among the top art festivals in the United States, this holiday festival features a variety of visual media from fiber and ceramics to wood, glass and painting.
Website

10. Art on the Rockies

Where: Vail
When: July 11-13
What: showcasing 125 artists this Vail exhibition attracts 8000 visitors to view a wide range of artistic media and styles, including sculpture and jewelry as well as paintings and clothing items.
Website

11. 39th Annual Art in the Park

Where: Steamboat Springs
When: July 12-13
What: 140 artists display their work, and a variety of local events including live entertainment and a rodeo add up to a weekend of fun for the 10,000+ visitors to Steamboat.
Website

12. Open Arts Fest

Where: Boulder
When: July 19-20
What: An outdoor gallery on Boulder’s Pearl Street mall showcases everything from sculptures to paintings to photography.
Website

13. Salida Riverside Fine Arts Festival

Where: Salida
When: July 19-20
What: Live music and a variety of fine artists displaying their work, all set on the picturesque banks of the Arkansas River.
Website

14. Summerfest

Where: Evergreen
When: July 19-20
What: Celebrating 35 years, this weekend event kicks off the 10-day Arts Alive Evergreen with incredible artwork, live performances, and great food.
Website

15. Main Street Art Festival

Where: Breckenridge
When: July 25-27
What: In its 13th year, the festival features artists from across the country exhibiting sculpture, paintings, jewelry and more.
Website

16. 12th Annual Downtown Aspen Art Festival

Where: Aspen
When: July 26-27
What: The famed resort town hosts some of the country’s top artists in media such as photography, sculpture, painting, ceramics, and mixed media.
Website

17. Crested Butte Arts Festival

Where: Crested Butte
When: August 1-3
What: Entering its 42nd year, the festival is home to spectacular art work, a top-notch culinary scene and a variety of events, demonstrations, and activities.
Website

18. Beaver Creek Art Festival

Where: Beaver Creek
When: August 2-3
What: Highlighting top artists and craftsmen, this 27 year-old festival includes jewelry, paintings, sculptures and a variety of other media.
Website

19. Estes Park Arts & Crafts Show

Where: Estes Park
When: August 30-September 1
What: Located just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, the show includes over 100 artisans over Labor Day weekend.
Website

20. Gathering at the Great Divide

Where: Breckenridge
When: August 30-September 1
What: Rounding out the Breckenridge arts calendar, this Labor Day weekend event includes a host of artistic media with work by over 100 artists on display.
Website

Honorable Mention:

Jazz Fest & Art Walk, Estes Park, May 17-18
Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, July 4-6
La Veta Art in the Park, La Veta, July 4-6
Park to Park Arts & Crafts Festival, Pagosa Springs, July 4-6
Greeley Arts Picnic, Greeley, July 26-27
Mesa Verde Country Food, Wine & Art Festival, Cortez, August 23-25


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